Adam Montana Weekly 3 July 2019

[Miamiheatnic]

Thank you everyone and Adam. We got this. 

[lmrs]

Very interesting information.  Thanks.

[6ly410]

New KRG’s priority to build ‘strong, constructive’ ties with Baghdad: Masrour Barzani 

 Kurdistan 24 |

16 minutes ago

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/e8976595-d767-4b5e-93c3-c5414a0096a3

 

 

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Masrour Barzani speaks at the Kurdish regional parliament during a swearing-in ceremony as Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Erbil, Kurdistan Region, July 10, 2019. (Photo: AFP/Safin Hamed)

 

Masrour Barzani KRG Kurdistan Region Kurdistan Iraq 

A+AA-

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – After being sworn in as the new Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani outlined the vision for his new government, underlining that one of its priorities will be to strengthen ties with the central government in Baghdad.

Barzani took his oath of office on Wednesday, confirming him as the new prime minister of the autonomous Kurdish region following a majority vote by parliament to approve his appointment and cabinet.

In an interview with Reuters at his office in Erbil, the Kurdish leader said the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) would work to build a “strong and constructive” partnership with the Iraqi government.

“The focus of my government will be how to build a stronger relationship and partnership with Baghdad,” Barzani said, adding his government would look for ways to mend the disputes that are “keeping us apart.”

The Kurdistan Region held a historic independence referendum in September 2017 where nearly 93 percent of voters chose secession from Baghdad.

The central government, though, rejected the legality of the vote and responded with a set of punitive measures including a flight ban and the use of military force to regain control of disputed territories between Erbil andBaghdad.

Ties between the two governments have considerably improved, thanks heavily to a change in government on both sides.

Among some of the outstanding disputes between the KRG and the Iraqi government are negotiations on oil and gas. The autonomous Kurdish government has exported its oil independently since 2013. Following the post-referendum fallout, the KRG agreed to send 250,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) to Baghdad in exchange for the payment of civil servants’ salaries. Officials in Iraq complain that the Kurdish leadership has failed to hold its end of the bargain.

According to Barzani, he sees room for “quick progress” on the matter as talks between Erbil and Baghdad on oil and gas disputes are ongoing.

“There is a great potential for a win-win situation,” he told Reuters. “Working together in cooperation with each other, we can increase the production of oil.”

The new Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) mission as outlined on its official website. (Photo: KRG/Screen grab)

During his inauguration speech at the Kurdistan Parliament on Wednesday, Barzani, who served as the former Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council(KRSC), called for further progress in developing a stable and constructive partnership with Iraq.

“Erbil and Baghdad both want security and prosperity, built on a foundation of mutual respect and cooperation,” he said.

Among the missions of his new government outlined on the KRG website is the renewal of Erbil-Baghdad relations as the Kurdistan Region enters “a new era.”

Good governance and reforms are also listed on the mission statement, which promises that the KRG “will dedicate itself to serving the people of this region

Edited 2 minutes ago by 6ly410

[6ly410]

Wednesday، 10 July 2019 08:29 PM

Masrour Barzani says priority is stronger Baghdad ties, rather than independence

 

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/42592/Masrour-Barzani-says-priority-is-stronger-Baghdad-ties-rather-than-independence

 

Two years after a failed independence bid plunged Iraq's Kurdistan Region into months of instability, the new regional prime minister said his priority was strengthening ties with Baghdad, dreams of self-rule should be put on hold.

Masrour Barzani, sworn in as regional prime minister on Wednesday, told Reuters in an exclusive interview that under his leadership, the Kurdistan Regional Government's focus would be to establish a "strong and constructive" relationship with Baghdad, leaving the question of independence aside for now.

"This (independence referendum) happened in the past and it's a reflection of the enduring aspiration of a nation," said Barzani, speaking at his palace in the hillside village of Salaheddine, near regional capital Erbil.

"However, the focus of my government will be how to build a stronger relationship and partnership with Baghdad," he said, adding he would look to fix "those issues that were actually keeping us apart."

The independence bid was led by Barzani's father Masoud, who stepped down as Kurdish president in 2017 after the referendum backfired and prompted a military offensive from Baghdad.

At stake for the new premier are long-running disputes over independent oil exports, revenue sharing, security, and territory which have plagued ties between Erbil and Baghdad since a U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Barzani was instrumental in orchestrating the September 2017 referendum, which was held over the objections of Baghdad and regional powers. It was seen as the culmination of years of oppositional politics by the semi-autonomous region.

The backlash was swift and pushed the country to the brink of civil war, threatening to undo the years of unprecedented autonomy the region had enjoyed. Relations eventually improved, cemented by a change of government in both capitals.

'A WIN-WIN SITUATION'

The region's oil exports have long been a source of contention with Baghdad. The Kurds, who control Iraq's only northern pipeline, had been exporting oil independently since 2013. Exports from Kirkuk were restarted in 2018, after a year-long freeze amid post-referendum disputes. Exports from smaller oilfields under the regional government's control continued.

As part of the 2018 and 2019 budgets, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) agreed to send 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) to federal authorities in exchange for Baghdad paying civil servants' salaries.

However, Iraqi officials, including the prime minister, complain that the KRG has not kept up its end of the bargain, having not sent a single barrel to Baghdad.
 

Barzani said negotiations on oil and gas were already underway and he sees room for "quick progress" on the file.

"There is great potential for a win-win situation," he said. "Working together in cooperation with each other, we can increase the production of oil."

Mutual benefits for both sides is a theme Barzani echoed regarding regional security.

Nearly two years since Iraq declared victory against ISIS militants, the country has seen a deterioration in security in the areas bordering the Kurdistan Region.

SECURITY

Barzani, formerly the region's security chief, said the threat from ISIS isn't yet over. The group exploited the rift between the Kurds and Baghdad, he said, who fought side by side to defeat the militant group in 2017.

He is looking to establish a joint security mechanism in the so-called disputed territories, areas claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil, "to close that gap".

Masrour is the latest Barzani to head the regional government. His father Masoud, himself the son of a veteran Kurdish leader, still holds considerable sway over its politics.

His cousin Nechirvan held the premiership until last month when he was sworn in as president, following a regional parliamentary election in September 2018.

The Barzanis are one of two families that have dominated regional politics for decades. Though they enjoy continued support system">support among their respective bases through extensive patronage networks, their continued grip on power has opened them up to allegations of mismanagement and corruption from voters, many of whom are owed years of back pay from the government.

Barzani said winning back hearts and minds was therefore a leading priority, as was tackling graft. "I'd like to see reform," he said. "To make sure that people have more trust in the government.

Edited July 11, 2019 by 6ly410

[6ly410]

What promised the new provincial government on outstanding and controversial issues with Baghdad?

10/07/2019 02:03 PM | 

http://alahadnews.net/index.php/permalink/166461.html

Al-Ahed News - Baghdad

The new government cab in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, headed by Marsur Barzani, announced its government program immediately after it was given confidence by the Kurdistan parliament on Wednesday.

The government program for Prime Minister of Kurdistan Region Masrud Barzani was set up by a committee of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Movement for Change, which includes the general lines of the government, which includes resolving some of the outstanding and controversial questions with the federal government in Baghdad, most notably the issue of normalizing the situation in disputed areas on her.

According to the program announced by the new government of the territory, the disputed areas placed priorities to resolve them in line with the road map provided for in Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution, according to the program of the provincial government.

"Until this map is implemented, priority must be given to joint security and administrative coordination with the federal government in the disputed areas," the provincial government said.

As for the military and security cooperation with Baghdad, the Kurdistan government confirmed in its program that "we will strengthen our ability to combat common threats and address the security changes in the disputed areas and ensure the inclusion of Peshmerga in the defense system of Iraq."

With regard to political cooperation, she noted that it will work to strengthen political cooperation with the government in Baghdad, with emphasis on the principles of partnership and harmony and balance based on the Constitution, as described.

To this, the provincial government promised that it will compensate the Kurdish martyrs and victims of Anfal and affected by the former Baath regime in line with Article 132 of the permanent Iraqi constitution.

It is noteworthy that the Parliament of Kurdistan, granted on Wednesday (10 July 2019), confidence for the ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan region, and became pleased Barzani, Prime Minister of the Territory, and Qubad Talabani as his deputy, and led with 21 ministers right after the parliament vote to give them confidence.

Edited July 11, 2019 by 6ly410

[6ly410]