Stronger Kurdistan

[6ly410]

Kurdish delegation in Baghdad to discuss dams, payment for Kurdish farmers

2 hours ago

Mohammed Rwanduzy

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/09022020

The delegation was received by Faris Issa, the Kurdistan Region's representative in Baghdad. Photo: Rudaw TV

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region- A KRG delegation arrived in Baghdad on Sunday to meet Iraqi government officials in order to discuss payments owed to Kurdish farmers  and the building of dams in the  Kurdistan Region.

The delegation, lead by the Minister for Agriculture Begard Talabani and Minister for Federal Affairs Khalid Shwani was received by Faris Issa, the Kurdistan Region’s representative in Baghdad.

"An agreement was reached on forming a high-level technical committee between the two ministries to put in place plans for the growth of agriculture," Shwani said in a press conference.

"We believe that the meetings were positive, and we will continue our efforts to establish the best relations with the federal government through specialized ministries," Shwan added.  

The delegation also presented proposals for building five large dams in the Region.

"As you know, most of [Iraq's] water sources spring from the Kurdistan Region. There were discussions over this and how to develop them through the building of dams and putting in place strategic plans for the future of Iraq's water resources," added Shwani.

The Kurdistan Region has many rivers, some of which originate in neighboring Iran and Turkey. According to experts, nearly 50 billion cubic meters of water pass through the Region annually.

According to these experts, however, more than 85% of the water passing through the Region is not stored in dams or otherwise used.

The Kurdistan Region is home to three large dams- Dukan, Darbandikhan, and Duhok- which collectively store more than 10 billion cubic meters of water.

 Jammal al-Adili, the Iraqi Minister of Water Resources, told Rudaw that they will "work as one person", and that the Kurdistan Region will also get the same privileges as the rest of Iraq.

"We are working in our house. We are the people [of the same country]," the minister said.

As for talks with the Ministry of Agriculture, Minister Talabani said that her Iraqi counterpart Salih Housni has "promised that there will be no difference between farmers in Iraq's other provinces and the Kurdistan Region".

"Of course, this has to manifest itself in all aspects, be it the acceptance of wheat, the marketing of domestic produce between the Kurdistan Region and the rest of Iraq," added Talabani.

The high-level committee will be "formed as soon as possible" to resolve outstanding issues, explained Talabani.

Housni "confirmed that the ministry will stand with the agricultural demands of the region and will work to provide the requirements for farmers and enable them to obtain their dues", an Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture readout of the meeting read.  

Iraq's Ministry of Agriculture sets up annual plans for production of crops and produce, and wheat and barley get priority. In a central system, Iraq's federal government buys wheat and barley produced by Iraqi farmers at subsidized prices, leaving more profit for higher farmers.

In 2014, using the pretext of Kurdistan Region's independent oil sales, the Iraqi government cut the Region's share of the federal budget. With it, in 2014, came cuts to farmer payments. For the years 2014, 2015, 2016, Kurdish farmers did not receive payment for their crops.

While the Kurdish side has insisted that the Iraqi decision was political, Iraq's government has claimed that farmers in the Region had sold imported wheat to the federal government to cheat the system.

In a press conference in Baghdad on Sunday, al-Hassani told Rudaw  that the Iraqi Agriculture Ministry will work with their KRG counterpart to solve issues faced by the regions’ farmers.

“There is no difference between a farmer in Kurdistan region with a  farmer in Baghdad, and another in Basra,” al-Hassani said. “We look at  all the farmers in Iraq the same way,”

Talabani told Rudaw that both ministers agreed to establish a  committee to follow up on the agreements and decision reached by both  sides.

 

[6ly410]

PM Barzani Says Kurdistan Will support an Inclusive Government in Baghdad

 

 Basnews English 11/02/2020 - 13:18 Published in Kurdistan

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/580851

 

ERBIL — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday received Iraq’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Ali al-Hakim in Erbil to discuss a range of issues topped by the formation of a new government in Baghdad.

During the meeting, PM Barzani reiterated that the Kurdistan Region will support an inclusive government in Baghdad which will be committed to the constitutional rights of the peoples of Kurdistan Region.

The Kurdish prime minister and Iraqi foreign minister also emphasized on the importance of stabilization of Iraq while noting that the next cabinet of the federal Iraqi government should maintain friendly relations between Baghdad and Erbil as well as good ties with neighbouring countries and the international community.

The discussion on the next Iraqi government comes after the Iraqi president named Mohammed Allawi as the nominee for the country’s premiership.

BasNews previously reported that Allawi will visit Erbil in the nearest future to discuss his future cabinet after he is granted parliament’s confidence.

[tigergorzow]

6ly410 Thanks,  Excellent articles KRG & New PM doing great...Git er done boys and girls....👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸

 

GO RV & RI

[Laid Back]

Partitioning … Is it the future of Iraq?

Muammar Faisal Khouli

Translated by : mudhaffar al-kusairi

In the aftermath of the assassination of the Quds Force commander of Iran, Qassem Soleimani, and the deputy head of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Committee, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, the Iraqi Council of Representatives on January 5 issued a resolution calling for the removal of foreign forces from Iraq… This decision angered the American administration, which threatened If American forces leave Iraq in an “unfriendly” manner, Iraq will face sanctions never seen before.

But the United States of America may surprise Iraq with more bitter sanctions than the aforementioned sanctions, such as encouraging the idea of dividing it into three “Kurdish, Sunni, and Shi’ite” states, this idea would worry the Iranian state, because Iran built its regional project in the post-Saddam Hussein era and the Arab Spring, on a weak Iraq that is easy to control, and not a divided Iraq with which it is difficult to implement its project or perhaps lead to its cancellation.

So the Iranian leadership may use all of its tools in Iraq to nullify this project.
But this idea may find a Sunni and Kurdish welcome alike. The project to rebuild the Iraqi state in the post-2003 period, on the foundations of the democratic system, has so far proven unsuccessful… Politically, Iraq has failed to establish the rules for the peaceful transfer of power away from sectarian quotas and ethnicity… As for civil, Iraq witnessed a flagrant violation of human rights, and economically, Iraq comes in the forefront of countries that “flourish” with financial and administrative corruption, since 2003 AD and until now Iraq has been subjected to organized financial plunder, reaching nearly 500 billion US dollars, this huge number was the guarantor of the reconstruction of Iraq, making it Singapore of the Levant, after of lean years as a result of wars and sieges.

As for security, and with the spread of the phenomenon of armed militias, Iraq has suffered a lot from the security aspect , as it currently clearly contributes to eliminating the movement of massive protests that swept the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, central and southern the country through the killing, kidnapping and assassination of protesters, and the Iraqi state has been , especially its executive and legislative institutions , run by armed factions that are working to establish Iranian influence in Iraq, and some of those factions have fought – and are still fighting – alongside Iran in Syria and Yemen.

As for the military, the Iraqi military establishment was severely weakened until the terrorist organization ISIS came to the outskirts of Baghdad without much trouble in the summer of 2014.

Against this, from a Sunni and Kurdish point of view, the continuation of this system, which is an extension of the pre-state stage, and becomes the natural recipe for governing Iraq, as this would pose a great danger to their interests in the present and future, so it may be inevitable for the Sunnis of Iraq to get rid of that Iranian regime and influence in Iraq, and move forward in the implementation of what has been termed the “Sunni” Western Region project, while the Kurds of Iraq will go forward in the realization of their long-awaited national dream in establishing an independent Kurdish state. There is no doubt that this project may have dangerous consequences if imposed by force without any peaceful Iraqi agreement on it, it may open the doors of civil war.

The United States of America understands that the decision to remove its forces from Iraq came with an Iranian request as a political response to the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, and the idea of dividing Iraq may be the American response to that decision.

It seems that the destiny of Iraq in the period after 2003 AD, to continue to be a fertile ground for settling scores between Washington and Tehran.

As for the question that arises in this context: Will the United States of America allow Iran and China to enjoy the riches and strategic location of Iraq after its withdrawal from it?! But in order not to enjoy this, and also to preserve its interests in it, will the United States of America split it, as it divided – in light of international rivalry with the Soviet Union in the phase of the cold War – Germany was divided “East and West” and Korea was divided to “North and South” Korea , or are their historical contexts that are different from the current situation?

It is very painful for the division to be the final scene of the future of Iraq , and here we must say that the arrival of Iraq to that scene is not only due to the desire of the USA , but rather the political class that ruled Iraq in the period after April 2003 AD , bears the burden of that scene through its disastrous policies . That , class , from 2003 AD to the present day , reinforced social anxiety in Iraq , which later became the regulator of the relations of its social components , thus producing a failed state that was moving at a rapid , slow , or winding pace towards partition .

Rawabet Center for Research and Strategic Studies

[6ly410]

 

[Pitcher]

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/46034/Amid-national-unrest-Iraqi-FM-meets-top-Kurdish-leaders-in-Erbil
 

Amid national unrest, Iraqi FM meets top Kurdish leaders in Erbil

Iraq's Foreign Minister Ali al-Hakim met with top Kurdish leaders separately on Monday and Tuesday in Erbil, discussing with them several pressing issues of the day in a country wracked by unrest since October.

Now in their fifth month, anti-government protests—which led to the death of at least 550 people and wounding of over 20,000 others—forced now-caretaker Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi to resign.

Iraqi President Barham Salih has tasked Mohammed Allawi with forming a new cabinet.
Allawi does not appear to have overt backers among the ruling class, a sensitive issue given the demonstrators' demands for a complete overhaul of the political system and hostility toward Iraqi officials seen as prioritizing their own personal enrichment over the most basic needs of the populace.

Although influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr endorsed him at the start, the fate of this alliance is precarious. Sadr is an unpredictable character in Iraqi politics, just recently having switched positions multiple times by ordering his militiamen to protect and then brutally suppress demonstrators.

In tandem with these developments in the national capital, talks between the federal government and theKurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to settle a number of fundamental issues between them slowed as Baghdad's focus shifted towards the protests.

Hakim met with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday when he arrived in Erbil. On Tuesday, he went on to see Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and then Masoud Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

In all three meetings, each participant exchanged views on efforts to form a new Iraqi government led by Allawi, according to separate statements from the offices of the Kurdish leaders.

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said in a social media post that "the new federal govt must be genuinely inclusive, representative of the will of the Iraqi peoples, and engage constructively w/ the Kurdistan Region in line with our constitutional rights."

[6ly410]

PM Barzani Callls on All Parties to support 'Reform Agenda'

 

 BasNews   12/02/2020 - 20:25  Published inKurdistan

 

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/581238

 

ERBIL - Kurdistan Region PM Masrour Barzani on Wednesday chaired a cabinet meeting to discuss the implementation of his government's Reform Law, calling on all parties to support the agenda.

During the weekly meeting of Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Council of Ministers, Barzani stressed on the importance of his cabinet's modernisation of efforts, "which will enhance the efficiency of all government sectors and streamline the delivery of services to the public," according to the readout of the meeting.

"He called on all parties to support the reform agenda," the statement added.

"A high-level committee was established to oversee implementation, and the Prime Minister requested that ministers submit recommendations on the prompt and effective enacting of the Reform Law within 15 days."

The Kurdish prime minister further highlighted the role of authorities within the department of financial monitoring and commission of integrity as well as public prosecutions in supervising the process of the implementation of the reform law.

Officials also agreed that the cabinet would also consider the restructuring of the Kurdistan Region's revenues and expenditures, as part of its core responsibilities, in order to add more transparency to the oil and gas sectors, the press release concluded.

[6ly410]

Multiple Iraqi governors, officials travel to Erbil to meet with KDP leader

 Hiwa Shilani |

8 hours ago

 

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/64b8ac1c-1b91-4bf2-bd25-571532f5f1a5

 

 

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Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani receives 15 Iraqi governors, their deputies, and other officials in Erbil, Feb. 12, 2020. (Photo: KDP)

 

Kurdistan Iraq Erbil KDP Baghdad 

A+AA-

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani met on Wednesday with a joint delegation of multiple Iraqi governors, deputy governors, and other officials at his office outside Erbil.

The Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Minister of Interior, Iraq’s planning minister, and fifteen governors and deputy governors present praised the high levels of security, stability, and economic prosperity in the autonomous federal region.

According to a KDP statement released afterward, many of the guests told Barzani that they hoped the region’s economy, successful when compared with the rest of Iraq, can be used as a national example to emulate. 

The meeting continued with the delegation extending their gratitude towards the people and soldiers of the Kurdistan Region for their part in the fight against terrorism and for opening their region to millions of those displaced from the rest of Iraqi.

Furthermore, they requested that Masoud Barzani continue to play an active role in solving the current crisis Iraq is facing as national anti-government demonstrations continue into their fifth month.

Earlier in the week, Iraq's Foreign Minister Ali al-Hakim also met separately with top Kurdish leaders in Erbil, discussing with them most of the same pressing issues of the day.

In addition, they spoke about the status of talks between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to settle a number of fundamental issues between them slowed as Baghdad's focus shifted towards the protests.

Hakim met with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday when he arrived in Erbil. On Tuesday, he went on to see Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and then Masoud Barzani.

 

 

[6ly410]

 

Edited February 13, 2020 by 6ly410

[6ly410]

 

Edited February 13, 2020 by 6ly410

[DinarThug]

Thursday, February 13, 2020 11:54 AM

 

What are Washington's demands from the Kurdistan region to support it in resolving disputes with Baghdad?

 

Informed sources revealed that the United States stipulated several conditions for the Kurdistan region in exchange for its support in resolving differences with the federal government in Baghdad.

The sources said: "The American Ambassador Matthew Toler visited Arbil a few days ago and met with the President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Masoud Barzani, the President of the Territory, Nechirvan Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masroor Barzani, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Territory, Qabad Talabani."

She added: "The ambassador conveyed to the Kurdish officials a message that included three basic demands, in exchange for his country's readiness to support the region in resolving the differences and outstanding problems between Baghdad and Erbil, and to ensure the rights of the Kurds in Iraq in accordance with the constitution and work to pay attention to their role in the political process."

The sources indicated: "The demands included preserving the unity of the Kurdish ranks, and that the Kurds support the efforts of the Prime Minister-designate Muhammad Allawi to form the Iraqi government, and that the Kurds not be part of the efforts of the Shiite parties to remove the American forces from Iraq."

LINK

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Edited February 14, 2020 by 6ly410

[6ly410]

 

 

 

 

Edited February 15, 2020 by 6ly410

[6ly410]

 

[6ly410]

KRG Prime Minister Barzani met with US Secretary of state Pompeo to discuss the situation in Iraq and the area

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani (left) with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (right) in Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2020 (Photo Credit: Secretary Pompeo's Tweeter account)

2 Hours ago

 

http://nrttv.com/En/News.aspx?id=19588&MapID=1

 

SULAIMANI — Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday (February 14) in Munich’s 56^th security conference to discuss the Kurdistan Region and US alliance and the situation in Iraq and the region.

The pair talked about developing the relations between Kurdistan region and the US in the sectors of economy and to cooperate in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) and terrorism.

“Our American allies are a vital part of the Global Coalition in the fight to defeat ISIS once and for all,” Barzani tweeted after the meeting.

During the meeting, Barzani and Pompeo also discussed the importance of the Kurdistan Region to the area in order to stabilize the situation in Iraq and the fight against ISIS.

“Acknowledging the positive role of the Kurdistan Region in bringing peace and stability to the region, both sides stressed the need to boost military and security cooperation to combat terror threats in the region,” Barzani’s office said in a statement after the meeting.

After the meeting, Pompeo hailed the meeting as “highly productive” and thanked Barzano for “his steadfast partnership and commitment to ensuring the security of U.S. facilities and personnel in the Kurdistan Region.”

In Munich’s security conference Barzani also met with US Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette to discuss further development of the economic relations, especially regarding energy.

The Munich Security Conference started on February 14 with the Kurdistan Region participating with a delegation of Prime Minister Barzani, KRG Minister of State Khalid Shwani, and Deputy Speaker of Kurdistan Parliament Hemin Hawrami.

(NRT Digital Media)

[6ly410]

PM Barzani Meets with Arab Leaders in Munich

 

 Basnews English 15/02/2020 - 22:56 Published in Kurdistan

 

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/581925

ERBIL — The Prime Minister of Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, on Saturday met with a number of Arab leaders on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

According to an official press release, Barzani received secretary-general of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who underscored the progress in Kurdistan Region, praising President Masoud Barzani and the political leadership of the Kurdistan Region for the achievements.

PM Barzani also held a separate meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Aiman Safadi, with whom he discussed the bilateral ties while hailing the historic relations between the Kurds and Jordan.

The latest developments in Iraq and around the region were also on the agenda of the meeting.

[6ly410]

PM Barzani Discusses Disputed Areas with Iraqi National Security Advisor

 

 Basnews English 15/02/2020 - 21:32 Published in Kurdistan

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/581909

 

ERBIL — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with Iraqi Security Advisor Falih Fayyadh on Saturday in Munich.

The Kurdish prime minister said in a tweet that he had discussed the Kurdish areas disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, as well as the efforts to normalize the situation in these territories.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, where Barzani met with dozens of world leaders, including a US congressional delegation as well and US and Russian foreign ministers.

During the meeting with the Iraqi national security advisor, PM Barzani said that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is ready to help the formation of the new federal government of Iraq “in a way that recognizes the rights of the Kurdistan Region under the Iraqi Constitution”.

On the ongoing war against terrorism, Barzani called on the Arab nations to help Iraq and Kurdistan Region with the battle against the Islamic State.

[6ly410]

 

[DinarThug]

On 2/9/2020 at 4:42 PM, 6ly410 said:

Kurdish delegation in Baghdad to discuss dams, payment for Kurdish farmers

Wtf - Yet Another Dam Discussion About All Of Those Dam Tourists Taking All Of Their Dam Pictures !  
 

 

Btw - Has Anybody Seen Those Dam Bro’s ...

 

     

[DinarThug]

LINK

Barzani to Pompeo: Any changes must preserve the
constitutionality of the Kurdistan Region

 

 

14th February, 2020

The President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masroor Barzani, met on Friday with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and discussed with him a number of files of common interest.

The meeting came on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference 2020, which kicked off today in Germany with the attendance of the world's top decision makers. The meeting reviewed all the latest developments in the situation in Iraq and the region, and ways to enhance relations between the Kurdistan Region and the United States were discussed, especially in the economic field.

The importance of increasing joint coordination to counter terrorism was emphasized, and both sides also stressed the need for stability in Iraq and the survival of American forces in the framework of the international coalition against terrorism.

The meeting dealt with efforts to form the new federal government, and the Prime Minister said that any changes or transformations must preserve the constitutionality of the Kurdistan Region. This meeting comes within the framework of a series of meetings held by the President of the Kurdistan Regional Government with global officials participating in the Munich Security Conference.

The President of the Kurdistan Regional Government arrived in Germany on Thursday at the head of a ministerial delegation to participate in the conference, which is the largest global security event hosted by Germany.

 

Edited February 15, 2020 by DinarThug

[DinarDavo]

56 minutes ago, DinarThug said:

Wtf - Yet Another Dam Discussion About All Of Those Dam Tourists Taking All Of Their Dam Pictures !  
 

 

Btw - Has Anybody Seen Those Dam Bro’s ...

 

     

 

I heard they were hanging out at the dam store..

[6ly410]

Barzani: The nomination of Kurdish ministers must be across the region

15-02-2020 11:01 PM

 

http://www.ikhnews.com/index.php?page=article&id=209182

Baghdad / newsletter:
The head of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masroor Barzani, today, Saturday, rejected the designation of Kurdish ministers without involving the Kurdish parties in the negotiations to form the next government.
A statement issued by Barzani's office said that he "met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Iraqi Federal Government, Muhammad Ali al-Hakim, on the sidelines of the work of the second day of the Munich Security Conference.
The two sides discussed the latest developments in the situation on the Iraqi scene and the general region, and efforts to form a new federal government were also discussed.
The President of the Kurdistan Regional Government said: "We support a government committed to the federal entity and constitutional rights for the Kurdistan region."
The Prime Minister stressed that the nomination of Kurdish ministers in the new government, must be through official institutions in the Kurdistan region.
The designated Iraqi Prime Minister, Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi, announced today, Saturday, the announcement of his government formation this week, describing the step as a "historic achievement."

Edited February 16, 2020 by 6ly410

[6ly410]