Baghdad, Iraq (dfr.krg.org) – The Government of Iraq, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), and the United Nations agencies held a roundtable meeting with the donor countries and diplomats based in Baghdad to encourage international community to provide support for Iraq’s internally displaced persons (IDP).

Karim Sinjari, Minister of Interior, Ali Sindi, Minister of Planning, and Falah Mustafa, Head of Department of Foreign Relation represented KRG in the meeting, which was chaired by Saleh al-Mutlaq, Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister for Construction and Services and attended by Iraq’s ministers of foreign affairs, finance, migration and displacement, representatives of UN agencies as well as 40 ambassadors.

Deputy Prime Mnister Mutlaq said, “Deterioration of security in Iraq, which is mainly caused by the attacks of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), has resulted in the displacement of nearly two million people.”

He added, “Addressing the needs of the IDPs is out of the capacity of Iraq. We are facing harsh financial challenges and sharp decline of oil price has exacerbated the situation. Iraq is in need of $5 billion to address the needs of IDPs and their return to their areas.”

Iraq’s finance minister, Hoshiyar Zebari, gave an overview of the financial crisis facing Iraq and announced that the federal government has agreed to allocate $850 million for the ministry of migration and displacement as part of the 215 budget.

According to the KRG Ministry of Planning and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 47 percent of all Iraq’s 2 million displaced are now in the Kurdistan Region. The rest of the IDPs are spread throughout Iraq having fled conflicts in Anbar, Ninewa, Diyala and Salah al-Din governorates. As people continue to flee the violence, the latest count indicates that some 946,266 Iraqis (157,711 families) have sought sanctuary in the region since the beginning of the year. This represents an increase of 53,526 individuals since 1 September.

KRG minister of Planning discussed the difficulties facing the KRG in addressing the needs of IDPs in the Region. He said, “Hosting of IDPs in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is placing a huge burden on the region’s social services, as well as its financial resources, which is becoming unsustainable.”

“This humanitarian emergency is far from over and with the winter months the challenges are becoming greater by the day. The partnership between the Government of Iraq, the KRG and the international community is fundamental to address the response, but this is not enough: fresh funds are now needed to avert this crisis from becoming a humanitarian catastrophe,” said Jacqueline Badcock, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq.

Commenting on the meeting, Minister Mustafa said, “The large number of IDPs in the Region has stretched our infrastructure and social services to the limit. This was a good opportunity for KRG to be present in Baghdad to address members of international community in highlighting the plight of IDPs.” 

Mr. Nazem Dabbagh, the Representative of Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq in Iran, answered to question by Iranian Diplomacy about recent changes of Iraq as follows.

Mr. Nechrivan Barezani, on his way back from Iran during the talk with medias said phrases about Kurdistan region of Iraq in order to final solution for as an exit to Iraq crisis. Is Kurdistan independence the solution? Or the region wants to keep distance from the created challenges?

I have not heard such an opinion; therefore the present condition of Iraq is in a way that probably it can return those days before Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) entrance and its occupation of Mosul. While there are some opinions concerning dividing Iraq into three parts Sunnis, Kurdistan and Shia. These options relate to ultimate decision of political leader in Baghdad, whereas it has continuously been believed that all Iraq problems should be solved in the frame of the Constitution, respect to each other and the rights and real conditions of KRG in Baghdad.

Mr. Nechirvan Barzani stated it seems Iraq will not return the time before Mosul occupation and said Sunni the same as Kurdistan seeks for a region. What do these phrases mean?

It means presently Iraq is critical. While, there is just one region of Kurdistan. In the constitution it is stated and declared three provinces can present themselves as Federal or Region.

Mr. Masoud Barzani stated in a call that retired Pishmerga also return their units, and announced there is a bright future ahead of Kurds. Does bright future mean the independence?

I do not think so independence means separation. On other hand asking retired Pishmerga to come back does not mean there are lots of Pishmergas or people demanding to join us to protect benefits against terror.

Bothe Kurdistan region and Maliki’s government knows each other the guilty about the present condition of Iraq. Maliki’s government claims that in recent events Kurds collaborated with terrorists. On the other hand Iraq knows the weak operation of government as the guilty about the current crisis situation.

I am afraid of those who charge Kurds with collaborating. Why do they not say the wrong policy and having not participation of political groups of Iraq caused this concern?

This is the outcome of Iraq government policy. Since it is not just we Kurds. What agreement now does occur among Shia? No agreement exists not only between Shia and Sunni but also across whole Iraq. It has long years been produced not today. Those who were in the government they took the constitution performance and the agreements in whole parliament as granted. Making accusation is easy but it should rely on truth and evident.

What policy does Kurdistan region take concerning Iraq crisis?

The policy of KRG is realistic. Our policy is to return to dissolve problems in the frame of the constitution and obedient to government of public, participation and reality. All political groups have got to present in future government of Iraq based on their power and role they have and have to keep distance from personal, fanatical, party and tribal desires.     

Erbil, Kurdistan (KRG.org) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani yesterday received the United Kingdom’s new Consul General to the Kurdistan Region, Mr. Angus McKee. They discussed the relationship between the United Kingdom and the KRG as well as current political issues.

The Prime Minister congratulated the Consul General and wished him success in his new position. Consul General McKee expressed his pleasure in taking up his post in Kurdistan.

United Kingdom – Kurdistan Region relations

The Consul General discussed the relationship between the Kurdistan Region and the United Kingdom, explaining that Prime Minister Barzani’s visit to London and British Foreign Secretary William Hague’s visit to Erbil will help solidify strong, mutually beneficial ties, including between the two governments and among private companies, universities, and citizens.

Mr. McKee indicated that the Prime Minister’s visit to London would serve as a catalyst to foster stronger relations, expressing hope that both sides remain dedicated to the development of the relationship. He assured the Prime Minister that the United Kingdom is committed to the agreements made during that visit.

Prime Minister Barzani highlighted the Kurdistan Region’s strategic relationship with the United Kingdom, also pointing to the importance of the exchange of high-level visits. He reaffirmed that the KRG attaches special consideration to its ties with the United Kingdom and remains committed to developing and bolstering relations.

Political issues

The new Consul General applauded the broad-based character of the KRG’s eighth cabinet, evidence that the Kurdistan Region is heading in the right direction.

During the meeting both sides pointed to the latest developments in Iraq, including the political process. Prime Minister Barzani emphasised that everything has changed in the last several weeks, and in light of these developments, relations between Erbil and Baghdad must be viewed in a different manner. He explained that the KRG supports the political process in Iraq, which needs to progress so that a framework for coexistence and a mechanism to define future relations between Erbil and Baghdad can be established.

The Prime Minister added that the threat of terrorism presents a grave danger to all sides. He stated that Iraq is today witnessing the beginning of a new phase and that the nature of the issues at stake has changed. This must be taken into account when considering the current situation.

Both sides discussed the situation of the internally displaced people who have fled Mosul and other parts of Iraq to seek safe haven in Kurdistan. The Consul General reaffirmed that his country has in the past provided assistance to refugees and internally displaced and would continue to cooperate in order to help the displaced people through logistical assistance and through the transfer of expertise and experience in coping with the crisis.