Parliamentary power: Kurds did not provide a convincing justification for non-commitment to pay oil money

[yota691]

Maliki's coalition reveals a surprise on the agreement on the share of Kurdistan by the budget of 2018

 

 November 08, 2017 - 11:18 | Number of readings: 978   

 

 

 

The coalition of the rule of law led by Nuri al - Maliki, on Wednesday, a near political agreement to grant the Kurdistan region 12.67% of the budget of 2018.

The MP for the coalition high Nassif in a press statement, "There is a general political orientation of the parliamentary blocs to vote on the approval of 12.67% of the Kurdistan region of the budget of 2018 according to population ratios and the actual need of the provinces, and the existence of a previous UN resolution to determine that percentage," adding that "there Almost a political agreement on the approval of this ratio, unlike the previous budgets, which stabilized the share of the region to 17%, which was rejected by most political forces.

Nassif added that "the government dealt with the salaries of staff of the region according to data only, because the region during the previous period sent the number of employees only without names, with a wide difference between the provincial government and federal government data." 

[yota691]

The Kurdistan Parliament forms a committee to follow up the disputed areas and negotiate with Baghdad

NOVEMBER 9, 2017 12:54 PM

The Kurdistan Parliament forms a committee to follow up the disputed areas and negotiate with Baghdad

 

Baghdad / Baghdadiya News / ... The Parliament of Kurdistan and heads of parliamentary blocs agreed on Thursday to form a committee to review the events of "disputed areas."

The Presidency said in a statement, followed by the Baghdadiya News, that "agreed in a meeting with the heads of parliamentary blocs, eight points on the next legislative term and the agenda of the parliament in the coming sessions."

She added that "the meeting decided to form a committee to prepare a special report to the purpose of field review of all events that took place in the disputed areas."

The statement pointed out that "the parliamentary blocs agreement on the importance of achieving unity and discourse within the Kurdistan region, Iraq and the region, and full cooperation between the parliament and the government of Kurdistan," noting that "was focused on the activation of parliamentary committees, and monitoring and follow-up, and the behavior of legal methods that strengthen the strength of institutions service For the Kurdistan region. "

The Parliament of Kurdistan stressed "its readiness according to the constitutional foundations of the Kurdistan region and within the framework of the Iraqi constitution to start dialogue to solve the root problems and set a period for the start of these negotiations as soon as possible and call on the international community to provide serious support because the survival of the situation as it will exacerbate the living conditions of the people of Kurdistan and disputed areas "He said.

He pointed out that "the delegation of the Kurdistan region will visit Baghdad to conduct negotiations, and prepare a precise legal and financial agenda and for that the Kurdistan Parliament has counted specialized representatives for cooperation with the Kurdistan Regional Government and must make serious attempts to start negotiations urgently, especially that the people of Kurdistan are exposed to serious concerns, Therefore, we demand the adoption of the system (biometric) for employees in the Kurdistan region and maintain 17% of the general budget, which is the right of the Kurdistan region.

"With regard to the new legislative chapter, it was decided to put all the laws and projects important and necessary for this stage in the agenda of the meetings of the Parliament of Kurdistan and work on the basis of the agreement."

The Presidency of the Parliament confirmed that "it was decided during the meeting to hold an urgent joint meeting between the Kurdish blocs in the Iraqi parliament and the parliament of Kurdistan to prepare a common vision between the two sides and work on them, and stressing the need for parliament to be aware of all the procedures of dialogue and results and continuing consultations between parliament and the Kurdistan government." /T

[yota691]

NATO urges Baghdad and Erbil to resolve disputes peacefully

NOVEMBER 8, 2017 11:46 AM

NATO urges Baghdad and Erbil to resolve disputes peacefully

 

Baghdad / Baghdadiya News / ... NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Erbil and Baghdad urged to resolve conflicts.

Stoltenberg said in a press statement, "We would like to see constructive negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad to resolve the conflicts, and urged the two sides not to return to violence, stressing his support for peaceful dialogue between the parties to resolve differences"

Stoltenberg added that "the use of violence will undermine the fight against terrorism, stressing the Alliance's support for a constructive and peaceful dialogue between the parties to resolve differences."

[yota691]

Parliamentary sources: The penalty of Kurdish deputies participating in the referendum of separation may reach the death penalty

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The parliamentary committee on the issue of follow-up to the Iraqi parliament's decision on deputies participating in a referendum in Kurdistan on Wednesday revealed that "the penalties of Article (156) are up to death because of non-compliance with court decisions and Kurdish separatist deputies will be punished within this Materials "as described.

 

"The committee has monitored more than (15) Kurdish deputies who violated the constitution in two articles and the same in the Penal Code," he said, adding that "these articles are (1) and (50) of the Constitution, including breach Articles 165 ) And (29) of the Penal Code and that the recommendations contained in the report is to stop the work of deputies participating in the referendum and suspend their membership and transfer them to the judiciary.

 

"The committee prepared its report on the separatist deputies, but the imbalance in the quorum of the parliament led to the postponement of voting on the report," Zaidi said . AH

 

[yota691]

Merzur Barzani: military option against the Kurdistan Region will not lead to any result

By Azad Jumkari 2 hours ago

Mesrour Barzani receives Norway's special envoy to the Middle East Knut Lin and his accompanying delegation from the Norwegian Embassy in Baghdad

Roudao - Erbil 

The adviser to the Security Council of the Kurdistan Region, pleased Barzani, on Wednesday, that the military option against Kurdistan will not lead to any result, but complicates the situation more, so must accept Baghdad unconditional dialogue on the basis of the Constitution. 

Barzani's remarks came during his meeting with Norwegian Special Envoy to the Middle East Knut Lin and his accompanying delegation from the Norwegian Embassy in Baghdad.

The two sides discussed the bilateral relations between Norway and the Kurdistan Region and the latest developments in the region in general and the relations between Baghdad and Erbil. 

He stressed the security adviser of the Kurdistan Region on the position of the Kurdistan region calling for dialogue, pointing out that "Baghdad's reaction to the referendum unconstitutional." 

"The military option against Kurdistan will not lead to any result, but complicate the situation more, so must accept Baghdad unconditional dialogue on the basis of the Constitution and the implementation of all items to justify paragraphs with special interpretations serve the objectives of one of the parties to the problem."

For his part, the Norwegian delegation supported the talks between Erbil and Baghdad on the basis of the Constitution, expressing his hope to "end the tensions between the two sides as soon as possible."

[yota691]

Massoud Barzani: Baghdad's reaction to the referendum is unconstitutional

Stressing the position of Kurdistan calling for dialogue ...

 

 Rawezh Muhamad

 08/11/2017 - 15:32

 

 

 

 

The Council of the Security Council of the Kurdistan Region, pleased with Barzani, on Wednesday, with Norwegian Special Envoy to the Middle East Knut Lin and his accompanying delegation from the Norwegian Embassy in Baghdad, the relations between Norway and the Kurdistan region and the latest developments in the region in general and relations between Baghdad and Erbil.

The Norwegian delegation expressed its support for the talks between Erbil and Baghdad on the basis of the constitution, expressing the hope to end the tensions between the two sides as soon as possible and prepare the two sides for the post-urgent phase, reconstruction and development of the country. 
Advisor to the Security Council of the Kurdistan Region, stressed in this regard the position of the Kurdistan Region calling for dialogue, noting that Baghdad's reaction to the referendum unconstitutional, and shows the bad bad for some groups and parties to the current constitutional and political order of Iraq as a whole.

 Said that the military option against the Kurdistan Region will not lead to any result, but complicates the situation more, so Baghdad must accept the unconditional dialogue on the basis of the Constitution and the implementation of all its articles to justify paragraphs with special interpretations serve the objectives of one of the parties to the problem.

[Butifldrm]

A minister in the government of Abadi reveals the reason for reducing the share of Kurdistan in the budget

 

43 minutes ago

 

 

Baghdad / NRT

The Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Mohammed Shi'a Sudanese, on Thursday, the government decided to reduce the share of the Kurdistan region from 17% to 12.6% of the general budget of the country, the existence of manipulation by the local authority in the region in the numbers of employees and security elements, he said .

The website of "Russia Today", the Sudanese said in an exclusive interview, today (November 9, 2017), that the results of the referendum in the Kurdistan region has become a "cancellation", indicating that the required local authority in the region is to declare its commitment to the decision of the Federal Court, The government decided to reduce the share of the Kurdistan region from 17% to 12.6% of the general budget of the country, because of manipulation by the local authority in the region in the numbers of employees and security elements.

On the other hand, Sudanese, who is the minister of industry and agency, explained that "the care homes of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs have embraced children for humanitarian reasons," pointing out that the ministry is returning the sons of non-Iraqi citizens of their relatives in accordance with the law.

Al-Sudani pointed to the presence of children of Russian, Chechen, Chinese and Dutch nationality, pointing out that the countries that are trying to repatriate are Russia and Chechnya.

On the reality of industry in Iraq, al-Sudani confirmed the presence of an internal and external conspiracy to destroy the industry in Iraq, while announced that the dialogues are underway in full swing with the Russian side to build ammunition production plants.

He pointed out that the financial crisis in his country is a stumbling block to the conclusion of deals. He also pointed out that the Sudanese institutions and factories in the restored areas were destroyed and destroyed by a 100% advocate, stressing the government's intention to put them to invest.

The economic adviser to the Prime Minister, the appearance of Mohammed Saleh, reported earlier, that the Kurdistan region will receive his share of the draft federal budget for the country for the year 2018, after the delivery of revenues, explaining that "what is being circulated in the media on reducing the share of Kurdistan from 17% to 12% just drafts not yet adopted by the government. "

 

http://www.nrttv.com/AR/Detail.aspx?Jimare=63290

R.

[Butifldrm]

 

 

Deputies: The return of deputies participating in the referendum to the parliament protects them legally

 

 

BAGHDAD / 
A member of the parliamentary legal committee Salim Shawqi said on Thursday that the return of Kurdish MPs to participate in the government and the parliament recognition of the unity of the country does not have a legal impact because it is contrary to the Iraqi constitution. 

 

"The Kurdish deputies who participated in the referendum of the region and returned to participate in the federal government and parliament, represent their return in recognition of the unity of the country and therefore the referendum does not arrange for them a legal effect." 
"There is a possibility of holding instigators accountable for secession by filing criminal lawsuits," he said. 
It is noteworthy that the House of Representatives decided to send the file of deputies in the Kurdish participants in the referendum to the judiciary to decide.

 

https://www.alghadpress.com/news/اخبار-العراق-السياسية/127859/القانونية-النيابية-عودة-النواب-المشاركين-بالاستفتا

[yota691]

The most prominent candidate for the presidency of the Kurdistan region

© REUTERS /

14:08 09.11.2017(Updated 14:26 09.11.2017)

The joy of the Kurdistan region after the referendum on September 25, the majority voted for a state of their own, turned into a disappointment surrounded by political and economic crises as a result of the anger of the Iraqi federal government and its international and military moves to dispel the Kurdish dream.

About three weeks after the referendum commission announced the participation of 72.16% in the voting process, of which 92.73% agreed to secede and form an independent state, the federal government ordered its forces to move towards imposing security and implementing the constitution by restoring the disputed areas from the control of Kurdish forces.

With the move of the federal forces, the Peshmerga forces of the PUK withdrew from areas in Kirkuk and another disputed north between the center and the region in accordance with article 140 of the constitution. This situation ignited the crisis between the Kurdish parties and their accusations of betrayal amidst shock to the Kurdish people who were celebrating His dreams come true.

the crisis

The prominent Kurdish writer and journalist, Saman Noah, in a special statement to the correspondent "Sputnik" in Iraq, the details of what is going on in the political arena within the Kurdistan region, the differences and splits and postponement of the elections.

© REUTERS / ALAA AL-MARJANI

The Kurdistan government responds to Abadi's comments on the region

 

The beginning of Noh Noah to postpone the elections, which was scheduled to take place earlier this month, in the Kurdistan region, saying: has not yet been determined any date for the holding of parliamentary elections and the presidential, after about two weeks ago, "extended" through the Kurdistan parliament for eight months, A move by Kurdish opposition forces to replace absolute rejection of its illegitimacy and because it threatens the already fragile Kurdistan's democracy two years after the parliament was completely disrupted.

Divisions

According to Noah, in view of the current data indicators in Kurdistan, there will be no chance of holding the elections in the first six months of next year, pointing to the big problems faced by the two main Kurdish parties, the National Union is divided on itself and threatened by splits and is unable to hold a party Khalifa to his late leader Jalal Talabani, "the former president of Iraq," and to elect a new leadership, which is threatened with major splits, which prevents him from continuing the idea of holding elections in the coming months.

He added that the Kurdistan Democratic Party is suffering from the crisis of the collapse of the draft referendum, which led him, and the loss of about 60% of the resources of the region, which will increase its inability to manage the region and secure even half of the salaries of its employees, and he suffers from the problem of stepping down Massoud Barzani from the presidency of the region, The difficulty of re-running for any future elections because he promised several times not to run for that position, so the Kurdistan Democratic is not ready for any elections.

© REUTERS / AZAD LASHKARI

Conditions of the Iraqi government to negotiate with the Kurdistan Region

 

new system 

The opposition forces of the Change Movement and the Islamic Group, and even part of the leadership of the National Union and the Islamic Union, want not only to freeze the post, but to abolish it completely and to transform the semi-presidential system in the region. The Kurdistan region to a parliamentary system .. This is the most likely, he said.

Noah has ruled that it is unlikely to hold presidential or even parliamentary elections in the coming period, even if this would further discredit the region.

The most prominent candidate

But in the event of presidential and parliamentary elections in the region in April or May, Nehirvan Barzani of the Democratic Party will be the most prominent candidate for the presidency of the region, in the competition candidate of the Movement for Change and the Islamic Group and part of the National Union , But determining the nature of that character is still difficult, it may be the leadership of change or someone acceptable to change and the Union, and may be Barham Saleh, "who served as the presidency of the government of the Territory twice," but all this will depend on the course of the situation in the coming months.

[tigergorzow]

Macron urges Iraqis to conduct political dialogue in letter to Barzani

November 09 2017 06:38 PM

Macron urges Iraqis to conduct political dialogue in letter to Barzani

 

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged both Erbil and Baghdad to build on the success of their security meetings and begin political dialogue with the aim of achieving “lasting peace” in Iraq, Rudaw reported on Thursday.
 
Kurdish and Iraqi security officials have held a series of meetings to find a negotiated settlement with regard to the deployment of Iraqi forces to the disputed areas claimed by both Erbil and Baghdad, a move welcomed by Macron in a letter delivered to Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani on Thursday.
 
Macron said that talks have to go further and result in “political dialogue” between the two sides, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
 
Macron referred to a phone call he had with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on October 28 in which he informed the Iraqi leader that “resuming dialogue supported by the United Nations is the only solution to reach a lasting peace for all Iraqis in Iraq.”
 
He urged Abadi to respect the constitutional rights of the Kurds and welcomed the security meetings that are working towards “joint redeployment in the disputed areas,” according a statement from his office at the time.
  
Barzani thanked France and Macron for their historic and current support, according to the KRG’s statement, and he stressed that his government is ready to talk with Baghdad on the basis of the Iraqi constitution. He said such talks would need the support of the international community such as the United Nations.
 
Abadi said on Tuesday that the security meetings had a promising start, until the Kurds said they wanted the talks to broaden to a wider political dialogue.
 
France is one of the nations that helped install a No-Fly Zone over Kurdish territory in northern Iraq following the First Gulf War in 1991 that gave the Kurds the space to establish their own government.
 
In his letter, Macron praised the “historic” leadership of former President Masoud Barzani and his role in the formation of the new Iraq following the US-led invasion in 2003 and in the war against ISIS as part of the international Coalition.
 
The French president said that the Peshmerga contribution to the war on ISIS has further “strengthened” the close friendship between France and the Kurdistan Region.
 
“Our country has always tried to have the rights of the Kurdish people recognized within the framework of the Iraqi constitution,” Macron said, according to the KRG statement. 
 
He said that France hopes to work with the KRG to “strengthen our relations and guarantee the stability of the Kurdistan Region” as its stability is an important factor for the stability of Iraq and the wider region.
 
Elysee has not immediately released its own statement on the letter to Barzani.
 
The KRG has offered to freeze the outcome of the independence vote in order to bring Baghdad to the table after the central government imposed a number of punitive measures against the Kurdistan Region because of the referendum.
 
Baghdad, however, has demanded the KRG nullify the result and abide by a court ruling that concluded the Iraqi constitution does not allow for secession.
  
Abadi said on Tuesday that a referendum is acceptable if it does not result in independence. It would be regarded as no more than a “poll,” he said.
 
The KRG is yet to declare its position with regard to the court verdict despite UN pressure to heed it.

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/19415/Macron-urges-Iraqis-to-conduct-political-dialogue-in-letter-to-Barzani

[tigergorzow]

Shia political parties in Kirkuk attempt to ignite crisis – Araji

November 09 2017 02:52 PM

Qasim al-Araji

Interior Minister Qasim al-Araji has said that Shia political parties in Kirkuk are attempting to create crises and adversely impact relations between Erbil and Baghdad, Shakhwan Abdullah, a Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) MP, revealed Thursday.   

Abdullah said al-Araji told him that the US and Turkey did not know that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will enter Kirkuk, adding that they did not know that Kirkuk’s oil will be smuggled to Iran.  
Occupying KDP’s headquarters by the Iranian Militias in Iraq and Syria (IMIS) breaches Political Parties Law. KDP is a registered party. Thus, occupying its headquarters is a crime, Aِbdullah noted.  
The major beneficiary from the events that took place after October 16 is Iran. Since October 23rd, hundreds of Kirkuk oil shipments have been sent to Iran, he further stated. 
Revenue generated from the sale of these shipments has not entered the government coffers, he added. 
Tension between Erbil and Baghdad has escalated following Kurdistan Region’s independence vote, held on September 25, and military operations conducted by Iraqi forces, backed by the Iranian Militias in Iraq and Syria (IMIS), in Kirkuk and disputed areas.     

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/19405/Shia-political-parties-in-Kirkuk-attempt-to-ignite-crisis-Araji

[SnowGlobe7]

man Abadi sure has a hate-on for the Kurds

[10 YEARS LATER]

These fools live for crisis . . . real, imagined and/or manufactured. There would be no JOY in their pathetic little lives if the crisis (s) were removed from their daily routine. It will take centuries to undo thousands of years of this idiotic mind set.

[yota691]

Kurdish deputy: 200,000 people receive illegal pensions in Kurdistan

 

Editor Ali Jassim - Thursday, November 9,

 

 

 

Alsumaria News / Sulaymaniyah  Revealed the decision of the Finance Committee in the Iraqi Council of Representatives Ahmed Haji Rashid, on Thursday, that "200 thousand" people receive pensions, illegal, and considered the problem suffered by the government of the Territory as "management of money" and not bankruptcy, Received "100 trillion" dinars within 10 years.  Rashid said in a press statement received by Alsumaria News a copy of it, "200 thousand people in the province of Kurdistan receive pensions in an illegal manner," pointing out that "430 thousand armed men receive salaries in the name of the Peshmerga, as well as the transfer of 960 people to retire in special degrees, They did not perform government duties. "     Rashid added that "what the Kurdistan Regional Government is suffering is the problem of managing the money and not the bankruptcy." He explained that "during the period 2005-2015 more than 100 trillion dinars entered the Kurdistan region, and that if these funds were disbursed to develop infrastructure we were not facing the current problems "He said.  Rashid said that "as a result of the entry of large sums of money to the region has been a wave of appointments in the region significantly," pointing out that "the proportion of 67% of the employees in 2005 were their certificates without primary."  The Kurdistan region suffers from a financial crisis since 2014 caused the delay in payment of salaries of staff and significantly reduced, while officials attribute the region's causes of the crisis to the outstanding problems between Baghdad and Erbiland the fall in oil prices.

[yota691]

Iraqi minister sets a reason to reduce the share of Kurdistan by the budget of 2018

 

Editor Mustafa Saad - Thursday 9 November

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alsumaria News / Baghdad identified the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs and Acting Minister of Industry, Mohammad Xiaa Sudanese, Thursday, a reason to reduce the share of the territory of Kurdistan in the federal budget for 2018, as pointed out that the results of a referendum by virtue of the region has become obsolete.  Sudan said in an interview with the channel " Russia Today ", " The government has decided to reduce the share of the Kurdistan region from 17% to 12.6% of the general budget of the country, because of manipulation by the local authority in the region numbers of staff and members of the security."     He added that "the results of the referendum in the Kurdistan region, has become obsolete, and required by the local authority in the region is to declare its commitment to the decision of the Federal Court."  On November 6, 2017, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) considered a draft budget law 2018 aimed at "marginalizing the constitutional entity" of the region, while it showed that 12.6% "is not enough to pay the salaries of one province."

[yota691]

The Kurdistan Democratic Party reveals a condition for the delivery of oil revenues and border crossings and airports to Baghdad

NOVEMBER 9, 2017 6:09 PM

The Kurdistan Democratic Party reveals a condition for the delivery of oil revenues and border crossings and airports to Baghdad

 

BAGHDAD / The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) official Said Mamuzini confirmed on Thursday that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has agreed to hand over oil revenues to the federal government.

"The KRG has agreed to hand over oil revenues, border crossings and airports," said Mamuzini, according to a statement by a number of media. "It is necessary that they be managed jointly and with the presence of regional police forces in those places."

The official called on the Democratic Party of Iraq to "send an official invitation to the Kurdish delegation, which intends to visit Baghdad to resolve the outstanding differences," noting that "must agree on the budget before approval and vote in the Iraqi Council of Ministers."

[yota691]

Kurdistan is ready to provide data on oil revenues to Baghdad

• Version: Paperback - InternationalFriday, 10 November 2017 (00:00 - GMT)

Last Updated: Friday, 10 November 2017 (00:00 GMT) Onbehalf of Francis - Erbil 

Kurdistan has expressed willingness to provide data on oil revenues and the number of its employees to the federal government, and demanded a date for the start of negotiations to resolve outstanding differences with Baghdad, while Kurdish officials warned of the "sleeper cells" of «urging» new attacks in the province of Kirkuk.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced that his government is checking the number of employees and elements of the "Peshmerga" in the region to pay their salaries, which the Kurdish government failed to secure, declaring «its economic independence after the collapse of its agreement with Baghdad more than two years ago, followed by a sharp fall in world oil prices at the time She was in a costly war with a preacher. "

A statement by the government of the region that «Abbadi pledged to pay the salaries of staff, and this is welcome, and with regard to doubts about the number, we confirm our readiness to show the numbers and information registered to us in accordance with the system and check the biometric. And invited him to «reconsider the table on the staff allocations specified in the draft budget at only 334 billion dinars, while the amount required 897 billion and 500 million dinars every month», and pointed out that «any amount not allocated to the Peshmerga in the tables attached to the draft, only text "The reduction of the region's share of the budget from 17 percent to 12.67 percent was considered a step contrary to the constitution." She stressed that «the previous ratio was agreed by the parties, even though the region did not receive from any budget to the full share due to the annual increase of the sovereign expenses that have been deprived».

"In 2016, a contract was signed with two of the best international companies to independently audit revenues and expenditures, and we are ready to report on this," he said. "As for the demand for oil and gas, We also reaffirm that the process must be carried out within the framework of the constitution while guaranteeing the financial rights of the region towards the producing companies according to the contracts concluded under the law. The draft obliges the region according to Article 1 to export 250,000 barrels of oil per day, For companies, Inma was allocated 16 trillion dinars to the Federal Ministry of Oil, and in relation to revenues of October (October) for the current year on the sale of 550 thousand barrels, we lack the health of uncertainties around, and we stressed that it allocated for the disbursement of salaries last August ». He denied «the receipt of refineries of the region any shipment from Baghdad, as Abadi pointed out, and we welcome the initiative».

He called on the Parliament of the region after a meeting of the blocks the governments of Erbil and Baghdad to «set a date for negotiations to resolve differences within the framework of the Constitution», and urged «the international community to play its role to promote dialogue, because the survival of the situation as it will live the people of the territory and disputed areas», «A delegation from the Government of the Territory will go to Baghdad to negotiate, and is preparing a precise legal and financial agenda, and for this purpose the Parliament prepared specialized official representatives to cooperate in this regard», and stressed the need to «adopt a biometric system to determine the number of employees, and retain the share of the province in the federal budget of 17 in a For a hundred ».

The Ministry of Natural Resources in the government of the province was surprised in a statement «doubts Abadi in the number of employees, and wondered how ready to pay salaries in full» and expressed willingness to «submit lists of registered employees according to the system Biometric», and the oil differences explained: 115 and 121 of the Constitution, but the priority is to the laws of the Territory in all that is not provided in the exclusive powers of the federal authorities in Article 110, which does not address in any way to ways to manage the oil sector »and asked:« Will Baghdad pay the international oil companies rights? If that is not the case, does Baghdad think that these companies will continue to produce crude for free? "She declared that she had agreed" with the oil buyer to pre-market over the years, did Baghdad think about the legal consequences of this? "

The government of Abadi doubts the figures presented by Erbil in terms of the number of the region's employees (1.3 million), and confirms that based on the estimated population ratio, "it should not exceed 600,000, and the number of Peshmerga members should not exceed 50,000, while 160 thousand registered."

 

The struggle of the poles within the Talabani party

 

Sulaimaniya - «life» - revealed informed sources in Kurdistan that differences between the leaders of the «National Union» strike the party of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, and there is a tendency to resolve the political bureau in preparation for internal elections and the formation of a committee to investigate the recent events in Kirkuk, Saleh to the leadership of the party.

After the death of Talabani early last month, the party needed a restructuring of the organization includes the holding of elections and the selection of a new Secretary-General, especially as the President's disease over the past years to prevent such a move «for symbolic reasons».

The referendum crisis has divided the Kurdistan region and the withdrawal of the Peshmerga forces from Kirkuk has cast a shadow over the party leaders, who are now divided into rival groups led by one of the poles. The sources confirmed to «life», that «two meetings last week more than 40 party leaders held a contract in Sulaymaniyah, and saw the call for the dissolution of the Political Bureau, but ended with the outbreak of sharp differences between the poles, including Mullah Bakhtiar who opposed the idea». Deputy Secretary-General Kosrat Rasool called for the meeting to be reconvened but also failed. She explained that «the meeting ended without results and the leadership of the party is dispersed».

People close to the late president's wife, Hero Ibrahim Ahmed, say she believes that "the crisis in the region requires swift and decisive action." The meeting ended with a decision to form a special commission to investigate the events of October 16, the day the federal forces imposed their control over Kirkuk, and accused the Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani, leaders of the Union betrayal and hand over to Baghdad. The party split itself between supporters of the withdrawal decision «our blood», and opponents «accuses the wing within the party to hand over Kirkuk».

This was preceded by a similar split, but between two teams in the position of organizing the referendum, especially those who supported it and refused to conduct it in the disputed areas.

The leaders of the party reserved for comment on the differences, but information indicates that «the Union will witness radical changes in his leadership, and there are efforts to save what can be saved and the return of its leadership role in the political process».

The deputy for the Turkmen component Jassim Mohammed Jaafar confirmed last September that there is a dispute within the party on the issue of the referendum, pointing to the existence of parties still insist on the referendum, such as Kosrat Rasul and the governor of Kirkuk article Necmettin Karim in exchange for other parties rejected by MP Talabani, which demanded the expulsion of Kirkuk and the disputed areas of the referendum.

On the other hand, sources explain the delay in resolving the internal crisis to the end of negotiations with the former leader of the party Barham Saleh to persuade him to take over the task, especially as the Political Bureau refused his resignation.

[yota691]

Member of Parliament of Kurdistan reveals the escape of the Minister of Natural Resources in the region to London

 

 

 

Number of readings: 694 10-11-2017 12:42 PM

 

 

10-11-2017 12:42 PM 

 

 

A member of parliament of the Kurdistan region for the movement of change MP 'Ali Hama Saleh' revealed the escape of the Minister of Natural Resources in the region, "Ashti Hawrami" a day before the closure of airports Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, and blamed for the poor economic conditions and the accumulation of debt to the region.

Hama Saleh said on his Facebook page a day before the closure of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airport left the Minister of Natural Resources "Ashti Hawrami" Kurdistan and he is currently in London.

Hama Saleh said that the responsibility of the current situation lies with the 'Hawrami' accusing him of causing corruption in the region, which put the Kurdistan under the burden of large debts and cut the salaries of citizens and let them down in front of Baghdad.

He added, "Hama Saleh," we called loudly several times before that this person will introduce us to the disasters and will escape, and assured that he is assured that one day will be arrested

[yota691]

Kurdish official: The territorial government agreed to hand over oil revenues to Baghdad

 

 Since 2017-11-09 at 17:18 (Baghdad time)

Baghdad - Mawazine News

KDP official Said Mamuzini on Thursday confirmed the approval of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for the delivery of oil revenues to the federal government.

"The provincial government has agreed to hand over oil revenues, border crossings and airports," Mumozini told Mawazin News. "It is necessary that it be managed jointly and with the presence of regional police forces in those places."

The official called on the Iraqi government to "invite the Kurdish delegation, which intends to visit Baghdad to resolve the outstanding differences," noting that "must agree on the budget before approval and vote on it within the Iraqi Council of Ministers."

The Iraqi security forces entered the province of Kirkuk on Monday (October 17, 2017), while taking control of government headquarters and oil fields that were run by the federal government before 2014. Ended 29

 

[yota691]

During a telephone call .. Qubad Talabani asked Sadr to mediate to resolve the differences Baghdad and Erbil

 

 Since 2017-11-09 at 17:41 (Baghdad time)

Baghdad - Mawazine News

Talabani, Vice President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, on Thursday, the leader of the Sadrist movement Moqtada al-Sadr to "mediate" to conduct a dialogue between the Kurdistan region and the federal government.

The office of the Sadr said in a statement received / Mawazin News / copy, that "the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Qubad Talabani, made a telephone call to Mr. Moqtada al-Sadr," noting that "was during the contact request from Sadr to intervene to mediate a dialogue between the brothers in the region and the government Federalism and a return to adherence to the constitution. "

He added that "commenting on this request, Sadr stressed that the referendum was not constitutional from the original, how can stick to the Constitution with the abolition of the referendum."

According to the statement, "was also addressed to the subject of the federal budget, where he stressed that the country is going through a difficult economic situation and that the Iraqi people in the south and center is not different from the region in this respect if not harder, stressing the lack of people and the lives of citizens and the stability of their lives Political conflicts ".

The president of the Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani, left office on Wednesday (November 1, 2017), leaving his nephew, Nigervan Barzani, "to reconcile with the central government in Baghdad and with neighboring countries and with rival Kurdish parties after the failure of a referendum on independence."

[Wiljor]

IRAQI KURDISTAN: LIFE AFTER KIRKUK OIL

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REUTERS/ Ahmed Jadallah

Originally appeared in Russian at 1prime.ru

The Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum in late September led to escalation of the economic crisis in the autonomous region. Having stopped paying salaries to the civil servants in the region, Baghdad took over the oil deposits in Kirkuk province, which had provided Erbil with half of its profits by exporting “black gold”. The Kurdish authorities also have to deal with thousands of refugees that left their homes in contentious territories, after the Iraqi Army and the Popular Mobilization Units had arrived there.

Oil as a priority concern

For more than 20 years, 90% of the Iraqi Kurdistan treasury has been filled by its oil exports. Until Baghdad took over the oil deposits in Kirkuk on October 16 of this year, the Kurdistan Regional Government had evaluated that it had had 45 billion barrels of oil in stock.

Besides the “black gold”, large natural gas deposits are also present in the region, although they haven’t been developed in any considerable way.

According to Govand Sherwani, an energy production expert of Salahaddin University in Erbil, “the autonomous region’s territory contains other natural resource deposits, though up until recently developing them was not a priority of the regional government.”

Click to see the full-size map

Until 2014 Erbil and the federal government had an agreement, according to which Baghdad sold all of Iraqi Kurdistan produced oil (approximately 300 thousand barrels per day). In exchange, the autonomous region received 17% of Iraq’s total budget, which was equivalent to $1 billion monthly US proceeds. However the abrupt oil cost drop in 2014 cut the amount of money sent from Baghdad in half. This led to a serious deficit in the autonomous region, including cutting pay to civil servants and to the Kurdish Peshmerga armed forces.

Controlling and losing Kirkuk 

Paradoxically enough, the expansion of the ISIS terrorist group to Kirkuk in 2014 helped Iraqi Kurdistan patch the holes in the budget. When the radicals advanced, The Iraqi Armed Forces retreated from their positions in Kirkuk. Only the Peshmerga units reacted quickly enough and managed to fend off the terrorists, and also established control over the oil-rich province, which already was a historically contentious territory between the Kurds and the Iraqi government.

Bey Hasan and Avan, two largest Kirkuk oil deposits, now controlled by Iraqi Kurdistan, produced 250 thousands barrels per day. 50 thousands more were produced and exported in agreement with the federal government at the oil fields under control of Iraqi North Oil Company (NOC). Summing up, the production of oil in KRG-controlled territories reached 600 thousand barrels per day.

Click to see the full-size map

Since then Iraqi Kurdistan began to sell not only their own, but also their recently acquired resources to Turkish region of Ceyhan without proxy, despite Baghdad’s protests.

The Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum changed everything. The federal troops took over all of the oil deposits in the province and entered the city of Kirkuk without almost any fighting, thanks to internal conflicts in the Iraqi Kurdistan government.

“After the Iraqi Army and Popular Mobilization Units had come, we lost 50% of our oil revenue. And you have to consider that oil is the main source of income for the region’s budget,” deputy of Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Natural Resources Dilshad Shaaban told RIA.

Energy production expert Govand Sherwani thinks that the autonomous region may be able to compensate the loss of Kirkuk oil by seeking out and developing new deposits in the future.

“A lot of oil and gas deposits in Iraqi Kurdistan are still not developed. The work of international companies in the region, of which there are about 50 from 15 countries around the world, may increase the number of active deposits considerably,” Sherwani said.

Oil companies and criticisms from Baghdad

Besides biggest European and North American oil companies, Russian Gazprom and Rosneft work in Iraqi Kurdistan, with the latest signing a contract of cooperation in the oil sector with the regional government.

Particularly, the contract stipulates oil trade from 2017 to 2019. In September of this year, both sides also negotiated whether the company would take part in financing the Kurdistan gas pipeline construction project. A week before the independence referendum Rosneft declared that it had signed the necessary documents for the production sharing agreement (PSA) with the regional government regarding the five blocks in the autonomous territory.

Baghdad harshly criticized Erbil’s expanding collaboration with the western oil companies. Iraq considers all the deals made without central government’s involvement illegal. On October 30, representative of Iraq’s Ministry of Oil Asem Jihad told RIA that the ministry had asked Rosneft to give an explanation regarding its position towards the Iraqi Kurdistan deals.

However, according to Kurdistan Regional Government official Dilshad Shaaban, “all the deals signed by Iraqi Kurdistan government, including the Rosneft ones, were signed according to Constitution of Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan laws.”

“The confusion arises from the fact that Iraq did not have any “oil and gas” laws after approving the 2005 Constitution. In 2007, the Iraqi Kurdistan parliament issued law #22, concerning oil and gas, which is based on Iraq’s Constitution and includes the tools necessary to sign deals,” said the deputy of Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Natural Resources.

Shaaban, member of the parliament faction of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK), noted that “speculations regarding the legitimacy of the deals with international companies are politically motivated and have no legal basis.”

Baghdad hands Rosneft blocks to British Petroleum

Izzat Sabir, head of the Kurdistan Parliament financial and economics committee and member of PDK, estimates that the deals between Rosneft and the Kurdistan Regional Government are worth $3 billion. According to his data, some of the Russian oil giant’s deals may have to be renewed with the central Iraqi government. Three out of five oil blocks that Erbil and Rosneft prepared for production sharing are situated in Kirkuk province and recently “came under control of the federal government.”

Following the sudden “return of sovereignty” to the province, Iraq’s Ministry of Oil said that it plans to develop the Kirkuk oil deposits jointly with British Petroleum.

Nevertheless according to Dilshad Shaaban, both Baghdad and the British oil giant will have to cooperate with Rosneft and the regional government.

Click to see the full-size map

“Iraqi government and BP won’t be able to begin work and transfer Kirkuk oil to Turkey without cooperating with Rosneft and the Kurdistan Regional Government. Rosneft owns 60% of Iraqi Kurdistan gas pipeline stock. Therefore BP has to make a joint production deal with Rosneft and subsequent transfer of oil to Turkish Ceyhan,” Shaaban said.

According to Shaaban, “using old Iraqi pipeline (built during the 1980s) from Kirkuk across Mosul to the Turkish border would be impossible,” as this pipeline was partially destroyed by ISIS terrorists.

“The Kurdistan Regional Government decided not to hand Faysh Khabur border crossing [situated on Iraqi, Turkish and Syrian borders] over to the federal government, as it’s the only point through which you can transfer oil [to Turkey],” he added.

According to Govand Sherwani, there is a certain risk for the Russian company: it entered the local market during a critical moment for the autonomous region. However this situation also has a lot of positives.

“Giant companies can overcome these risks and enter the market without competition. Some of [Rosneft’s] projects had been previously presented by the US companies, but they had hesitated, and this part was given to the Russian company. The appearance of Russian companies is met positively by the regional government. Russian companies enjoy good reputations, and they have a lot of experience in the oil and gas sector,” said the expert.

Sherwani also noted, that the Russian companies’ interests and sizeable investments in Iraqi Kurdistan may be “a part of Moscow’s political support for Erbil in order to secure its strategic presence in the region.”

Unclear future

The Iraqi Kurdistan losing Kirkuk oil, and also sanctions from Baghdad and neighboring Iran and Turkey led to escalating the previously existing financial crises of the autonomous region. According to Izzat Sabir, head of the Kurdistan Parliament financial and economics committee, monthly revenue of KRG’s budget dropped from $800 to $300 million.

“Up until this crisis, the monthly revenue of Iraqi Kurdistan was $800 million, however cutting down on the oil exports due to recent events led it to drop to $300 million and even lower,” said the head of the committee.

Sabir noted that Baghdad does not pay the civil servants of the autonomous region, all the while the region’s internal revenue is not enough to pay the officials.

According to him, solving this economic problem is currently impossible, “until the military and political problems are solved.” “The future is unclear,” the official ruled out.

According to Abdullah Hasan who lives in Erbil, the economic crisis did not have a visible effect on lives in the cities and towns of Iraqi Kurdistan. Turkey — the main trade partner of the autonomous region — did not close its borders despite the threats to do so. Hence the stores are stocked with various groceries.

“You can say that the situation seems normal. However a lot of people stopped buying all that much because they are pressured for money. During last three years, we have been paid half of our salaries bi-monthly. Now, because of these events, we are not getting paid at all”, Abdullah says.

According to him, the economic situation is further complicated by tens of thousands refugees from Kirkuk, who left their houses in the contentious territories after Iraqi Army and PMU had arrived.

“They ask the government to provide temporary shelter at least, but the government can’t provide them with anything. Unofficially Erbil allowed them to live in the house not yet used,” he said.

On September 25, an independence referendum took place in Iraqi Kurdistan. According to the Kurdistan’s Independent High Elections and Referendum Commission, 92.7% voted in favor of independence. The government of Iraq declared the referendum illegitimate. Baghdad sanctioned the autonomous region after the referendum, and Iraqi Armed Forces started operations in order to return control over contentious regions, with Kirkuk and its environs being a priority. The sides try to engage in dialogue, but several serious conflicts are still unresolved.

 

 

https://southfront.org/iraqi-kurdistan-life-kirkuk-oil/

[yota691]

Details of the message from Massoud Barzani to Haider Abadi

11-11-2017 01:15 PM

Readers

 

Baghdad News -

 

 

The head of the Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani, on Saturday, a letter to Prime Minister Haider Abadi, calling him to return to the talks to resolve the conflicts between Baghdad and Erbil, while addressing him, saying: 'War means destruction only'. 

"The referendum was only an excuse, and this was the Baghdad plan even before the referendum," Barzani said in an interview with CNN. "They prepared for a long time and what Iraqi forces did to Kurdistan was not surprising to me, . 

"What surprised me was that those Americans describe as terrorists attacked us with US weapons under the eyes of American officials," he said. 

"Barzani said that 'the Kurds can not wait for the consent of all independence, so we have a referendum in a democratic and peaceful process, and this is our right and did what was right'.

[yota691]

Barzani to Abadi: We have helped you a lot .. "Return to the talks to resolve conflicts War means destruction only"

Readers

 

 

Barzani to Abadi: We have helped you a lot .. "Return to the talks to resolve conflicts War means destruction only"

 

11-11-2017 01:09 PM

 

The Euphrates -

 

The head of the former Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani on Saturday, Prime Minister Haider Abadi to return to the talks to resolve the conflicts between Baghdad and Erbil, while addressing him, saying in a letter to him 'war only means destruction'. 

"The referendum was only an excuse, and this was the Baghdad plan even before the referendum," Barzani said in an interview with CNN. "They have long prepared for it and the Iraqi forces did not surprise me." 

"What surprised me is that the Americans describe them as terrorists who attacked us with American weapons under the eyes of American officials." Stressing that the Kurds can not wait for the consent of all independence, so we have a referendum in a democratic and peaceful process, and this is our right and did what was right '. 

Barzani sent a verbal message to Abadi, saying: 'We helped you a lot last year in Mosul and not the Peshmerga was unable to edit', adding, 'Return to the talks to resolve disputes. War only means destruction. '

[yota691]

Parliamentary Finance: Abadi promised to reconsider the budget of Kurdistan

In the economy  November 11, 2017 on parliamentary finance: Abadi promised to reconsider the budget of Kurdistan closed 22 visits

 

 

BAGHDAD / The parliamentary finance committee revealed on Saturday the pledge of Prime Minister Haider Abadi to reconsider the wording of the budget items next year on the allocations of the Kurdistan region, stressing that Abadi promised that the allocation of the region is fair and satisfactory to all parties.

The Commission's decision Ahmed Hama, "The Prime Minister Haider Abadi promised to reconsider the provisions of the Kurdistan region and financial allocations," noting that "the promises of the government came after the objections of the Kurdish blocs and parties to reduce them significantly."

"The government is seeking to receive all federal funds from the region, such as border ports, airports and oil to be distributed as salaries and allowances to the staff of the region after checking the names," Hama added.

"The arrival of the draft budget law during the current week to the House of Representatives to make some amendments and approval before the end of this year."

[yota691]

A surprise of the heavy caliber will occur during the next two days ... Baghdad sets "new conditions" on Barzani's visit to the capital

11-11-2017 01:30 PM

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Baghdad News -

 

 

The newspaper 'news' Lebanese, on Saturday, the' new conditions' set by the Iraqi government on the visit, which intends to Kurdistan Regional Government President Najran Barzani to Baghdad, noting that his plane is waiting for 'green light' to take off, while I spoke of 'surprise caliber Heavy 'will occur within the next two days. 

The newspaper said, quoting a government source and another Kurdish, that 'the Iraqi capital is waiting for a visit or visits of another kind, during this week, but it is subject to a green light from Prime Minister Haider Abadi,' noting that the visit of Kurdistan Regional Government President Nigervan Barzani list, but his plane 'Waiting for Abadi's approval to take off'.

"Barzani told some Kurdish political blocs that the files of Kirkuk and disputed areas and salaries of the Peshmerga and Kurdish personnel, as well as the budget, which took the position of advanced in the crisis, during the past days, will be at the top of the files to be discussed with officials in Baghdad. 

The newspaper pointed out that 'Baghdad has set new conditions not announced on his visit, most notably that the delegation will be headed by the admissibility of all Kurdish parties, and to provide guarantees for Baghdad on the unity of Iraq and sovereignty', pointing to 'Abadi refused to lure the issue of dialogue with Erbil and turn it into a political deal , Whether by pressure and external or internal interference, in an implicit reference to the request of Barzani and his deputy, Qubad Talabani, the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, mediate.

The newspaper quoted the government source as saying in response to a question on the fate of military and political negotiations between Baghdad and Erbil, that 'a victory and surprise of the heavy caliber will occur during the next two days », noting that' the surprise belongs to the crisis (between Erbil and Baghdad), which is positive for us. '