Kurds to Participate in New Iraqi Government with Five Ministers
BasNews, Erbil
As the new government of Baghdad is being formed, Kurds are ready to participate and have gained a number of important posts, including five top Ministry positions.
The added participation does not come without comprise, though: The Kurdistan Regional Government is to accept a number of stipulations in order to have added participation.
The KRG has been asked to negotiate on the oil case, budget, Peshmerga salary, weapons and the very delicate subject of Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution, which outlines the rights of the autonomous region. Gorran MP in Baghdad Kawa Mohammed told BasNews that it is important to take the formation of the new government of Baghdad very seriously because the Kurdistan Region has had many problems with the previous government in regards to oil, budget, the Peshmerga salary and disputed territories.
The Kurds themselves ask to have at least five ministers in the new government based on the latest parliamentary elections of Iraq: the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) will have two ministers; the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) will have two representatives and one minister from Gorran (Change Movement). Smaller Kurdish parties that have a more religious vein will occupy slightly lesser posts.
The head of the KDP list in Baghdad Parliament is Ardalan Noreldin, who exclusively told BasNews that there are a few high profile posts among the ministries that Kurdish leadership must insist on representing. He speculates that Kurds should push for at least one of the Finance Ministry, Oil Ministry and Foreign Relations Ministry.
“The Deputy Prime Minister must be for Kurds, but so far no one has been chosen for this post that was previously held by a KDP representative. It is expected to be given to KDP again,” added Noreldin.
“Kurds have to focus on getting the Foreign Relations Minister post, then attempt to have part of the Oil and Natural Resources in order to defend the Kurdistan Region’s oil policy.” said Nouri.
“A list from the Kurdistan Region must be created and sent to Baghdad where Kurds can clearly outline their requests and demands. Moreover, the demands should be tightened to a limited time to be implemented and given to the new Iraqi PM,” concluded Nouri.
