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

[Butifldrm]

• Politician

"Kurdish spring" in the region threatens the Barzani government with the fate of Mubarak or Gaddafi

14:14 - 27/03/2018

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Information / Baghdad ..  

The Kurdish Change Movement expected on Tuesday the fall of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) as popular protests against corruption, theft of employees' salaries and repeating the scenario with Egyptian leaders Hosni Mubarak and Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi continued, adding that the demonstrations continued for the third day in a row.

 "The public life in the Kurdistan region has entered into complete paralysis after the strike of the staff, where all schools, hospitals and service departments closed their doors," MP Shirin Abdul Redha said in a statement.

 "The continuation of demonstrations in the Kurdistan region for the third day in a row will eventually lead to the overthrow of the Barzani family, as happened in the overthrow of repressive regimes in Egypt, Libya and others."

 He continued that "the Kurdish people at this time passes in the spring Kurdish especially after the expansion of the area of protests and access to Arbil and Dahuk and waving to turn the sit-in to civil disobedience." Ending / 25 d

http://www.almaalomah.com/2018/03/27/295021/

[Butifldrm]

Regional Government issued a clarification on the arrest of demonstrators and protesters

 

 Twilight News    

 

 51 minutes ago

 

 

The head of the Department of the response to international reports in the Kurdistan region, Dindar Zebari on Tuesday to international organizations on the recent demonstrations in the province, and the arrest of a number of protesters by the security services.

Zebari said in a statement today that, according to the law of organizing demonstrations, the exercise is a natural right guaranteed by the Constitution for citizens, so any demonstration in the Kurdistan region need to obtain approval, and in previous years organized dozens of demonstrations by: students, professors, journalists and various segments Society is demanding their rights only, and the relevant institutions in the government have played their role in providing the necessary protection for them, and in many cases violated the rights of those institutions and their employees. "

And on the recent demonstrations in the region Zebari said that "in those demonstrations tried to parties and political parties to exploit these legitimate claims of people to their interests, especially with regard to teachers and teachers, and to try to provoke the security services by acts and words inappropriate through deputies representing a number of political parties attended those Demonstrations, by shouting slogans and raising slogans to perpetuate violence. "

"These parliamentarians defined themselves as representatives of teachers and teachers, but the demonstrators rejected these acts and acts," he said.

Regarding the arrest of a number of demonstrators by the security services, Zebari said that these devices have arrested a number of demonstrators on charges of subversive activities have been brought to the judiciary, and some of them did not have the approvals to demonstrate, and others attacked with white weapons and a member of the police forces, To file a lawsuit against them that they tried to beat him and beat him all linked to known political parties, "adding that now no complaints against the security forces.

He added that the security services and relevant authorities in the Kurdistan Regional Government is ready to conduct investigations into any violations or violations suffered by the demonstrators.

 

 

 

Keywords: 

http://www.shafaaq.com/ar/Ar_NewsReader/e28a4500-6283-4ad4-b4a6-9b4c838ca6c1

[yota691]

Government delegation from Baghdad to visit Sulaymaniyah

Release Date: 2018/3/27 19:01 • 339 times read

(Baghdad: Al Furat News) revealed the director of the passports of Sulaymaniyah, the visit of a delegation from the federal government, ensuring the representatives of 10 ministries, to the city of Sulaymaniyah.

Brigadier General Salar Abdullah said in a press statement on Tuesday that "a delegation from the federal government arrives in Sulaymaniyah this evening to Sulaymaniyah International Airport." 
He explained that "the delegation will remain in Sulaymaniyah for two days, pointing out that they will accompany the delegation as representatives of the Kurdistan Region, to visit border crossings in the region." 
Brigadier Abdullah said that "the ministerial delegation will visit the port of Sirtek - Beshtah, near the field between the districts of Darbandikhan and Klar," pointing out that "the delegation will be briefed on the conditions in the port and are the conditions to be converted to an international port or not ?," The ministerial will return to Baghdad after the visit of the port, and report to Federal Prime Minister Haider Abadi to make his decision on the port. "

[yota691]

Tomorrow .. The Kurdistan government holds a meeting on the salaries of employees

 

 Since 2018-03-27 at 19:48 (Baghdad time)

 

 Baghdad - Mawazine News

The Council of Ministers of the region is scheduled to hold a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the salaries of employees.

A source for Mawazin News said that "it was decided at the meeting of the Supreme Economic Council that the Government of the Territory will convene a meeting on Wednesday, to follow up the system of distribution of salaries of all employees and to serve their interest."

The source, who preferred not to be named, that "the Council of Ministers of the region will be in the meeting tomorrow, follow-up system of saving the salaries of employees."

The Kurdistan Change Movement accused the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of "stealing" the money sent by Baghdad as allocations for the salaries of the region's employees. He pointed out that Erbil delivered a quarter of the November salary to the staff.

[yota691]

Abadi: We support coordination between the army and Peshmerga to impose security in the (disputed)

Said timetables set for reducing the number of foreign troops in Iraq ...

 

 Rawezh Muhamad

 27/03/2018 - 23:15

 

 

 

 

 Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi expressed his support for coordination between the Iraqi army and the Peshmerga forces to impose security in the disputed areas between the two sides, referring to Kurdish areas outside the administration of the Kurdistan Region. "The security system in Iraq is one, To impose security in the disputed areas. "

The spokesman for the Arab tribes in Nineveh, revealed the US efforts to return Peshmerga forces to all areas of Kurdistan outside the administration of the Kurdistan Region, or so-called <disputed>, and the establishment of a joint administration with the federal forces.

On March 17, Sheikh Muzahim al-Hewitt said that a "high-level" US delegation would visit Baghdad and Erbil to agree on a formula for joint administration in the "disputed" and redeployment of Peshmerga forces alongside federal forces.

He pointed out that the US leadership has informed Baghdad about the redeployment of the Peshmerga forces in all the disputed areas and the formation of a joint operations room between the two sides, supervised by the US forces, adding that "the Arab tribes were informed by the US government in Washington."

The Peshmerga forces entered the "disputed" after the Iraqi army and other security forces broke down in front of a few thousand armed men in 2014, where they were able to liberate and protect them over the past years of the war against Da'ash.

Following the events of October 16, the Popular Rally militias with other Iraqi forces took control of most of these areas, following the betrayal of a team from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the withdrawal of Peshmerga forces to avoid confrontation with these militias.

After that date, the security situation deteriorated significantly in the "disputed", and resumed its activity significantly through bombings and attacks, despite the declaration of Abadi end of the organization and the "final victory" late last year.

Abadi, during his weekly press conference on Tuesday, launched a sharp attack on the media, saying it broadcast "false" news, accusing it of providing a "free service" to the organization of a supporter, as he put it.

Abadi said: "We are surprised by the broadcast of false news that serves the objectives of the Daash," pointing out that "some media provide free media services to Daash," in reference to the channel, "trend" owned by Hezbollah organization of Iraq.

"The trend" two days ago, the news that "the organization of Daash kidnapped 50 members of the border guards and the army on the international road in Anbar province in western Iraq."

 As a result, the Joint Operations Command issued a statement saying that "Al-Tidah satellite channel published a false report about the abduction of 50 members of the border guards and the army on the international road in Anbar province."

The Operations Command stressed that it will "take legal action on this matter in coordination with the Information and Communications Commission".

On the other hand, said Abadi, "projects to divide Iraq will not stop, and such as one of those projects," pointing out that "the timetables were put to reduce the number of foreign troops in Iraq."

Stressing that "any sort of flight to foreign air in the atmosphere of Iraq, is not done only with official approval," noting that "the government has borne the financial burden since the large liberalization of land until the end."

[yota691]

Parliamentary Finance: Baghdad to send 418 billion dinars per month to Kurdistan

According to the Budget Law ...

 

 27/03/2018 - 22:51

 

 

 

A member of the Finance Committee of the Iraqi parliament, on Tuesday, that if Iraq deals with the Kurdistan Region in accordance with the budget law will have to send the amount of 418 billion dinars per month to the Kurdistan Region.

"According to the general budget law for the year 2018, the Iraqi government to send 418 billion dinars per month to the Kurdistan Region," pointing out that "does not know yet to any law adopted Abadi send 317 Billion for the region. "

The government of Abadi had sent days ago the amount of 317 billion 540 million and 465 thousand dinars, saying it is for the salaries of all employees of the Kurdistan region, after it had previously reported as salaries of employees of the ministries of health and education only.

MP Ahmed Haj Rashid, explained that "the amount sent does not include welfare allowances, and do not know whether Iraq will continue to send the amount of 317 billion per month to the territory or not."

Haj Rashid added by saying, "If this amount was a financial advance, then there should be an agreement around it, but so far it seems that the Convention there in this regard, even if it is part of the general budget then the Kurdistan Region must hand over its production of oil to Sumo ".

The Kurdistan region is facing a financial crisis suffocating after the Iraqi government cut the province's share of the federal budget in early 2014 in addition to spending on the war against the sanctity and hosting of the region hundreds of thousands of displaced and refugees and low oil prices in world markets.

The Kurdistan Regional Government says it needs about 900 billion Iraqi dinars (more than 800 million dollars) a month for the salaries of its employees.

Observers believe that the federal government is trying to deepen the crisis in the Kurdistan Region by not sending the salaries of regional staff and the launch of promises to send without implementation and also reduced the share of the province in the federal budget for 2018 from 17 percent to 12, despite objections Kurdish.

[yota691]

Ankara denies agreement with Baghdad to hit the «Kurdistan» in Sinjar and Abadi confirms control of the border

Jubouri refuses to denounce the «Turkish incursion» ... Maliki's coalition relies on «force» 

 Bright Resan

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Turkey has retreated from its recent comments on launching a military operation to hunt down elements of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Sinjar district, northwest of the Iraqi city of Mosul, saying it would not make such a move "without the approval of Baghdad." 
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi received a telephone call from his Turkish counterpart Ben Ali Yildirim on Tuesday. 
According to the statement, Yildirim «blessed the victories achieved by Iraq to organize a supporter of the terrorist, praising the decisions of the federal government to open airports Erbil and Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan region and pay the salaries of staff of the region». 
The statement quoted the Turkish Prime Minister as saying that his country «implemented the decision of the federal government to return flights to the airports», while referring to «the absence of an agreement between the Iraqi government and the Turkish on the operations in the territory of Iraq to hunt elements of the PKK».
He added: "What happened was a lack of accuracy in the transport, where we wanted to say that we will not do any operations without the consent of the Iraqi government did not mean we agreed with them," noting that "Turkey respects Iraqi sovereignty and will not do any work exceeded it." 
Abadi said that «Iraqi security forces impose their control over the entire territory of Iraq», and pointed out that Abadi directed the Iraqi federal forces during his recent visit to Mosul «full control of the border, and the prevention of any foreign fighters, has happened and the border is now controlled by Before our forces, and we reject any transgressions on Turkey through our territory. " 
The two sides also discussed a number of issues related to economy, energy, trade and other joint issues and the importance of meeting officials in both governments to resolve them.
In the parallel, the chief of staff of the Iraqi army, Lieutenant General Osman al-Ghanmi, accompanied by a number of military commanders, arrived in Sinjar district, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defense, which confirmed that the reason for the visit was to "inspect the pieces of the 15th division of the Iraqi army, Iraq and Turkey ». 
Iraqi parliament speaker Salim al-Jubouri refused to include a paragraph on the agenda of Tuesday's session to discuss the Turkish "incursion" into Iraqi territory. 
"We have submitted to the Presidency of the House of Representatives a request signed by a large number of deputies, to put forward the Turkish intervention to discuss and come out with binding decisions," she told Al-Quds Al-Arabi. The government implemented, but the President of the Council, Salim al-Jubouri said the text; I do not accept to put this issue on the agenda ».
"We wrote a statement and asked to read it at the hearing to condemn and denounce the Turkish military intervention in Sinjar, but al-Jubouri rejected that as well."

«Preservation of sovereignty»

And expressed surprise at the "position of Jubouri on the subject affects the sovereignty of Iraq, which does not differ by two," calling on the Iraqi government to «take all necessary measures to maintain Iraq's sovereignty and security of its borders and citizens». 
MP Ahmed al-Asadi, the Iraqi government to take diplomatic action, on the Turkish position in Sinjar.
"The Iraqi forces are present in the Sinjar district, which controls the Iraqi border from southern Sinjar to Rabia (in Nineveh)," al-Asadi, a spokesman for Al-Amri's al-Fatah alliance, told al-Quds al-Arabi. By the Iraqi army and the brigades 40 and 36, in the popular crowd ». "So far, no Turkish troops have reached the Iraqi border or stormed into Sinjar ... It is still only statements, and the federal government has begun to take diplomatic steps to prevent this incident," he said, noting that "the Iraqi armed forces and the popular crowd Ready "if Turkish troops entered Sinjar.

Refusing the diplomatic solution

Although Iraq is heading towards a diplomatic solution, but the coalition «state law» led by Vice President Nuri al-Maliki, refused to deal with Turkey by diplomatic means. 
"The Iraqi government should deal with the Turkish side in the same way and refrain from diplomatic means by dealing with Erdogan because he does not understand the logic of force," MP Mansour al-Baiji said in a statement. 
He added: «Ottoman dream does not leave the dreams of the Turkish president as he tries to impose his influence and control of the region, taking advantage of the exceptional conditions experienced by the neighboring countries as he tries to impose his influence through the imposition of the status quo and the deployment of Turkish forces». 
"Any Turkish force must be treated as a Gazan force no less dangerous than terrorist gangs. Erdogan must understand that Iraq is not weak and can defend its land and its skies from any enemy that tries to undermine it," he said.
He pointed out that «the Turkish forces stationed on Iraqi territory should leave as soon as possible and the Iraqi government to deal with these forces as gas forces can not remain on our territory after today». 
"Erdogan must be well aware that any attempt to overcome Iraqi sovereignty will not allow it and we will defend our country as we defended and freed it from the gangs of the terrorist, especially since Erdogan and the two sides of one coin." 
The coalition has already considered the announcement by the Turkish president to launch a military operation in Sinjar and the entry of its forces into it as a declaration of war and occupation.
The coalition spokesman Abbas al-Moussawi said in a statement that «any military operations of Turkey in Iraq is an aggression and occupation», indicating that «the vision of a coalition of state law while maintaining Iraqi sovereignty and rejection of foreign interference, because the Iraqi sovereignty is a red line and can not be affected . The Maliki coalition considered the Turkish positions as "contrary to the provisions of international law and principles of good neighborliness," pointing out that "Erdogan still dreams of the return of the Ottoman Empire to expand in Iraq and Syria." 
He called «the Iraqi government to face Turkey with the trade paper, especially that the trade exchange between Iraq and Turkey amounts to about 12 billion dollars, all in favor of Turkey, as Iraq is a major market for Turkish goods».
The Nineveh Provincial Council counted the recent Turkish threats on Sinjar as "overstepping the sovereignty of the country," calling on the central government to take a formal stance to prevent the repetition of these rhetoric, which it called "the Erdogan." "The threat of Erdogan is rejected and touches Iraqi sovereignty and will remain an Iraqi Sinjar with the protection of the Iraqi armed forces," Council member Hayam al-Ham said. 
It called on the government to "take an official and urgent position to prevent the repetition of these statements and rhetoric", calling on neighboring countries to "respect the sovereignty of other countries and respect the right of sovereignty and borders with Iraq."

Mar 28, 2018

 

[nannab]

I might be way off base but why hasn't NATO spoken up?

[bigwave]

"aid to the Peshmerga forces will continue, indicating that the amount of aid was $ 365 million last year, but the suspension of    operations against Da'ash this year reduced the size of this aid to $ 290 million. 
basnews

Wow I hope we get our money back...

[justchecking123]

1 hour ago, yota691 said:

Parliamentary Finance: Baghdad to send 418 billion dinars per month to Kurdistan

According to the Budget Law ...

 

 27/03/2018 - 22:51

 

 

 

A member of the Finance Committee of the Iraqi parliament, on Tuesday, that if Iraq deals with the Kurdistan Region in accordance with the budget law will have to send the amount of 418 billion dinars per month to the Kurdistan Region.

"According to the general budget law for the year 2018, the Iraqi government to send 418 billion dinars per month to the Kurdistan Region," pointing out that "does not know yet to any law adopted Abadi send 317 Billion for the region. "

The government of Abadi had sent days ago the amount of 317 billion 540 million and 465 thousand dinars, saying it is for the salaries of all employees of the Kurdistan region, after it had previously reported as salaries of employees of the ministries of health and education only.

MP Ahmed Haj Rashid, explained that "the amount sent does not include welfare allowances, and do not know whether Iraq will continue to send the amount of 317 billion per month to the territory or not."

Haj Rashid added by saying, "If this amount was a financial advance, then there should be an agreement around it, but so far it seems that the Convention there in this regard, even if it is part of the general budget then the Kurdistan Region must hand over its production of oil to Sumo ".

The Kurdistan region is facing a financial crisis suffocating after the Iraqi government cut the province's share of the federal budget in early 2014 in addition to spending on the war against the sanctity and hosting of the region hundreds of thousands of displaced and refugees and low oil prices in world markets.

The Kurdistan Regional Government says it needs about 900 billion Iraqi dinars (more than 800 million dollars) a month for the salaries of its employees.

Observers believe that the federal government is trying to deepen the crisis in the Kurdistan Region by not sending the salaries of regional staff and the launch of promises to send without implementation and also reduced the share of the province in the federal budget for 2018 from 17 percent to 12, despite objections Kurdish.

Looking good.

[yota691]

Kurdistan approves new system to save salaries

March 28, 2018

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Knozemedia - Economy  

 

The Kurdistan Regional Council (KRG) has approved the new system of saving salaries, Kurdish media reported on Wednesday.

 

"The Council of Ministers of the Kurdistan region, today, on the new system of saving in the salaries of employees, is scheduled to announce the Prime Minister Nechervan Barzani details of that day during a press conference.

 

The site added that "employees of the level of 3 to 10 the percentage of savings in their salaries from 10% to 30% and 1 to 2 savings rate in their salaries is 40%, with the survival rate of savings in the salaries of special grades as they are between 75% to 80% And that what has to do with managers and general managers, the proportion of savings reduction in their salaries from 75% to 40%.

 

The bloc "change" Kurdish parliamentary accused on Tuesday the Kurdistan Regional Government to "steal" the money sent by Baghdad as allocations of salaries of staff of the region, noting that Arbil handed over a quarter of the salary of the month of November to employees. ss 

[yota691]

A senior US official begins a visit to Baghdad and Ankara

March 28, 2018

18 views

 

 

  

 Knosmedia - Politics 

 

The State Department said Wednesday that a senior US State Department official will visit Iraq and Turkey to discuss bilateral security and defense cooperation.

"Deputy Assistant Director of State Department for Political and Military Affairs Tina Kidanou will visit the two countries between March 28 and April 3," a ministry statement said.

"In Ankara, representatives from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Defense and defense industry officials will meet to exchange views on bilateral security and regional issues as part of the defense-trade dialogue between Turkey and the United States," he said.

"She is also expected to visit Baghdad to meet with government officials to discuss regional security issues and US security assistance programs," he said. ss 

[yota691]

The Government of the Territory endorses the new system of saving salaries

12:18 - 28/03/2018

 

Information / Baghdad ..

Kurdish media reported on Wednesday that the Council of Ministers of the Kurdistan region approved the new system of saving in the salaries of employees.

"The Council of Ministers of the Kurdistan region, today, approved the new system of saving in the salaries of employees, and is scheduled to announce the Prime Minister Nechervan Barzani details of that day during a press conference."

The site added that "employees of the level of 3 to 10 the percentage of savings in their salaries from 10% to 30% and 1 to 2 savings rate in their salaries is 40%, with the survival rate of savings in the salaries of special grades as they are between 75% to 80% And that what has to do with managers and general managers, the proportion of savings reduction in their salaries from 75% to 40%.

The bloc "change" Kurdish parliamentary accused on Tuesday the Kurdistan Regional Government to "steal" the money sent by Baghdad as allocations of salaries of staff of the region, noting that Arbil handed over a quarter of the salary of the month of November to employees. Ending / 25

[yota691]

5 days old...

After Months of Acrimony, Baghdad Strikes Deal With Kurds

Iraqi and Kurdish leaders reached an agreement in time for the Kurdish new year festival, ushered in with a fire ceremony on Tuesday night in Akra, Iraq.CreditAri Jalal/Reuters

By Margaret Coker

March 22, 2018

ERBIL, Iraq — Markets are bustling with shoppers seeking new holiday outfits. Airport flight boards feature packed schedules. And political tempers, which were erupting a few months ago, are tamped back within the bounds of diplomatic niceties.

These scenes illustrate a remarkable turnaround in relations between Iraq’s central government in Baghdad and the Kurdish regional government in Erbil since last fall, when Iraqi troops were battling Kurdish fighters after a controversial Kurdish referendum for independence. After the vote, Iraqi forces reasserted federal control over key oil installations and banned international flights to Kurdish airports, depriving the Kurds of two of their most potent symbols of autonomy.

Ahead of the Kurdish new year festival on Wednesday, Iraqi politicians announced an agreement capping months of back-room negotiations aimed at alleviating the political fallout and the Kurds’ economic hardships and ultimately at bringing Iraq’s Kurdish region back into the fold.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi approved the transfer of $268 million to the Kurdish regional government to pay the salaries of Kurdish security forces and thousands of civil servants, whose livelihoods have been hostage to the dispute between the two capitals. Those political battles center on the Kurdish goal of independence from Baghdad, and the inconvenient fact for the Kurds that they are dependent on federal money while they pursue that dream.

 

Baghdad agreed to send half the funds needed to pay government salaries, with the understanding that the Kurdish regional government in Erbil would pay the remainder with its own oil revenues.

In an interview outside his home village on Tuesday, Masoud Barzani, the former president of the Iraqi Kurdish region and still a central political figure, struck his own note of conciliation and hailed this week’s agreement as a “breakthrough.”

 

 

“It is important to find a new formula for our mutual benefit, so that we, as two good neighbors in full confidence with each other, can move forward,” he said. “We hope that such a breakthrough can help alleviate some of the economic hardships that our people are suffering right now.”

Mr. Abadi offered his own good-will gestures that he said were aimed at proving to the Kurds that he considered them a vital part of the stronger, united Iraq that he hopes to build after the victory over Islamic State last year.

 

International flights resumed this week at Kurdish airports for the first time since Baghdad banned them in September.CreditSafin Hamed/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

His government declared a two-day national holiday for the Kurdish new year, a tradition that predates Islam and is not celebrated by Iraq’s Arab majority. On Tuesday, Mr. Abadi delivered a brief holiday greeting in Kurdish, a first for an Iraqi leader despite the fact that Kurdish and Arabic have both been official languages of Iraq for years.

 

“I want to congratulate our Kurdish citizens in Kurdish,” he said during his weekly news conference in Baghdad. “I don’t speak it, but it is meant to prove that Iraq is one and united. We don’t want a return to division.”

Iraq’s Kurds, who account for the majority of three northern Iraqi provinces, have long dreamed of independence, a goal that they hoped would accelerate after the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. The referendum held in September came after years of acrimony with the central government in Baghdad over oil revenues and the control of borders and security in the Kurdish region.

Baghdad opposed the vote, which threatened to sheer off a strategically important northern border region at a time when the government was fighting the Islamic State for a third of the country.

Although relations between Baghdad and Erbil have normalized again, major differences remain. Most Kurdish leaders still espouse independence and the two sides have yet to work out a formula for sharing federal oil revenue.

Iraq’s Kurdish region is mired in an economic crisis driven by many causes, including its reliance on public sector jobs as political patronage, a reputation for corruption and the lack of clarity about the legality of oil deals the Kurdish government signed with international oil companies.

Kurdish leaders have not paid full salaries to government employees in almost two years, since Baghdad cut budget payments in response to the Kurds keeping revenue from local oil deals. The Kurdish security forces, known as the pesh merga, have been paid by the American-led coalition, which depended on them to help defeat the Islamic State.

The Kurdish government has insisted it lacked the money to pay these salaries, although it has never released an audit of its own substantial oil revenues.

 

Even this week’s salary deal does not seem to have fully resolved the problem.

Civil servants in Erbil reported Monday that they only received half of their monthly salary, leading to questions and recriminations about which set of politicians — Erbil or Baghdad — weren’t holding up their end of the bargain.

 

 

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, seen here in Mosul, Iraq, this month, delivered a holiday greeting in Kurdish to prove that “Iraq is one and united.”CreditIraqi Prime Minister's Office, via Reuters

A statement from the Kurdish regional government cited by Kurdish media on Monday blamed Baghdad for not sending enough money to cover the wages.

Mr. Abadi said Tuesday that his government paid what it had agreed to.

A Kurdish government spokesman said Wednesday that the government would meet after the holiday to assess its cash flow and decide what to do about its portion of the salary bill.

Despite the uneven rollout of the salary payments, the other part of the deal came off without hitch.

On Monday, the first international flights landed in Erbil since the October crisis, one from Jidda, Saudi Arabia, and the other from Dubai. Other regional carriers said they would resume their flight schedules soon. Baghdad’s demands that Erbil end its longstanding flouting of Iraqi visa rules appear to have been accepted, officials said, but the control of customs in Kurdish area airports still need to be worked out.

Around Erbil, even the partial payment of wages lifted spirits, providing a much-needed cash injection to the local economy and some hope for the end of the political crisis.

Burhan Dabbagh, 56, said he was seeing greater demand at his clothing shop in Erbil’s old city, as more shoppers had disposable income for holiday purchases. He credited Mr. Abadi.

 

“We rely on Baghdad for our entire well-being,” Mr. Dabbagh said. “It’s the best of solutions that we could have hoped for.”

Other shopkeepers in Erbil’s old city expressed similar pro-Abadi views, citing his management of the political crisis in addition to their disgruntlement with local Kurdish leaders and what many see as their long history of corruption.

Yet some civil servants said they feared that their well-being would continue to be a political Ping-Pong ball, especially with national parliamentary elections coming in May, since the underlying political disputes have not been solved.

Speaking of both governments, in Baghdad and Erbil, Safeen Daher, a 49-year-old driver for the Ministry of Education in Erbil, said: “We are victims between them and their politics.”

 

 

Falih Hassan contributed reporting from Erbil, Iraq, and Muhammed Nashat from Barzan, I

[The Englishman]

Finance Minister: KRG delegation in Baghdad to discuss budget issues

 Baxtiyar Goran |

An hour ago

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The Kurdistan Region has shown willingness to discuss several issues with Baghdad. (Photo: Archive)

 

Kurdistan Iraq Erbil Baghdad Relations 

 

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Minister of Finance on Wednesday revealed that a Kurdish delegation was in Baghdad to discuss the budget issues with the Iraqi government and reach an agreement on Kurdistan’s oil sales.

In an interview with a group of journalists, including a Kurdistan 24 correspondent, the KRG’s Minister of Finance, Rebaz Hamlan, said a delegation from the KRG had visited Baghdad to discuss the budget issues and Kurdistan’s share of the national budget.

The Kurdish minister said the dialogue with Baghdad over outstanding issues would be based on the interests of the people of Kurdistan, adding that both sides could reach a final deal on the Region’s oil sales shortly.

“As part of the agreement between Erbil and Baghdad, the Iraqi federal government intends to send more money to the Kurdistan Region,” Hamlan added.

The KRG’s current oil exports are between 300,000 to 320,000 barrels per day, Hamlan noted, stating that Kurdistan sells its crude oil at 10 USD lower than the Brent benchmark price.

“Low oil prices, the war against the Islamic State, and the influx of displaced persons and refugees in the Kurdistan Region have limited the KRG’s revenues,” Hamlan explained.

He added that the Kurdistan Region often faces technical issues when selling oil to international buyers which causes disruptions in the KRG’s revenues and eventually delays the distribution of salaries in the Region.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

[tigergorzow]

Barzani says KRG made tremendous headway to end salary cut

March 28 2018 05:09 PM

Barzani says KRG made tremendous headway to end salary cut

 

Kurdistan Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani on Wednesday affirmed that his Kurdistan regional government had made tremendous headway to end salary cut for officials working in the government.

After a meeting with Kurdish Cabinet, Barazani announced that government reduced salary cuts for high-earners to as low as 30 percent, down from about 60 percent.

The measures come as a response to anti-government protesters, calling for an end to the unpopular salary system introduced by the KRG in 2016. It also comes in light of funds sent by the Iraqi government to the Kurdistan Region.

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/25391/Barzani-says-KRG-made-tremendous-headway-to-end-salary-cut

[yota691]

Germany to resume flights to Kurdistan and set the date

 Twilight News    

 3 hours ago

The German airline "fly germania" decided to resume its European air flights to Erbil and Sulaymaniyah international airports in the Kurdistan Region, as of the fifth of next April.

According to the "fly germanyia" website, the company, one of the largest German and European airlines, with flights to European, African and Middle Eastern countries, will operate direct flights between Europe and Kurdistan from April 5.

After six months of suspension of international flights at Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi decided to reopen international flights and resume the transfer of passengers through them.

Keywords:

 

 

[yota691]

Minister of Finance of Kurdistan reveals new lists of employees and the price of selling oil

 Twilight News    

 3 hours ago

The Minister of Finance in the Kurdistan Region, Rabaz Hablan, on Wednesday, the preparation of new lists of employees of the Kurdistan region in the light of new amendments set by the Council of Ministers in the region.

"We have to prepare new lists of salaries of employees, and we will start this as of Thursday," he told reporters, noting that "the priority of the Kurdistan Regional Government applied the demands of the federal government."

He added that "the amount of 317 billion dinars, which arrived from Baghdad recently is not within the budget allocated to the Kurdistan Region of the federal budget."

Helwan pointed out that "the company Deloitte oil audits all accounts with the Kurdistan Region," echoing that "the Kurdistan region sells barrels of oil about $ 10 less than its price in world markets."

He stressed that "any prime minister is expected to follow the agreement concluded between Baghdad and Erbil," stressing that "the provision of the Kurdistan Regional Government salaries to employees is not on them."

"We have decided to amend the salary system according to the increase in revenues received, and the rate of deduction of salaries will be between 10% and 30%, and this amendment only includes the salaries of the employees of the region will be between 10 percent and 30 percent. Regular employees and excluding those with special grades who will be paid in accordance with the current deduction system. "

"The savings system will be abolished only for ordinary employees, and employees with salaries of 400,000 or less will receive full salaries without any deduction," he said.

He added that "the employee whose salary is 840 thousand dinars will be the savings rate of 18%, while employees whose salaries between one million and one and a half million dinars will be the savings rate of 23%, and savings by 30 will be the employee director general and above."

The head of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Nechirvan Barzani, announced earlier in the day on the imminent abolition of the system of saving salaries on a final basis.

And followed the Kurdistan austerity measures since 2016, especially pay salaries after a financial crisis hit the region in 2014 as a result of the collapse of oil prices and cut Baghdad salaries sent to employees of Kurdistan.

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[yota691]

Barzani discussed with a US delegation military files on Iraq and Kurdistan

 Twilight News    

 3 hours ago

The head of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Nechirvan Barzani, received on Wednesday the new commander of the coalition forces in Iraq, General Walter Bayit and US Consul General in the region, Ken Cross and the accompanying delegation.

"The meeting was held in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, during which the delegation expressed the readiness of the International Coalition for cooperation and coordination with the Peshmerga forces in addressing the terrorist and urged, and stressed the need to be proud of the people of the region and the international community victories achieved by the forces Peshmerga, which was for the sake of all humanity and expressed his country's readiness to continue and strengthen cooperation and coordination more between Arbil and Baghdad.

For his part, Barzani expressed the readiness of the regional government for any cooperation and coordination, especially in the areas currently facing the dangers of the return of terrorism to it, stressing a number of political, economic and social steps to reassure the displaced to ensure their return to their areas.

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[yota691]

deputy: the reform law will provide 100 billion to Kurdistan

 Twilight News    

 15 hours ago

A member of the Finance Committee of the Parliament of the Kurdistan Region Izzat Saber said on Wednesday that the adoption of the reform law in the parliament would contribute to the abolition of the savings system for the staff of the region.

"It is expected that the law will be ratified within the next 20 days, which provides the Kurdistan Region about 100 billion dinars, so it is possible to cancel the system of savings, not only legalization."

He added that "there are financial problems addressed by this law, including the amendment of the mechanism of the allocation of risk, to become only those who deserve it, while now is the conduct of ministries full staff."

It is noteworthy that the Council of Ministers of the Kurdistan Region met before noon Wednesday under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Nezhirvan Barzani and in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, where the new system was approved to distribute the salaries of employees.

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[yota691]

Arbil and Baghdad are close to agreeing on a "joint administration" of the disputed

Talks between ...

 

 29/03/2018 - 11:50

 

 

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Both the federal governments and the Kurdistan region are trying to agree on a form of joint administration of the Kurdish regions outside the administration of the Kurdistan Region or the so-called (b) disputed, to end the situation that emerged in those areas after the 16 of October 2017, while drawing an official of the Kurdistan Democratic until.

Iraqi forces and militias took control of the city of Kirkuk and large areas of Kurdish areas outside the administration of the Kurdistan Region in an attack launched on October 16, 2017 in response to a referendum conducted by the Kurdistan region and won the overwhelming support for independence from Iraq.

The referendum, which was opposed by Baghdad, included the disputed areas, including Kirkuk, one of the most prominent.

According to information near the conclusion of talks between the two sides, Kurdistan and Iraq on the joint administration of those areas to the agreement, pending the constitutional rule 140 is doomed.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi expressed his support for coordination between the Iraqi army and the Peshmerga forces to impose security on the two sides, saying that "the security system in Iraq is one and support any coordination to impose security in the disputed areas" .

Spokesman of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Mahmoud Mohammad, pointed out that there are talks between the federal governments and the Kurdistan region on Kirkuk and the Kurdish regions outside the administration of the region to address the problems on them and find a joint mechanism for its administration until the implementation of Article 140, as well as the aim of restoring the situation in those areas before the October 16 "He said.

In turn, is scheduled to return Ribawar Talabani, head of the provincial council of Kirkuk, who left a number of members of the city council to the Kurdistan region after the events of October 16, and have been in Erbil since that date, to Kirkuk and exercise their duties as a first step.

 Talabani said, "The steps of the Kurdistan Regional Government aimed at convergence and resolving the problems that emerged between the governments of Iraq and the Kurdistan region after 16 October 2017." "But if the Iraqi government applies the constitution there will be no problems, especially Article 140, it will resolve all these problems."

The spokesman for the Arab tribes in Nineveh, revealed the US efforts to return the Peshmerga forces to all areas of Kurdistan outside the administration of the Kurdistan Region, and the establishment of a joint administration with the federal forces.

On March 17, Sheikh Muzahim al-Hewitt said that a "high-level" US delegation would visit Baghdad and Erbil to agree on a formula for joint administration in the "disputed" and redeployment of Peshmerga forces alongside federal forces.

He pointed out that the US leadership has informed Baghdad about the redeployment of the Peshmerga forces in all the disputed areas and the formation of a joint operations room between the two sides, supervised by the US forces, adding that "the Arab tribes were informed by the US government in Washington."

The security situation deteriorated significantly in the disputed areas after October 16, and he resumed his activity significantly through bombings and attacks, despite Abadi's declaration that the organization had finished and "the final victory" over him late last year.

[yota691]

POSTED ON 2018-03-29 BY SOTALIRAQ

Erbil reveals "serious" talks with Baghdad on the dues and loans of oil companies

Secretary of the Council of Ministers of the Kurdistan Region Amang Rahim on Wednesday talks between the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Oil on a solution to the disbursement of financial dues and loans to oil companies operating in the region.

Rahim said in a press conference held today in Erbil, "There are serious talks between the two ministries on the dues and loans of oil companies operating in Kurdistan."

He added that there are positive signs looming in the horizon to reach an agreement between the two sides, saying that in the event of an agreement, those loans and receivables fall on the sovereign expenses within the federal budget.

Rahim pointed out that Baghdad will send 40 billion dinars to the families of martyrs and anfal.

[Butifldrm]

2018-03-29 BY SOTALIRAQ

Erbil reveals "serious" talks with Baghdad on the dues and loans of oil companies

Secretary of the Council of Ministers of the Kurdistan Region Amang Rahim on Wednesday talks between the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Oil on a solution to the disbursement of financial dues and loans to oil companies operating in the region.

Rahim said in a press conference held today in Erbil, "There are serious talks between the two ministries on the dues and loans of oil companies operating in Kurdistan."

He added that there are positive signs looming in the horizon to reach an agreement between the two sides, saying that in the event of an agreement, those loans and receivables fall on the sovereign expenses within the federal budget.

Rahim pointed out that Baghdad will send 40 billion dinars to the families of martyrs and anfal.

https://www.sotaliraq.com/2018/03/29/أربيل-تكشف-عن-محادثات-جدية-مع-بغداد-بش/

[Butifldrm]

2018-03-29 BY SOTALIRAQ

The Government of Kurdistan adopts a new system of salaries

The Supreme Council of Economy in the Kurdistan Regional Government, headed by Nechirvan Barzani, is currently holding a second meeting to adopt one of the proposals on the abolition of compulsory savings system and the adoption of a new mechanism to pay salaries.

The source said that the Council of Economy is currently meeting to determine a proposal regarding the salaries of employees and employees of the Government of the Territory to be put and vote at the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Kurdistan to be held later in the day.

The source added that the government had already approached a new system of payment of salaries, indicating that the system depends on the reduction of 10 to 30 percent of salaries, while the system of compulsory savings is canceled.

The source pointed out that this system does not include government officials and members of parliament and high-ranking people who receive high salaries, as the savings system will apply to them.

The Supreme Council of Economy in the Kurdistan Region, headed by Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday to discuss the amendment of the system of saving the salaries of employees and workers in the region.

A government source said today that it was decided during the meeting that the Council of Ministers of the region will convene on Wednesday, 28/3/2018 instead of Thursday to discuss the latest proposals on the system of compulsory saving and decided on this matter.

According to the source, will be the adoption of a new system of salaries in the interest of employees and workers in Kurdistan according to the revenues achieved by the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

The source added that the proposal, which is likely to be adopted by the Council of Ministers of the province is a compromise between the old official salary, which was spent before the financial crisis in 2014, and what the staff currently receive according to the system of compulsory savings, adding that there will be a new salary system in Kurdistan.

The Kurdistan Regional Government stopped the abolition of the system of saving salaries on the continuation of Baghdad to send the amount of 317 billion and 540 million and 465 thousand Iraqi dinars to the region, adding the revenues of oil and internal revenues in Kurdistan to pay the full salaries of employees.

And organized training and government officials demonstrations in several cities in Kurdistan to protest against the austerity measures followed by the provincial government since 2016, especially pay salaries after a financial crisis hit the region in 2014 as a result of the collapse of oil prices and cut Baghdad salaries paid to employees of Kurdistan.

Abadi had recently announced that his government will begin before the holiday of Noruz holidays pay salaries of employees of the province of Kurdistan, the monthly withdrawn several years ago; because of differences between Baghdad and Erbil.

The issue of salaries of the region's employees is one of the outstanding issues between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region.

The escalation of the crisis between Baghdad and Erbil after the conduct of the Kurdistan Region referendum self-determination last September, and the subsequent actions taken by the Iraqi government and neighboring countries against the region, including the closure of border crossings and the prevention of air traffic.

However, these files found a way to resolve in turn, the impact of several contacts and meetings between the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and the Prime Minister of Kurdistan Nechirvan Barzani.

https://www.sotaliraq.com/2018/03/29/حكومة-كوردستان-تعتمد-نظاما-جديدا-للرو/

[idplzr]

3 minutes ago, Butifldrm said:

2018-03-29 BY SOTALIRAQ

The Government of Kurdistan adopts a new system of salaries

Thank you Buti. Great to see.