Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (gov.krd) - Kurdistan Regional Government senior officials and Kurdistan Region’s team in Baghdad yesterday held a meeting at the Council of Ministers building in Erbil.

The Kurdistan Regional Government officials presented a comprehensive clarification on the agreement reached between Kurdistan Regional Government and the federal Iraqi government last December on oil export and budgetary issues.

They reaffirmed KRG’s commitment to honour this agreement which became law in 2015’s federal budget.

The Kurdistan Regional Government officials explained the technical constraints which affects the implementation of the agreement as well as a misunderstanding of some terms of the agreement which the Kurdistan Regional Government is working closely with the Federal Government of Iraq to overcome these obstacles and resolve the issues.

They added that there are also some political sides in Iraq that are trying hard to hamper any improvement occur in relations between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Federal Government of Iraq.

The role of the Kurdish representatives in the Iraqi parliament and government in ensuring that both sides are committed to the implementation of the agreement between Baghdad and Erbil was highlighted and praised.

In the meeting, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, stated that he was ready to visit Baghdad again in order to find common ground and overcome technical obstacles and misunderstandings.

In this regard he instructed a group of Kurdish ministers in the Federal Government of Iraq to open frank discussions with Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi.

The attendees stressed the importance of the implementation and compliance with the 2015 federal Iraqi budget. The Kurdistan Regional Government officials stated that they request the Iraqi government to deal with the Kurdistan Region and its share in line with what was agreed in this year’s federal budget.

More than one plan on how to pay the salaries of Peshmerga and civil servants were also discussed. They stressed that KRG’s current priority is the provision of salaries for its employees.

It was also decided to hold regular meetings every two months. A committee in charge of coordination between the two sides was formed.
 

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (gov.krd) - Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday in Erbil met members of the Iraqi Parliament’s Oil and Gas Committee.

During the meeting, which was also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani and a number of ministers, both sides discussed the agreement reached last December between the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government on oil export. They also discussed issues related to oil and gas law, the role of the Committee in following up and monitoring the latest agreement as well as all other oil and gas issues in Iraq.

The Prime Minister reiterated that the Kurdistan Region deals with hydrocarbon file in line with the rights enshrined for the Region in Iraq’s Federal Constitution. He said that the Kurdistan Regional Government, throughout the phases of exploration, production and export of its oil, has not committed any unconstitutional act. He pointed out that Kurdistan Region oil policy is fully based on the Region’s constitutional rights. For this reason, he urged the Committee to monitor, observe and follow up the entire process in the Kurdistan Region.

Prime Minister Barzani stressed KRG’s commitment to the agreement reached with the Federal Government of Iraq, hoping to reach a full agreement with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi on settling all the outstanding issues between the two sides. The Prime Minister urged that the Iraqi Parliament’s Oil and Gas Committee to play a role as a third party, monitoring the implementation of the agreement. He expressed Kurdistan Regional Government’s willingness to cooperate and coordinate with the Committee in any manner that it deems appropriate.

The Head and members of the Iraqi Parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee expressed their pleasure for visiting Kurdistan Region, where they held a number of meetings. They called for greater cooperation and coordination between their committee and the Kurdistan Parliament Oil and Gas Committee as well as the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Natural Resources and other relevant bodies. They stressed that the Committee will play an efficient role in helping resolve the outstanding issues between both regional and federal governments in order to serve the public interest of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (gov.krd) - United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, yesterday received Kurdistan Regional Government Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani.

The two sides discussed bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and United Arab Emirates, stressing both sides’ intention to develop relations in various fields.

Deputy Prime Minister Talabani expressed the gratitude of the people and government of the Kurdistan Region to the people and government of United Arab Emirates for the humanitarian assistance that they have been providing to the displaced people and refugees who fled the violent repression of the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, and took refuge in Kurdistan Region.

He said that he hopes the Kurdistan Regional Government’s participation in Dubai Government Summit would help to build bridges between the Kurdistan Region and United Arab Emirates.

Latest political and military developments in the region, particularly the war against ISIS, were highlighted in the meeting. Deputy Prime Minister Talabani hoped that the current deterioration of security situation in the Middle East will not slow down the relations between the Kurdistan Region and United Arab Emirates.

The meeting was also attended by KRG Minister of Planning, Ali Sindi, KRG Minister of Finance and Economy, Rebaz Mohammad and KRG spokesperson, Minister Safeen Dizayee.

Washington, DC, USA (KRG.org) - During a speech to an audience of top Washington scholars and officials at the Center from Strategic International Studies, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani said, ‘Iraq can only be saved if Baghdad is willing to devolve some of its powers to regional authorities and be more inclusive of minorities.’ He said that the poor policies of the previous government alienated the Sunnis of the country, adding, ‘The Islamic State did not fill a security vacuum, but a political vacuum.’

The Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) concluded a four-day visit to Washington on Thursday, December 11, 2014. The visit included numerous meetings with senior US administration officials and members of Congress, events at leading think tanks, a roundtable discussion with US business leaders, and interviews with several news agencies.

In an opinion published in the Wall Street Journal, Mr Talabani laid out the challenges that Iraq will face in the future, calling for a return to the federalist structure of the Iraqi Constitution. He applauded the recent negotiations with Baghdad, but said that this is ‘Iraq’s last chance’ to succeed.

Earlier this month the KRG reached an agreement with Baghdad to contribute 250,000 bpd of Kurdish oil and 300,000 bpd from the Kirkuk oilfields to the Iraqi central marketing authority in return for the disbursement of the KRG’s share of Iraqi federal oil revenues. The negotiations demonstrated a possible rapprochement in Erbil-Baghdad relations.

‘US airstrikes have succeeded in ending the expeditionary ventures of the Islamic State, forcing them to change tactics. However, defeating these terrorists will require greater cooperation between Kurdish, Iraqi, and international security forces,’ the DPM said at a meeting with Representative Devin Nunes. Rep. Nunes, the new Chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, praised the Peshmerga for their efforts in combating ISIS and highlighted US-KRG cooperation at the Joint Operations Center in Erbil.

Since August, the US and coalition forces have carried out hundreds of airstrikes on ISIS targets throughout Iraq. These efforts are coordinated largely through the Joint Operations Center where over 1,500 US military advisors work closely with the Peshmerga to identify and destroy terrorist positions.

The DPM also met with other influential members of Congress including Senators John McCain, Dianne Feinstein, and Lindsey Graham, and Representatives Michael McCaul, Steny Hoyer, Dana Rohrabacher, and others.

Mr Talabani conducted a number of meetings with US administration and defense officials at the Department of State, Pentagon, and White House. He updated the officials on the political, security, and humanitarian developments in the Kurdistan Region, and asked administration officials to continue to be supportive of the KRG’s efforts to resolve outstanding issues with Baghdad.

He also met with members of the US-Kurdistan Business Council to discuss business opportunities in the region. He said, ‘Kurdistan remains safe, secure, and open for international investment.’

The KRG Mission in Washington hosted a town hall meeting with DPM Talabani for the Kurdish-American community at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fairfax, Virginia. Mr Talabani delivered remarks and updates from the Kurdistan Region, and took questions from the audience for over two hours. He also thanked the community for their ongoing support for the 1.5 million displaced persons. Several organizations in the Washington area, including the KRG Mission, have organization financial and clothing donation drives to bring supplies to those in need.

Media  appearances

Qubad Talabani op-ed in Wall Street Journal – ‘Saving Iraq in the Post-Maliki Era’  http://bit.ly/1sordbC

Lara Jakes for the Associated Press – ‘Iraqi Kurd urges regional rule for Iraqi Sunnis’ http://apne.ws/1xaJRKK

Margeret Warner for PBS NewsHour -  ‘Kurdish deputy prime minister urges U.S. leaders to remain engaged in Iraq’ http://to.pbs.org/1Gp1o1E

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (krg.org) — The President of the Federal Republic of Iraq, Dr. Fuad Masum, received on Thursday Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, at his residence in Erbil.

They exchanged views regarding all the political and military issues of the country. The discussion particularly focused on the war against ISIS terrorist organisation in Iraq and the region and the importance of the international military and humanitarian support to Iraq. They also stressed the need for national reconciliation among all the parties, relying on the terms of the constitution and previous agreements.

The relations between Kurdistan Region and Iraq's federal government and the necessity of resolving the outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil according to the constitution, that could serve the interests of all the Iraqi people, were also discussed in the meeting.

Avineh News / Sulaymaniyah- the representative of KRG of Iraq in Tehran said: Iran can play Gandhi’s role in Iraq.

 Nazem Dabbagh the representative of KRG of Iraq in Iran in talk with Avineh Newspaper No. 434 announced he is not optimistic to the solution of the crisis getting Iraq into troubles and to transit this crisis Iran can play a useful role in Iraq.

About Iran’s act in Iraq Dabbagh said: Iraq needs a new Gandhi, since it bring all political groups and parties closer. Indeed Iraq needs such a person and Iran could be that one to from the unity in this country.

He believes ISIS is deemed as a threat to the region as a whole and continued to state: the countries of the region are not unified against ISIS, it is Iran who completely seriously opposites it.

 Study this conversation and other matters in No. 434 of Avineh Weekly, it is a political, sociological and cultural weekly that is published every Thursdays by Avineh institution in Kurdistan region of Iraq.              

Istanbul, Turkey (KRG.org) – Upon an official invitation from Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and World Economic Forum Chairman Professor Klaus Schwab, Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani headed a KRG delegation to participate in the World Economic Forum’s event in Istanbul.

The delegation met with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the event.

Meeting with President Erdogan

In the meeting both sides discussed the latest political developments in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the Middle East in general, with particular emphasis on the terrorist attacks on the provinces of Ninevah and Salahaddin and later on the Kurdistan Region. They also discussed ongoing fighting between the Peshmerga forces and the terrorists, noting the significant territory that has been reclaimed by the Peshmerga. The political process in Iraq and its new government, headed by Prime Minister Haider Abadi, was also a topic in the meeting.

President Erdogan assured the KRG delegation that Turkey would enhance its relations with the Kurdistan Region in a better way and reiterated Turkey’s commitment to the bilateral relationship and agreements made with the Kurdistan Region across all sectors. He noted the importance of helping and supporting the Kurdistan Region even more because of the recent attacks. The President stated that Turkey has thus far provided a great deal of humanitarian aid and promised that his country would continue providing such assistance. He added that his country is in close coordination with the coalition forces in confronting terrorism and that this coordination will also include the Kurdistan Region in order to combat any threats to the broader Middle East region.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked President Erdogan for his stance and for his country’s assistance, adding that the Kurdistan Region seeks further support and assistance from Turkey. He agreed on the importance of further expanding the economic and political relationship with Turkey. Regarding relations with Baghdad, the Prime Minister noted that the Kurdistan Region chose to participate in the new Iraqi government to give the government a chance to resolve outstanding issues between Erbil and Baghdad. This would lead to better ties among Turkey, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region, he said.

On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum event the delegation met with a number of heads of state and senior officials from across the world and also attended a dinner hosted by President Erdogan in honour of the participants of the event.

Meeting with World Economic Forum Chairman Professor Schwab

In the morning the delegation held a meeting with World Economic Forum Chairman Professor Klaus Schwab. In the meeting they discussed the latest political and security developments, and Professor Schwab praised the progress that has been achieved in the Kurdistan Region. He also lauded the KRG for generously sheltering more than a million Iraqi IDPs and Syrian refugees. He explained that the Kurdistan Region has garnered praise and gratitude from the entire international community because of this humanitarian gesture.

Professor Schwab stated that he hopes the international community and donor countries will pay more attention to the Kurdistan Region, adding that he wishes to visit in the near future. Prime Minister Barzani extended him an official invitation, adding that the KRG would be pleased to host a World Economic Forum event one day.

Prime Minister Barzani was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, Minister of Natural Resources Dr Ashti Hawrami, Minister of Finance and Economy Rebaz Mohammad Hamalan, Minister of Planning Dr Ali Sindi, Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations Minister Falah Mustafa and KRG Spokesperson Minister Safeen Dizayee.

The KRG delegation participated in a number of different sessions and panels at the event and in meetings on the sidelines on a wide range of subjects.

Following Mohammad javad Zarif’s recent travel, International Peace Studies Centre held a talk with Nazem Dabbagh the representative of KRG of Iraq in Iran in order to study the different aspects of this travel of which details as followed:

In Mr. Dabbagh’s view this travel is so important especially when Mr. Zarif was welcomed by Masoud Barzani and Nechirvan Barzani.

In his opinion this travel states the importance of security and tranquility of KR of Iraq in foreign policy of I.R. of Iran and this collaboration more than anything is for confronting ISIS, Dabbagh continued this travel was done after ISIS’s attack to KR and after being appointed of the president, the chairman of parliament and the prime minister, nevertheless thereby I.R. of Iran intends to support this country to confront with ISIS by doing so the new government of Iraq. The representative of KRG of Iraq in Iran regarding Kurdish parties’ attitudes towards Mr. Zarif’s travel said all parties of KR had a positive opinion and view about this.

Mr. Dabagh said undoubtedly the presence of Mr. Zarif in the field of Iraq policy and his support of the way concerning solving current problems among Iraqi, Kurdish, Sunni and Shia groups will be a positive role. As Mr. Zarif said: we support to solve all problems existing in the agreements and contracts between KRG of Iraq and federal government. Dabbagh added that this travel would lead to more cooperation between Tehran and KR.

In a response to a question he replied that their political positions rely on the current political situations but demands. Since the current situation happened in Iraq results from the mismanagement and if these reasons change so will the outcome. Kurds are obedient to the constitute and following the agreements between Iraq and Kurds and Iraq groups, which Foreign Minister of Iran emphasized, cause all problems to be solved and to found a new, common and pervasive Iraq is the best guarantee for all groups.