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

[10 YEARS LATER]

1 hour ago, King Bean said:

Maliki was allowed to ignore HCL and Article 140, now look at this mess. If Baghdad DOES closes off Kurd oil through Turkey, then SOMO loses any income derived from that....and we know they are hard pressed for $$$. The GOI wants to remove Kurds from parliament seats, but force them to stay part of Iraq. Now the Sunni's are talking referendum. So what is Baghdad going to do, expel them all so the Shia can govern everyone?? It's a mess. Address oil HCL and profit sharing and Article 140. Get a handle on this Abadi. And fast. Elections are coming and nobody wants to see Maliki in the mix again. Just my humble opinion anyway. 

 

You make the case for Catastrophic Dumb Azz most compelling KB - 

[tigergorzow]

MP: Kurdistan to adopt 2003 borders, if it wants to form state

October 06 2017 01:09 PM

MP: Kurdistan to adopt 2003 borders, if it wants to form state

Kurds were the top participants in the Iraqi political process since 2003 and had more rights in Iraq than any other country, MP of Nineveh Ahmed al-Jabouri said.

Jabouri added that the Iraqi constitution doesn't include any laws that allow carrying out referendums.

Jabouri also asserted that he is against forming a Sunni state, as Sunnis populate all the Iraqi soil.

He further added that if Kurdistan leadership insisted on forming a state, they must adopt pre-2003 borders.

This comes as Kurdistan carried out an independence referendum on 25th of September, with an overwhelming vote to secede from Iraq.

 

Iraqi government strongly opposes the referendum. It took punitive measures against Kurdistan region government to abolish it results. 

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/17873/MP-Kurdistan-to-adopt-2003-borders-if-it-wants-to-form-state

[tigergorzow]

Kurdish delegation supports Allawi's initiative to end referendum crisis

October 06 2017 10:44 AM

Kurdish delegation supports Allawi's initiative to end referendum crisis

 

The escalation between Baghdad and Erbil, after Kurdistan had conducted the Region's independence referendum, will not solve the crisis as well as it will not serve Iraqi people's interest, Iraqi VP Ayad Allawi said Friday. 

During his meeting with Kurdish Gorran Movement delegation, headed by the Deputy Speaker of the parliament Aram sheikh Mohammad, Allawi confirmed that the dialogue is the best way to solve this current crisis, concerning the referendum. 

He praised the Kurdish-Arabic relationship through the past years in their fight against terrorism, warning from using this crisis to distort this relation. 

Meanwhile, the delegation thanked Allawi for his efforts to contain the crisis.

The delegation also declared its support to Allawi's initiative to end Erbil-Baghdad conflict. 

On September 25, Vice President Allawi announced the launch of a national initiative to address the current crisis, while warning regional countries not to interfere in Iraq's internal affairs.

Also on Sep. 25, Kurdistan has conducted the Region's independence referendum with 91.83% of the region's residents voting for the independence of the region.

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/17856/Kurdish-delegation-supports-Allawi-s-initiative-to-end-referendum-crisis

[tigergorzow]

KIU: Baghdad's racism against Erbil is reason behind recent escalation

October 06 2017 12:23 PM

KIU: Baghdad's racism against Erbil is reason behind recent escalation

Kurdistan's will which was expressed in the recent referendum, must be respected, Kurdistan Islamic Union leader Mathna Amin said on Friday.

In a statement, Amin added that Kurds have the right to establish their country, like Arabs, Turks and Persians.

He further added that if the Iraqi leadership is not willing to implement radical changes in its system, then it is better for Kurdistan to secede from Iraq.

Amin asserted that Baghdad's latest decisions are illegal, noting that the Iraqi Army retreated willingly from both Mosul and Kirkuk.

Amin also stressed that Baghdad's policy is despotic that relies on oppressing Kurdistan, asserting that its racism stands behind its recent escalation against Erbil.

Amin revealed that Baghdad is led by former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki's State of Law Coalition, who defy incumbent Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's policies.

This comes as Kurdistan carried out an independence referendum

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/17869/KIU-Baghdad-s-racism-against-Erbil-is-reason-behind-recent-escalation

[tigergorzow]

Republican Sen. says Kurds shouldn't give up their dreams

October 06 2017 10:42 AM

Marco Rubio

US Republican Senator Marco Rubio says his country will not allow any militias to ignite a war against the Kurdistan Region over the Sept. 25th independence referendum, noting that the Kurds are not required to give up their aspirations.

 

Rubio said in a press statement that "the subject of the referendum should be a subject of dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad."

The Kurds gave an overwhelming YES vote in their historic referendum. This led Baghdad central government and Iran to take punitive measures against the region.

Baghdad rejects the independence referendum and insists on canceling its results.

The Republican senator called on both Baghdad and Erbil to calm down, pointing out that the escalation harms both sides while strengthens Iran, which "seeks not only to control Iraq but also the Kurdistan region."

"There are many parties that are trying to push the region towards tension but we are seeking stability. We do not demand that the Kurdish people give up their dreams and aspirations, but these aspirations need a stable atmosphere," Rubio said.

The leaders of Kurdistan emphasize they want dialogue with Baghdad, renounce violence and resolve all issues through peaceful means.

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/17855/Republican-Sen-says-Kurds-shouldn-t-give-up-their-dreams

[yota691]

Disputes and conflicts raging advocates of separation in northern Iraq

07/10/2017 12:00 am  Erdogan reveals a tripartite agreement to prevent the export of oil and Yildirim to visit Baghdad {soon}  capitals / follow - up to the morning ,  informed sources confirmed inside Erbil, the intensification of differences and conflicts between the Kurdish leaders that contributed to the referendum illegal on 25 September and caused by the crisis experienced by the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq, while the United States announced its support for the invitation of Prime Minister Haider Abadi to manage the disputed areas jointly. "The idea of jointly managing the disputed areas is a good idea by establishing a joint security force from all sides," US ambassador to Iraq Duklas Silliman said at a press conference at the embassy in Baghdad on Thursday. "He supported it," Sileman said. That "all the security forces have a responsibility to protect Iraq and the Iraqi regions and people," stressing that "all parties are working on the unity of Iraq rather than disagreement."  Turkish  President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that the three countries have decided to establish a joint mechanism Especially considering the decision to freeze the flow of oil from northern Iraq, "declaring near the closure of land crossings with Iraqi Kurdistan. Erdogan said to the outgoing regional president Massoud Barzani: «Israel is the only one behind you, you sit on the table and on your right a former French Foreign Minister, pointing to {Kouchner} and your left another Jew, and these are not friends of you, today are standing next to you and tomorrow will disappear, You have to cooperate with us, "Erdogan said." What will you do now (after insisting on the separation referendum)? " Where are you going? And how will you enter and exit from Kurdistan? The airspace (of northern Iraq) is closed and soon the land crossings will also be closed. " Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that "there are intentions to form a new Israel in the region." Khamenei said during a meeting with the Turkish president in Tehran on Thursday that Iraq's referendum was a "betrayal of the region" , And referred to the long-term consequences of this move on neighbors. Turkish Prime Minister Ben Ali Yildirim plans to visit the capital Baghdad. "We have received an invitation from the Iraqi prime minister to visit Baghdad," Yildirim said in a press statement on Friday. "Work is under way to determine the date of the visit and its agenda, According to analysts, the visit of the Turkish Prime Minister comes to unite efforts between Ankara and Baghdad in the face of the referendum in the Kurdistan region. In an unprecedented Iranian warning, the head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian Parliament, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said that there is a clear relationship between the developments in the Kurdistan region and the lack of " We say that the unity of Iraq is a red line for us, so we know that we will not stand idly by and look at the crossing from this red line. "  Differences and cracks Kurdish sources revealed on Friday that there were major differences in the Barzani house, which could lead to the overthrow of the president of Iraqi Kurdistan, outgoing Massoud Barzani, replacing him as the head of government to the territory of Nejirvan Barzani, while sources close to the existence of sharp differences within the party The Kurdistan Democratic Party, especially between Nejirvan and Barzani pleased about the presidency of the region on internal and external pressures because of the referendum and the repercussions of the region, indicating that the Kurdish blocs reached the conclusion that the exit from the crisis lies Masoud Barzani from power. The MP for the alliance of Kurdish blocs in the Iraqi parliament Zana Said in statements quoted by foreign agencies on Friday: «Differences within the Kurdistan Democratic Party, on the referendum is there and there is a difference between his leaders before the referendum», and explained that «Nechirvan Barzani (nephew of Massoud) Barzani, "the head of the Kurdistan government was not enthusiastic to hold a referendum in Kurdistan, unlike what was Massoud Barzani» Said expressed his belief that «reach the differences to the abandonment of neighboring countries, especially Turkey and Iran, in addition to other supportive countries for Massoud Barzani, His brother, Nejirvan Arzana Chairman of the current Government of the Territory. » On the level of Kurdistan's future options, the Kurdish MP said that «the region is now looking for an outlet to conduct dialogues with Baghdad to convince the political partners on the subject of the declaration of the Kurdish state», but the deputy said: «The region today is working to gain time, and is trying to alleviate the tension that caused By the referendum and reassure neighboring countries and to dispel fears and reduce threats in the future ».  Change block In the same context, received the President of the Supreme Islamic Council Hamoudi Hamoudi in his office in Baghdad on Thursday, the delegation of the Change Bloc parliamentary headed by Aram Sheikh Mohammed, said a statement Hamoudi office: "Sheikh Mohammed confirmed the position of the block of change adhering to the Constitution and reject the timing of the referendum at a critical stage, Hoping that «the crisis does not take further escalation to the detriment of the interests of the Kurdish people and bear the burdens of living difficult, because of the error committed by the authority of the region, which singled out the decision, frozen the parliament, and accounted for the wealth of personal interests», Hamoudi said that «the solution to your hands and the forces The Kurdish people hold onto the pal Store, who participated drafted it is the guarantee of the rights of all », stressing that« the Kurdish people is more affected by the referendum, and that the government of Iraqi national forces keen on the interests of the county authority ».

[tigergorzow]

Iranian Merchants Concerned over Losing Market in Post-Referendum Kurdistan

 

Basnews English

06/10/2017 - 23:25

Kurdistan

 

 

 

ERBIL — Iranian merchants have appealed to Tehran authorities to ease the tensions with Kurdistan Region as it adversely impacts their business. 

According to a report by Radio Zamaneh, Tehran’s economic measures against Erbil are now harming its own huge trade with the Kurdistan Region due to the fact that over 470 Iranian companies are operating there with almost an equal number of joint-ventured Kurdish-Iranian firms.

The economic measures come after Kurdistan Region held an independence referendum late in September, a move which angered Tehran, Ankara, and Baghdad.

Head of the Iran-Iraq Joint Trade Room revealed previously that Iran’s monthly trade with Kurdistan Region is estimated at $600 million.

Iraq is the first target market for Iran’s exports. At least %33 of Iranian exports to Iraq are sent to the Kurdistan Region, official documents show.

Kurdistan Region has three official international border crossings with Iran.

Hamid Hosseini, Head of Iran-Iraq Joint Trade Room, said in a conference earlier that Tehran should take all the dimensions into consideration before making any decision in reaction to Kurdistan Region’s independence vote.

He urged his country to not act before the Iraqi central government when it comes to the economic ties with Erbil.

 

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/383621

[DinarThug]

Barzani's family seeks to exclude Massoud in order to avoid the total loss of power

PM 3:55:32 10/5/2017
/ BAGHDAD

In light of the expected economic crisis in the northern Iraqi region, and the possible loss of the leaders of the region, especially from the family Barzani, and the close to him, to many of the assets and investments, and the collapse of oil smuggling projects, there were major differences in Barzani .House on the exclusion of Massoud from power, Expected disaster With signals from Turkey that it is seeking an alternative to Massoud, in coordination with Iran, .Barzani forces are already seeking to overthrow Mas'ud A member of the Barzani family said that the experience of the dictator Saddam Hussein should be awakened, and that the sacrifice of Mas'ud is worse than the loss of power from the entire ruling family.

This is confirmed by Iraqi media sources, Thursday, October 05, 2017 that the MP from the Kurdistan Alliance Zana Said, said in a press statement, "There are differences within the Kurdistan Democratic Party, on the referendum, and there is a difference between his leaders until before " Referendum.

Nizarvan Barzani, nephew of Massoud Barzani, the head of the Kurdistan government was not" enthusiastic to hold the referendum on independence in Kurdistan, unlike what was Massoud ".Barzani Said expressed his belief that "the differences reach the abandonment of neighboring countries, especially Turkey and Iran, in addition to other supporting countries of Massoud Barzani, to be ".replaced by his nephew Nigervan Barzani, the current head of the provincial government Sources do not rule out that Negrevan is behind-the-scenes contacts from Turkey, especially as he fears the sons of Barzani, who are fanatical to their father's views, and fear the growing influence of .Nigervan.

The statement of Hero Ibrahim, wife of the late Jalal Talabani, in which the opposition strongly .declared the referendum, the dispute between Nijervan and the family members Barzani At the same time, sources said that Massoud Barzani ordered the organization and scheduling of family assets in foreign banks to avoid any possible loss of power and influence, especially as some
of these funds are registered with the names of agents controlled by FB Barzani, and that they will take advantage of any opportunity to acquire funds As happened with the late dictator Saddam Hussein, where agents and agents seized him, a lot of funds, companies and investments that were .registered in their names.

The Committee on Security and Defense parliamentary, confirmed through the "obituary" on the .need to remove the outgoing head of the northern region, Massoud Barzani from office The member of the Committee Iskandar and Tut, in an exclusive interview with the "obelisk", the .validity of Abadi, allow him to dismiss Barzani and choose a new personality to manage the region
He added that "Barzani is not fit to be president of the region," noting that "all the crises in the region remained the same and will continue, and the main source is the survival of Massoud in the ".presidency.

The province of Kurdistan under the Barzani, the political crisis and financial crisis is the most in its history, because of the corruption of the outgoing administration of Massoud Barzani, according to .observers and observers, as well as being a tribal and tribal leader, more than anything else

http://almasalah.com/ar/News/1.....9%85%D9%84

[tigergorzow]

Baghdad ready for talks with Kurds: Iraqi Ambassador to Russia

By

News Desk

-

06/10/2017

0

On the 25th of September Kurdistan region of Iraq held a referendum on independence. The federal government of Iraq considered it illegal.

In the interview for TASS, the Ambassador of Iraq to Russia, Haidar Mansour Hadi, stated how Baghdad is going to manage the situation.

Among the other themes were fighting against terrorism and the perspectives of cooperation between Moscow and Baghdad in the rebuilding of Iraq after the imminent defeat of ISIS (terrorist organization, prohibited in Russia).

 

 

Full TASS interview below:

 

— Mr. Ambassador, my first question – maybe it is a little straightforward, a little provocative – is there any possibility of open conflict between central government of Iraq and Kurdistan?

You mean military conflict?

— Yes.

I don’t think so. It is unlikely, because there is high level of coordination between Iraqi forces and peshmerga in fighting terrorism, in fighting ISIS (terrorist organization, prohibited in Russia – TASS). And I think both sides know that such conflict will not be good for both sides. Plus both sides are Iraqi, it will mean Iraqi – Iraqi conflict. We hope it will not reach that level. So I would say no.

— Could you say that this completely out of the question?

I mean, for now that is out of the question. Iraqi government has every means to force the stability and unity of Iraq. And Iraqi Parliament actually authorizes the Iraqi government to use every means necessary including military measures, but that’s out of the question.

— But there are some territories which cause some concern. What about Kirkuk?

Yes, Kirkuk is very sensitive issue. I think the Constitution made it clear about Kirkuk and other territories that have to be agreed by the Federal government and Kurdistan government to have a shared power in them. And that will be up to the Federal government to make sure that happens. And that is one of the points that Parliament of Iraq authorized the government to do, authorize Prime Minister to do, which is to send troops to Kirkuk to stop any military movement there. And that’s what will happen.

— But all that will happen, as I can understand, will happen within the framework of the Constitution?

Of course. Everything, all the government measures will take in accordance with Constitution and legal frames set by Iraqi government.

— My next question concerns territories which are held by the Kurdish forces after the recapture of Mosul. They liberated some territories that are not part of Kurdistan during the fighting with ISIS. Do they withdraw from them?

Yes. I mean that Prime Minister made it very clear to the leadership of Kurdistan that they need to withdraw from these areas that were captured after the invasion of ISIS to these parts. As I said, the government will use all measures under Constitution, all legal measures to make sure it will happen.

— But the Kurds – are they agree with the withdrawal? Do you have any problems with them withdrawing?

They need to obey by the Constitution. They were part of writing of Constitution back in 2005. When there was the referendum in 2005 to see what Iraqi think of the Constitution, the provinces of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Dohuk voted ‘yes’ with the percentage of about 99%. This percentage was much higher than in any other Iraqi province. That means they themselves wrote the Constitution and they need to obey by it. The referendum we witnessed on the 25th of September was the clear violation of the Constitution in writing of which they participated. That’s what the Iraqi government is trying to say: we have to go back to the Constitution, then we can sit down and talk to resolve any issues we have. There are few major issues that need to be resolved and they never are resolved unilaterally just like what happened at the referendum. Both sides need to sit down and agree on resolving these issues.

— And are those major issues from your point of view?

They are the issues of Kirkuk and the other areas that were captured after the invasion of ISIS. It’s the oil export, the Kurdistan leadership export around 900 000 barrels a day without the approval of Iraqi government. The Iraqi government doesn’t know where the revenues of these exports go. They are not going to the people of Kurdistan. So the Iraqi government needs to know it because all revenues have to be distributed equally and the beneficiary should be the Iraqi people. When you export 900 000 barrels a day and you don’t know whether the revenues go to the Iraqi people – and by the way, Kurdish people are Iraqi people, Prime Minister made it clear that the Kurds are part of Iraq, they are Iraqi, they will be treated as such and the Federal government has the constitutional and the moral obligations to the Kurdish people. And the tensions now – they are not between the government and the Kurdish people, no, they are between the government of Iraq and the Kurdish leadership.

— As of now, are there any changes to the scheme of oil purchases and oil transportation from Kurdish territories to the central part of Iraq and other countries?

 

Iraqi government has made steps to get control over of all oil exports and also of the borders with other countries like Syria, Turkey and Iran. This is responsibility of the Federal government, it needs to control them in coordination with the Kurdistan region. In the past unfortunately the Federal government was not involved in oil exports from the region and export of goods through borders. But now Prime Minister made it clear that Federal Government will have a say in these areas, on these and other borders, airports. That’s also under the Constitution.

— Has this situation caused drops in oil export or are you expecting such drops?

Iraqi government’s exports – it is business as usual. There are no drops. There are also some talks… To be honest I read interview that the Sputnik did with the Deputy Head of Parliament of Kurdistan region. Unfortunately there were a lot of false accusations against the Iraqi government. One of the things he said is that the Iraqi Government is punishing the Kurdish people and that is not true. The Prime Minister Heidar al-Abadi made it clear: the Kurdish people are Iraqi people. There are free movements of goods, domestic flights are still open for operation and there were no stoppage to domestic flights. There are flights from Baghdad, Erbil, Baghdad – Sulaymaniyah, Basra, Najaf, Sulaymaniyah So there is no stoppage to that.

Only suspension – and this is temporary – is to the international flights until transition of control to the Federal government. Then the flights will resume. So there is no blockage, there is no siege of any kind. The Iraqi government has obligation to the Kurdish people. So the problem, the tension we have is with the Kurdish leadership. Not with the Kurdish people, not even with the Kurdish political parties, because according to our information there is a division between Kurdish parties. Some political parties are sceptic about what’s happening, they are sceptic about the referendum and the things that behind it. They have fears of control by one party after the referendum. So there is a problem in Kurdish political process. This proves that not everyone in Kurdistan wants to be separated.

I have talked to a few friends from Erbil and Sulaymaniyah and they were totally against it. Some political parties publicly said that they are against it. There is also a movement in Kurdistan, I think it is called “No to the referendum movement”, and they were publicly opposed to the referendum.

— There is a lot of talk by (Head of Iraqi Kurdistan) Masud Barzani about some kind of negotiations with central government of Iraq. Recently I have read about plan by Vice President Ayad Allawi which was presented to the Prime Minister of Iraq Heidar al-Abadi about negotiations. Are they the same talks that Barzani proposes or do you see them differently?

 

Mr. Masoud Barzani proposing to go to Baghdad and engage to the negotiations with results of the referendum, and that is totally opposed by the Iraqi government. Prime Minister Doctor al-Abadi is ready and opened to the negotiations but first they have to announce that referendum is against the Constitution, that it is illegal, that there is a problem with the legitimacy of the referendum. And not only Iraq said that: most of the countries, the major countries including Russia, United States, Turkey, Iran, United Kingdom, France, Germany – they all want the unity of Iraq.

I had the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and he made it clear to me that position of the Russian government lies with the unity of Iraq, unity of its territories and engaging in direct negotiations to resolve all issues. Unfortunately some Kurdish media trying to present the position of Russian government as supporting referendum, but no, it’s not true. That’s from Russian officials, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. They were opposing of what was happening in Iraq. They were always strongly announcing they with the unity of Iraq and it is clear to us that they are against the referendum. So all this countries, the international community is against the referendum. So only way to resolve those issues is by going back to the Constitution. We don’t want any conditions and the negotiations have to be without any preconditions.

— But as I can understand you want Masoud Barzani to say that the referendum was illegal?

Yes, because it is illegal, the referendum is against the Constitution, the Constitution they wrote themselves including Mr. Masoud Barzani. We are not against the wishes of the Kurdish people, we are with them, but there is way to do it. It means you have to go through the Parliament, and there are Kurdish representatives there. All they need to do is submit the official request: we have to do the referendum, and then it will be discussed in the Iraqi parliament. The referendum they did was only in the three provinces.

What about the other provinces? Iraq consists of 18 of them. Any referendum in Iraq has to include all Iraqis, not only three provinces. And without any observers from international community, from the Iraqi Federal government we are not sure if the percentages of the votes are true, because there is nobody to verify the results. The said 93% (in support of independence – TASS), but is that true?

 

So it has to go according to the Constitution, through the Parliament. There are steps to be discussed before any referendum could take place in Iraq.

— How do you see the resolution of this whole situation? What are the aims of Baghdad in this crisis?

Now we are fighting the vicious war, we are fighting terrorism. We have international support in this. We are fighting terrorism – Kurdish forces with the Federal government forces together. In some parts they fought together, in some parts federal forces fought. The referendum is clear violation of the government efforts and danger to the war against terrorism that is creating unstable situation. That is what we don’t want to happen. So Baghdad position is very clear – we want the things to be done legally.

Unfortunately the referendum was illegal, it was unilateral decision, not bilateral, plus there is international rejection of the referendum, of the separation of Iraq. Every country, even Arab League voted unanimously against the separation of Iraq. UN Security Council voted unanimously against the separation of Iraq. You have al-Azhar in Egypt, the religious authority, religious authority in Najaf in Iraq which also against separation of Iraq. So the whole world is against the separation, any illegal and unilateral actions. We hope that this message will get through and the Kurdish leadership will accept to engage in negotiations with Baghdad without preconditions to resolve all issues.

— Do you see any international help in negotiations as useful? I saw the USA proposed help as mediators in those talks.

The USA made their position very clear. Foreign Secretary Rex Tillerson few says ago said at the press-conference said that the United States don’t accept the results of referendum which happened in Kurdistan and they against any separation and support the unity. He had even said that the referendum was clear violation of the efforts against terrorism, that it can slow down the pace of fighting in Iraq, so the United States totally against it. Russian Federation is totally against it. Other countries are against it. They are with the unity of Iraq. If they had a choice between Baghdad and referendum, I think everyone would choose Baghdad. That is a clear message from international community for the unity of Iraq. The same is with Iraqi government – we are for the unity of Iraq and the Federal government will take all measures necessary to keep Iraq united.

 

Plus one of the things the Kurdish leadership said that they were unfairly treated by the Iraqi government and that is why they went for the referendum – I would argue against this. They are an important part of Iraqi political process since 2003. Unfortunately yesterday we witnessed the passing of the former President Jalal Talabani, and he was Kurd, even current president (Fuad Masum) is the Kurdish. We had Foreign Minister from 2003 until 2014 from Kurdistan. We have ministers, we have ambassadors, deputy ministers, members of Parliament from Kurdistan. 17% of the federal budget goes to Kurdistan. So I don’t see where they were unfairly treated. They are very important part of the political process, the real partners. So there is no base to these allegations.

— Do you need any international help for the negotiations between central government and the Kurds?

No, we don’t need international help. It is an internal issue and we are capable of resolving it. Any international support would be appreciated but we believe it is an internal issue and we are capable of resolving it. The Kurdish leadership has to go before the 25th of September, before the referendum, so we can go and have real and objective and positive negotiations.

— I saw announcement about the stoppage of the financial operations between central government and Kurdish regions. What does this mean?

This mean that the Federal government will take its responsibilities to the Kurdish people. The Iraqi government job will be to provide salaries for them, to provide everything because these seems to be a problem when money given to the regional government. So the government now will take it’s responsibilities and have control over the borders, goods going in and out and have control over the airports and the financial support. As i said before, the Kurdish people are Iraqi and the Prime Minister is the minister of whole Iraq. So he will be responsible for looking after Kurdish people. So there is no fight, no blockade between, no problem between the central government and the Kurdish people. There is a problem between central government and the Kurdish leadership. They made it very difficult be going to the referendum.

— Just to be clear – people of the Kurdish region will not stay without salaries and pensions?

No. The Iraqi government has been paying regional government, so it is a moral responsibility even towards the Kurdish leadership to make sure that the Kurdish people get paid. So now Iraqi government is stepping forward to take this responsibility because unfortunately this did not happen previously.

 

 I want to ask few questions which are not directly concern the Kurdish referendum. The fight against terrorism – how is it going after the liberation of Mosul? What are the main goals now?

Our Prime Minister recently had press-conference where he pinpointed the main developments in the war against terrorism. It is going very well. Now we are at the last stages of fighting, of liberating Hawija, the last stronghold of ISIS fighters. Once we liberated Hawija hopefully whole Iraq will be ISIS-free. There is high coordination between different Iraqi forces, the military, federal police, peshmerga and the popular mobilization units. Everyone is working together to win the war against ISIS.

We won the war against ISIS, now we are hopefully within days when in a very short time the Prime Minister will declare that the war against the terrorism has been won by Iraqis. We managed to win the very difficult war and that proves the determination of Iraqi people, proves the will of Iraqi people for the stable country. We are looking forward for stable, united Iraq.

And while us talking about the victory I have to mention the Russian part in this victory. To be honest the Russian Federation played big part in winning the war against terrorism as well as the international community. As the Iraqi ambassador to the Russian Federation I have to say that Russia was the vital partner to us with the information center in Baghdad, also through the military supplies, military training. So Iraq and Russia are the strategic partners in the war against terrorism.

— My congratulations with this great victory. But now that the war is almost over i guess Iraq will not need any direct Russian help in this fight?

Of course we will need Russian help. After we win the war we will have to rebuild Iraq. We will have to rebuild all the areas destroyed by the ISIS, by the war. Iraq will need the expertise of the Russian companies. I had the meeting last week with Iraqi-Russian business council. We discussed the cooperation between Russian companies and Embassy to support Russian companies to play a big part at the Iraqi market. There’s going to be a lot of business opportunities, especially in the areas destroyed by the ISIS. So we will continue to need Russian support and so it will not stop.

— To continue the theme – recently we have witnessed reopening of direct flights between Moscow and Baghdad. What do you think it could bring to both countries?

It was a great achievement in Iraqi – Russian bilateral relations. The last direct flight between Baghdad and Moscow was in July 1990. After 27 years we managed to reopen direct line. Today probably in about 15 minutes the plane will arrive, as every Wednesday. Hopefully in future it will be twice a week. This will open the doors towards more business opportunities. This – direct flights – proves that the relationship between Russia and Iraq is strong. So having direct flights brings not only the economic benefits. It will also benefit Iraqi students – we have 5 000 Iraqi students studying in the Russian Federation. It is also good news for them.

— When Vice President Nuri al-Maliki visited Russia recently he said something about purchases of Russian military vehicles, even something about Russian military presence in Iraq. Was there any continuation to these ideas?

No, no. There is military support for Iraq from Russia through military supplies, through training. But on the ground there were only Iraqi fighting the war against the terrorism, and the Prime Minister made it clear. But we are open to any kind of air support, any kind of support that will help us. But in the war on the ground there are only Iraqi forces.

 

— But even for air support you need to invite…

We are issuing visas to military personnel, they are going to Iraq to train Iraqi forces, Iraqi pilots how to use Sukhoi and other equipment. So there is coordination and working relationships between two countries.

— If you inviting Russian personnel for training you are buying Russian vehicles?

Exactly, we are buying them as I said. We have military attaché here and he is in charge of all military deals. Former Prime Minister al-Maliki, I think back in 2014, signed 4,2 billion (dollars) military deal with Russia. So we buying weaponry, buying tanks and everything… so there is military cooperation between the two countries.

— Are there plans for any new military deals?

That’s continuous meetings, continuous work. Current contracts are still being executed. Hopefully in the future there will be more contracts because the relationship between our countries goes back more than 73 years and most of the weaponry we have is Russian. So there will be continuous support as long as we have military attaché here in Moscow and embassy in Moscow and Baghdad there will be business relationship.

 

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/baghdad-ready-talks-kurds-iraqi-ambassador-russia/

[yota691]

Akademi: Time is still early to resolve the crisis between Baghdad and Erbil

 

 Since 2017-10-07 at 11:43 (Baghdad time)

Baghdad - Mawazine News

"It is still too early to solve the crisis between Baghdad and Erbil," said academic and political writer Kazem al-Mikdadi.

"Everyone knows that the escalation continues, and this escalation will reach a closed road, because all parties do not want a military solution," he told Mawazine News.

"The Kurds are still ecstatic in the referendum, but the domestic and regional pressure from (Turkey) and the international community (from America) could be the main reason for the Kurds to bow to the federal government through negotiations that will take two years," he said.

He said that "these negotiations, which may take two years will make the Kurds are subject to negotiations in accordance with the Constitution and the law referred to by Prime Minister Haider Abadi."

The spokesman for the Kurdistan Regional Government, Sven Dzei, that the Kurdistan region and formally is still part of Iraq.

"The region will not take any step in the future except through talks with the federal government in Baghdad."

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi called on the Kurdish authorities to abolish the outcome of the referendum on independence held in northern Iraq as a condition for dialogue to resolve a deepening crisis.

[yota691]

The change calls for the end of the family rule in Kurdistan and the removal of Barzani

 

 From 2017-10-07 at 12:36 (Baghdad time)

 Baghdad Mawazine News

The leader of the Kurdish Movement for Change, Mahmoud Sheikh Wahab, said Saturday that there is no solution to the crises and problems of the Kurdistan region internal and external, but the end of the Barzani family rule.

Wahhab told Mawazine News that the movement of change presented its candidate Mohamed Tawfiq Rahim to the presidency of the region, but he was rejected by the Electoral Commission to claim that he submitted the nomination on the last day of submission.

He added that "the Kurdistan Democratic Party led by Barzani is the one who controls the political decision and all the authorities in Kurdistan subject to him," pointing out that "the continuation of Barzani in the presidency of the region as a single candidate constitutes a violation and violation of the law."

He pointed out that "Barzani, even if he stepped down, will offer a substitute for him either his son is pleased or his brother-in-law Nejirvan and to solve the problems of the region only when the end of the family rule in Kurdistan."

[yota691]

Barzani renews call for dialogue with Baghdad

 

 From 2017-10-07 at 11:32 (Baghdad time)

Baghdad Mawazine News

The head of the Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani, Saturday, the readiness of Arbil for talks with the central government in Baghdad

"The opportunity for a dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad is available at all times," Barzani said in a speech during a wreath on the grave of the former president and PUK Secretary-General Jalal Talabani.

Barzani described Talabani's death as a "big loss" and called on all Kurdish parties to "preserve the unity of the Kurdish ranks."

[yota691]

2017/10/06 (21:01 PM)   -   Number of readings: 1988   -   Number (4034)

 

 

Baghdad and Erbil intensify their meetings to resolve 3 files before starting negotiations

 Baghdad / Mohammed Sabah 
 

Officials from Baghdad and Erbil continue unannounced meetings to bring the views of the federal government and the region closer to the referendum held on the 25th of last month. 
The bilateral meetings aim to reach solutions on three issues: the referendum, the disputed areas, the implementation of some articles of the constitution and the stalled legal provisions. 


The (extent) has revealed on the third of this month about the existence of undeclared contacts brought together officials of the federal government with officials in the Government of the Territory in preparation for starting a dialogue and get out of the repercussions of the referendum in the Kurdistan region.
"The meetings between representatives of the federal government and officials in the Kurdistan region are continuing without interruption," said the MP from the Kurdistan Democratic Party bloc Tarek Siddiq in an interview with Al-Mada yesterday that "the meetings are looking at three files: the question of the referendum and the fate of the disputed areas And the implementation of all constitutional articles stalled, "asserting that" the Kurdistan region is still part of the federal Iraq was not separated from him. " 
The Kurdistan MP pointed out that these meetings are continuing and aimed to agree on solutions to all problems and differences from the referendum to the disputed areas and even the application of some articles of the Constitution and suspended materials. 
Some local and international mediators have led contacts in recent days that have contributed to easing tension and bringing Baghdad and Erbil closer together, leading to an agreement that seeks to resolve all problems and disputes through dialogue.
The United States, Britain, Germany and France are making great efforts to bring together the views of the federal government and the Kurdistan region against the backdrop of the resulting problem between the two parties after the referendum on self-determination calls for a total calm and non-escalation. 
"There are several initiatives put forward by the French president and the United Nations and America and even Russia to resolve the crisis between Baghdad and Erbil to remove all the obstacles left by the self-determination referendum conducted by the Kurdistan region."
At the local level, the Vice President of the Republic, Iyad Allawi, an initiative 11 days before the approval of the Kurds, while Baghdad did not talk about them. The initiative included calling for freezing the results of the referendum during a period of transition, whereby a responsible and constructive national dialogue will be held to deal with all differences in order to safeguard and preserve the common heritage and consolidate it, and devotes all that strengthens the Arab Kurdish brotherhood. 
Baghdad refuses to recognize the results of the referendum, and refuses to freeze its results, because acceptance of the freeze necessarily means recognition of the referendum. 
The head of the parliamentary bloc of the National Coalition MP Kazem al-Shammari said in a statement to (range), recently, that the mass "will launch dialogues with the federal government and political forces in Baghdad before moving to the political forces in the Kurdistan region," explaining that " The media in all dialogues and negotiations. "
The head of the National Coalition that "the initiative was designed in two stages; the first open dialogues, and the second implementation of what was negotiated." 
But Allawi's coalition sent the initiative to the President of the region Massoud Barzani, who interacted with them, before meeting with officials in Baghdad. 
Commenting on this, describes the Kurdish leader initiative "mission", pointing out that it is able to "resolve all differences and intersections between the federal government and the Kurdistan region." 
On Baghdad, the Kurdish MP says that "all parties are waiting for the response of the federal government to this initiative in order to enter into force." 
"The acceptance of the initiative of Iyad Allawi and our welcome does not mean rejection of initiatives made by some international bodies, but on the contrary, we respect these initiatives and appreciate."
"The coming days will reveal the results of the negotiations and talks between the federal government and the Kurdistan region." 
In turn, says the leader of the National Coalition Adnan Aldenbos (range), if all the parties concerned agree to defuse the current crisis in a calm way away from the challenge and the escalation of language. " 
It is likely the leader of the Allawi coalition , " the arrival of the government 's response to the initiative , the middle of this week. 
"Continues Aldenbos that "the government's approval of the initiative means our entry into the stage of identification of meetings between the parties to present all the problems and points of contention to seek solutions to the existing crisis."

[yota691]

 

 

Iraq says that he asked Turkey and Iran more than a week ago to close the ports on Kurdistan

By

 rami

 -

October 7, 2017

 

 

 

 

Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Mahjoub said in a press statement that the Iraqi Foreign Ministry confirms that it has submitted an official memorandum to the embassies of both Turkey and Iran in Baghdad more than a week ago included a formal request for the Iraqi government from the two friendly countries includes the following:
1. Dealing with the federal government exclusively with respect to border ports and closing all ports with these two countries until they are handed over to the federal government.
2. Suspension of all commercial transactions, especially those related to the export of oil and its sale with the Kurdistan region and that deal with this file with the Iraqi federal government exclusively.
He said that the Iraqi government is working with the Turkish and Iranian sides to cooperate in carrying out all measures taken to enforce the constitution and the law and that the two neighboring countries deal with the Iraqi federal authorities in accordance with the principles of good neighborliness, respect for Iraqi sovereignty,

[yota691]

The scenario of the Kurdish and alternative situation

 

Dr.. Hosny Nasr 174  2017-10-07

 

 

It may be premature to predict what will happen to the new Kurdish crisis resulting from last week's referendum, especially if the announcement of the establishment of the Kurdish state results after the overwhelming majority of Kurds voted in favor of secession from the Iraqi state. Future scenarios seem ambiguous in the face of the Kurdish insistence that the referendum should not be held despite international appeals, broad regional and global rejection of the results and the insistence of the mother country, Iraq, to impose the will of unity on all its citizens in order to preserve the unity of the national territory.

The Kurdish situation appears to be a model of separation from the national state and the formation of new political entities on ethnic, sectarian or religious bases. These are situations that humanity has known throughout its history, resulting in changes in geographic and political maps, and situations that will not end as long as life continues on this planet. Suffice it to point out that the fever of separation, which knows no boundaries in recent days to the old European continent, which is expected to have seen on Sunday a referendum similar to the Kurdish referendum, to vote on the secession of the province of Catalonia for the Spanish Kingdom, which stands, such as Iraq , Against this referendum does not recognize his legitimacy and try to prevent him by all means.

Let us first agree that the Iraqi, regional and international annoyance of the secession of the Kurds from the body of the Iraqi state and the formation of an independent entity within Iraq seems justified and logical. Therefore, all the actions taken by the federal government in Baghdad to delegitimize the referendum, Is justified and logical. In this context, too, regional concerns, especially from Iran and Turkey, can be understood from the establishment of a new state on their borders and their determination, with their different motivations, to stand up to it with all force, in addition to the global concern expressed by the United States of America and Russia, The United Nations and the League of Arab States.

The referendum was then held without the consent of the original party (the Government of Iraq) and the regional and international parties. However, the most important step remains the activation of the results of this referendum and the announcement of the actual separation and establishment of the state. Indeed, the separation between the referendum and the declaration of the state may have been intended by the Kurds to open the way for negotiators from all parties to delay or perhaps freeze these results, in light of the Iraqi rejection of the strict and expected isolation of the new entity, which began to block flights from him and the mechanism, Export of oil.

If we use the alternative scenario approach to what might be the case in the Kurdish situation, the post-referendum scenario does not outweigh one possibility: that it ends up standing at the end of the referendum and does not go beyond it. The success of this scenario depends on the size, effectiveness and continuity of the Iraqi, regional and international threats, which may prompt the Kurdish leaders to temporarily freeze the situation and stop talking about secession, using the results of the referendum as a pressure on Baghdad to gain new benefits and rights that support the already existing autonomy of the Kurds. Any geopolitical changes in the region may return the referendum to the fore and transfer its results to the act of secession later and in the context of different international and regional conditions.

Indeed, this scenario appears to be the closest to verification, especially since the alternative scenario tax could be costly to the Kurds and the material under the almost total international and Arab rejection of secession and may be seen as hampering efforts to stamp out the Da'ash organization. The use of this scenario, especially by the Kurds, would be the best solution, especially if they understood the lessons learned from the previous secession.

Over the past quarter of a century, only nine countries have separated from the mother countries of more than 200. Not all the experiences of secession have been successful. Some have been achieved through civil wars and human massacres, some of which have not yet been recognized internationally and others have not Of independence from the mother country. South Sudan, for example, announced its secession from Sudan on July 9, 2011 after a bloody civil war that lasted more than two decades and claimed the lives of about 2 million people. Although the referendum came within the framework of an international agreement through the United Nations (the Naivasha Agreement) and supported by the major world powers, led by the United States of America, which is missing from the Kurdish situation and has won the approval of the fledgling state's 99 percent, Failed states, and continue to suffer from ethnic violence and famine.

The model of the Kosovo state, which declared its independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008, is close to this model. Despite international support for its secession, Kosovo still suffers from the fact that almost half of the world's countries do not recognize it as an independent state. The European Union does not recognize them, has not yet joined the United Nations and suffers from many economic problems.

The alternative scenario for freezing the results of the Kurdish referendum is the Kurds' adherence to what they see as a national right for them and they declare separation from Iraq unilaterally and the establishment of their state in the Iraqi provinces they control. In this case, a fierce war could ignite the entire region, where the armies of Iraq, Iran and perhaps Turkey to restore the situation to what it was before the referendum. Military matters seem to have been settled in favor of Baghdad, backed by the region and internationally, given the weak potential of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, which are closer to the militias than to the army, which does not possess airpower.

The second alternative is to replace the war with a comprehensive blockade, a blockade that could lead to famine in the Kurdish provinces, which has already begun since last Friday. This siege may be prolonged, which weakens the new state and may push its citizens to abandon the dream of separation from Baghdad.

At this critical time it seems important for the Kurdish side of the equation to learn from the lessons of the secession that the world has witnessed in recent years. One of the most important of these lessons is that the path to secession is not easy and that its results do not often go to the benefit of the separatists. On the other hand, the federal government in Iraq should also learn from these lessons and realize that the desire of some regions of the state to secede has reasons that must be addressed quickly and that their expected success as a result of international and regional circumstances in overcoming this crisis does not exempt them from their responsibility in dealing transparently And justice with the aspirations of the people of these territories, so as not to keep the fire of separation under the ashes.

* Prof. Hosny Nasr - Head of Information Department / Sultan Qaboos University Al- 
Furat Center for Development and Strategic Studies / 2004-Ⓒ2017 
www.fcdrs.com

[yota691]

Learn about the most important international reactions to the referendum on the separation of Kurds from Iraq

 

Abdul Amir Ruwaih 369  2017-10-07

 

 

 

A wave of anger erupted following the recent referendum on the separation of northern Iraq, which was adopted by the Kurdish government, which is facing today the pressures and great challenges due to the recent actions and actions of the central government and some countries in the region, which categorically rejects the establishment of a Kurdish state, where agreed to Iraq, Iran and Turkey to take A series of sanctions and threats, to put the Kurdistan government under pressure and force it to change its current position, which is also opposed by other world countries. The escalating punitive measures adopted by the Iraqi government and the neighboring countries at the economic and diplomatic levels, according to some sources, which have placed the Kurdistan region in the grip of siege and isolation, can force the region's authority to review its accounts and find other ways to resolve the crisis without the need for military escalation. Border with the region and the freezing of all forms of communication and cooperation.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi called on the House of Representatives to cancel the results of the referendum and impose the application of Iraqi law on the territory of Kurdistan, and in turn called the parliament to oblige the commander-in-chief of the armed forces to take all constitutional and legal measures to maintain the unity of Iraq and protect its citizens, including ordering the security forces to return and spread in disputed areas Including Kirkuk, while the vote of the Council after the referendum on the closure of border crossings that fall outside the control of the federal authorities and consider the goods from which enter the smuggler.

The American position turned to rejecting the referendum, but escalated in its severity from expressing concern to objecting to the timing to issuing a clear statement from the White House that the referendum was an unnecessary threat to stability and to the achievements made in the war against an advocacy organization, especially if it was conducted in the disputed areas . The US side threatened to cut off military aid to the region if the idea of secession was pursued. Other Western countries such as Britain and France have expressed similar positions. On 14 September 2017, a delegation comprising representatives of the United States and Britain and the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq, Barzani, to postpone the referendum and start negotiations with the Iraqi government under the auspices of the international organization, but Barzani rejected the initiative as it does not contain international guarantees Sufficient to compel the Iraqi side to reach a clear agreement.

Iran and Turkey

In this regard, the Iranian and Turkish presidents pledged during talks in Tehran to work closely to prevent the division of Iraq and Syria and oppose Iraqi Kurdish efforts for independence. Relations between Shi'ite Iran and Sunni-dominated Turkey have traditionally been petty but the two countries are concerned about Iraq's independence vote in a referendum on September 25 for fear of fueling the separatism of Kurdish minorities living on their soil.

"We want security and stability in the Middle East," state television quoted Iranian President Hassan Rowhani as saying. "The independence referendum of Kurdistan is a separatist plot behind which foreign countries are opposed by Ankara and Tehran." "We will not accept border changes under any circumstances," he said. Iran and Turkey have already threatened to join Baghdad in imposing economic sanctions on Iraq's Kurdistan region and have carried out joint military exercises with Iraqi forces on their border with the region.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would take stronger steps in response to the Iraqi Kurdish referendum after it had already taken some action in coordination with the Iraqi central government and Iran. Erdogan is in talks with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "We have already said we do not recognize the referendum in northern Iraq," Erdogan said. "We have already taken action with Iran and the Iraqi central government, but stronger steps will be taken."

The Kurdistan region said it would call for presidential and parliamentary elections on November 1, prompting Baghdad to respond with more punitive measures. Baghdad, its neighbors and Western countries fear a vote for secession could fuel a broader conflict in the Middle East as well as Syria's war. And fear that it may distract attention from the battle against a hasty organization. The Kurds are the fourth largest ethnic group in the region and extend their presence through Iran, Turkey, Syria and Iraq. All these countries oppose any move towards the establishment of a Kurdish state. According to Reuters.

Erdogan, whose security forces have been fighting for decades with Kurdish separatists in southeastern Turkey, has repeated accusations that Israel is behind the Iraqi Kurds' referendum. "There is no other country that only Israel recognizes. The referendum held in coordination with the Mossad has no legitimacy. " Israel has denied earlier claims that Turkey was involved in the referendum, but welcomed the Kurds' vote for independence.

USA

In the same context, said US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that the United States does not recognize the referendum on independence held by the Kurdistan Regional Government and calls for an end to mutual accusations and "threats of reciprocal measures." "The United States does not recognize the referendum held by the KRG unilaterally. "The vote and the results are lacking in legitimacy and we will continue to support a united, federal, democratic and prosperous Iraq." "We call for calm and stop mutual accusations and threats of mutual action," he said.

Former US officials and political experts said the referendum dealt a blow to the United States, which over the years has tried to prevent Iraq from disintegrating and sacrificed billions of dollars and the lives of thousands of troops. They said a diplomatic effort had failed to persuade Kurdish leaders, one of the closest allies of the United States in the Middle East, to cancel the referendum in what appeared to be new evidence of a decline in US power.

"This is a major setback," said James Jeffrey, a former US ambassador to Iraq who currently serves as a researcher at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "It deprives us of saying that only the United States can keep Iraq united." Former officials and policy experts said it could make it harder for the United States to prevent a Shi'ite-dominated Iran from filling the vacuum left by a defeat by an organization calling for armed Shiite factions and other allies in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere.

Moreover, the referendum, which gives Kurdish leaders a mandate to negotiate the independence of their 8.3 million people, threatens to spark more conflict. This may hinder Washington's efforts to bring stability to Iraq and to eliminate the remnants of pro-democracy and similar groups.

"We see a great danger," a US official said on condition of anonymity. The biggest danger is a struggle over the oil-rich city of Kirkuk and other multi-ethnic areas controlled by the Kurds that puts Iraqi forces in the face of the Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government trained by the United States. Such a long-running conflict could dispel the hopes of the Trump administration in supporting the negotiations between Baghdad and the Kurdistan government, and to avoid declaring independence.

There were expectations that the United States, which said it would not recognize the referendum, may use its relations with Iraq's Kurds to persuade Iraqi Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani to cancel the referendum in return for playing the role of guarantor in talks with Baghdad. The United States protected Iraq's Kurds when they rebelled against Saddam Hussein after the 1991 Gulf War. "The Americans are the agents of Iraqi Kurdistan," said Robert Ford, a retired US diplomat who has served as deputy US ambassador to Iraq and currently works for the Middle East Institute. (In the referendum) a sign that American credibility is much less than it was. " According to Reuters.

Experts said the United States' bid to block the referendum was unsuccessful, partly because Barzani, an old man, considered achieving the aspirations of an independent Kurdish state to be his legacy. In addition, Peter Galbraith, a former US diplomat with ties to Kurdish leaders, said the Trump administration mistakenly thought Barzani could carry the violent response to canceling the referendum, which the White House had demanded just 10 days before. "This was a foolish diplomatic initiative I've ever seen," he said. Former ambassador Jeffrey said the administration also failed to assess Iran's growing influence. "One of the things that drove the Kurds in this direction is the fear that Iraq will be subject to the hegemony of Iran and the armed Shiite factions ... The main problem in Iraq is that the Shiite parties in Baghdad do not want to share power with Sunni Arabs and Kurds."

Israel and France

On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied the existence of any role of the Israeli intelligence agency "Mossad" in the referendum on the independence of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, after accusing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the role of the role in organizing the referendum is controversial, and Netanyahu "sympathized" with the Kurdish people . "This proves something: that the administration has a common history with the Mossad, they are going hand in hand," Erdogan said after criticizing the Iraqi Kurds' lifting of Israeli flags during their celebration of the outcome of the referendum.

The international community strongly condemned the referendum, while Israel was the only country to publicly support the independence of the Kurdistan region. In his weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu referred to Turkey's support for Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, before denying Erdogan's accusations. "I can understand why those who support Hamas want to see the Mossad every time they have a problem," Netanyahu said. "But Israel did not participate in the Kurdish referendum only with deep and natural sympathy and continued for years with the Kurdish people and aspirations." Netanyahu has supported "Kurdish efforts to establish a special state."

Meanwhile, France appeared to be backing down efforts to mediate between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan region's authorities, saying that the visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi to the country would focus on bilateral relations and fight Islamic militants. Although the call was made to Abadi before the referendum held by the Kurds in the Kurdistan region last month, the office of French President Emmanuel Makron issued a statement in which he offered to help ease the tension between Baghdad and the Kurds.

Abadi's office issued a response in which Iraqi officials made clear that the call was not linked to the Kurdish referendum on independence. "The president mentioned ... the importance of preserving the unity and territorial integrity of Iraq while recognizing the rights of the Kurdish people ... the Iraqis must remain united in light of the priority being given to fighting an organization that supports and stabilizes Iraq," the statement said. But a statement published by the French Foreign Ministry did not address the Kurdish referendum.

During a press briefing from McCron's office before the visit, senior officials repeatedly avoided answering questions about the Kurdish crisis, saying the visit was important to strengthen bilateral relations and assess the battle against an organization advocating and discussing reconciliation in general in Iraq. "At a time when the restoration of territory controlled by the organization has made great progress in the past few months, France wants to give the relationship with Iraq new momentum in all sectors and to develop cooperation, economic relations and political dialogue," the statement said.

A French diplomatic source said the Paris goal was to try to open up some form of dialogue between the two leaders. With the isolation imposed by the regional powers Turkey and Iran on the Kurds and the staunch US position on the vote, Paris, which has good relations with Baghdad and Erbil, had a chance to try to play the role of mediator. "The priority is to open a dialogue within the framework of the constitution," a diplomat said. According to Reuters.

A French presidential source asked if France wanted to play the role of mediator and whether it had also invited the head of the Kurdistan government Massoud Barzani to visit Paris, he replied that France supports all efforts to start a dialogue and he did not hear about calling Barzani. "You can feel there is some embarrassment about this," said a second French diplomat.

[Wiljor]

Iraq, October 7, 2017 

Turkish government will possibly not cut the Kurdish oil flow from Kirkuk to its port of Ceyhan since Turkey is significantly benefiting from the export, said a Turkmen official.

“Turkey and Kurdistan Region have many common interests, especially in trade and economy sector,” said Karkhi Alti Barmagh, Chairperson of Turkmen Democratic Movement.

He further explained that a huge number of Turkish companies are now operating inside the Kurdistan Region, and the rate of mutual trade between the sides is estimated at $6 billion.

Majed Bazargan, another Turkmen politician in Erbil, told BasNews that Turkey and Kurdistan Region have long ago passed the level of their strategic ties where they could trigger tensions.

According to Bazargan, Ankara is legally not able to halt Kurdistan Region’s oil export due to the fact that they have a contract for 50 years, from which both of the sides benefit equally.

Since the independence vote in Kurdistan Region on 25th September, Turkey has taken an opposing position via media only, but it seems reluctant taking any practical measures against Erbil.

basnews

 

http://iraqdailyjournal.com/story-z16001420

[Wiljor]

aq, October 7, 2017 

The Iraqi foreign ministry on Friday said that they officially called upon Turkey and Iran a week ago to only deal with the central government on border ports and in oil matters, also asking them to close all ports with Kurdistan until they come under the control of the Iraqi government.

 

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said that they submitted in a letter to Iran and Turkey a week ago through their respective embassies in Baghdad.

 

The statement explains that the letter had outlined two requests to Iran and Turkey, asking them in the first point of the letter to only deal with Baghdad on border ports and close the ports not under the control of the central government.

 

In the second point outlined in the letter, they have asked these two countries to halt all their business dealings with the Kurdistan Region, especially in the matters of oil exports and sales of the Kurdistan Region. Iraq has called upon these two countries to deal with Baghdad only in these matters.

 

The statement also says that the Iraqi government is working with Turkey and Iran to enforce all the decisions and implement all the measures they have agreed upon on the basis of the principles of neighborhood, protecting the sovereignty of the Iraqi territory and confronting the common threats.

 

http://iraqdailyjournal.com/story-z16000706

[Wiljor]

Iraq, October 7, 2017 

If people in Iraqi Kurdistan are not talking about the referendum on independence then they are discussing the arrival of new political alliance with the potential to change the Kurdish political landscape.

Right now, it may seem as though the Kurdish referendum on independence is the biggest news in the semi-autonomous, northern region. But in fact, there are also other moves afoot that could change the political landscape in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Kurdish politicians have announced that they will hold elections for the region on November 1 this year. This would see the election of the regional parliament and leaders.

Earlier in September one of the region’s most prominent figures, Barham Salih, announced that he was forming a new political alliance. He registered the list, called the Coalition for Democracy and Justice, and then on October 2, he announced in a video that the alliance would compete in the upcoming elections.

businessne

 

http://iraqdailyjournal.com/story-z16001250

[Wiljor]

Iraq, October 7, 2017  Turkish government will possibly not cut the Kurdish oil flow from Kirkuk to its port of Ceyhan since Turkey is significantly benefiting from the export, said a Turkmen official. “Turkey and Kurdistan Region have many common interests, especially in trade and economy sector,” said Karkhi Alti Barmagh, Chairperson of Turkmen Democratic Movement. He further explained that a huge number of Turkish companies are now operating inside the Kurdistan Region, and the rate of mutual trade between the sides is estimated at $6 billion. Majed Bazargan, another Turkmen politician in Erbil, told BasNews that Turkey and Kurdistan Region have long ago passed the level of their strategic ties where they could trigger tensions. According to Bazargan, Ankara is legally not able to halt Kurdistan Region’s oil export due to the fact that they have a contract for 50 years, from which both of the sides benefit equally. Since the independence vote in Kurdistan Region on 25th September, Turkey has taken an opposing position via media only, but it seems reluctant taking any practical measures against Erbil. basnews http://iraqdailyjournal.com/story-z16001420

[ChuckFinley]

Thanks Wiljor, think things are finally starting to jell for us.  

[Wiljor]

29 minutes ago, ChuckFinley said:

Thanks Wiljor, think things are finally starting to jell for us.  

 

Morning Chuck, yep, agreed brother, we/they are moving forward, perhaps not at the speed we want but progress is definitely being made. 

 

Sorry for the double posts DV, haven’t got my morning caffeine fix yet 

[tigergorzow]

Wiljor Thanks,  DV, All progress is positive IMHO.

 

GI HCL

 

GO RV / RI

[tigergorzow]

Sadr condemns Baghdad's gov't threats to Kurdistan

October 07 2017 06:02 PM

Sadr condemns Baghdad's gov't threats to Kurdistan

Sadrist Movement leader Muqtada al-Sadr described on Saturday the threats against Kurdish residents in Baghdad and other Iraq governorate, in the wake of Kurdistan's independence referendum, as a "political sedition".

He also called on all involving factions in the current Iraqi crisis to be rational and work hard in accordance to the constitution and to hold parliamentary and governmental sessions to solve this crisis.

Sadr asserted that he is willing to carry out any discussions or solutions for the greater good of the Iraqi society.

This comes as Kurdistan carried out an independence referendum on 25th of September, with an overwhelming vote to secede from Iraq.

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/17932/Sadr-condemns-Baghdad-s-gov-t-threats-to-Kurdistan

[tigergorzow]

Iraqi Official Threatens to Use Force to Seize Kurdistan’s Border with Turkey

 

Basnews English

07/10/2017 - 11:38

Kurdistan

 

 

 

ERBIL — Iraqi ambassador to Ankara Hisham Ali al-Akbar al-Alawi said on Friday that Baghdad may use force if necessary to take over the border crossings between Turkey and Kurdistan Region.

Alawi said that the Turkey-Iraq joint military drills on the border were intended to prepare for the task of taking over the border gates.

The Iraqi ambassador revealed that Ankara and Baghdad are currently discussing ways to open a new border crossing between the two countries, with the aim of developing cooperation and trade ties, noting that concrete steps will be taken in the next stage.

Alawi confirmed that the Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim is set to visit Baghdad in the upcoming days.

The Turkish Premier said that his country is planning to open a new border crossing with Iraq after the closure of the current gate, in response to the referendum of independence conducted by Kurdistan Region.

"We have proposed to Baghdad the opening of the new gate, west of Khabur gate currently in use, and we expect their support. We will be pleased to discuss this with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi," Yildirim told reporters.

Yildirim said he also wanted to strengthen cooperation with the Iraqi central government in the areas of economy, defense, security, and political issues.

 

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/383684