KRG Council of Ministers holds its first meeting of the year
Prime Minister Barzani updated the Council about the implementation of the agreement reached between Erbil and Baghdad on oil export and budgetary issues, pointing out that there has been a misunderstanding between the two sides. He said that the federal Iraqi government had assumed that the Kurdistan Region could export a larger amount of oil than had been agreed. He dded that the Kurdistan Regional Government had informed Baghdad clearly that the KRG would not hand over oil in excess of what was agreed, even if it was possible. He said that it was also not technically feasible for the Kurdistan Region to export more than the agreed amount and the Region do not have the infrastructure in place to do so. He stressed that the Kurdistan Region will export the amounts agreed upon on time and in accordance with the agreement. He hoped to settle these technical issues with Baghdad soon, stressing Erbil’s full commitment to the agreement.
Regarding the financial situation in the Kurdistan Region, the Prime Minister said the government is compelled to take a number of measures to address the current financial crisis. In this regard, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Minister of Finance and Economy presented a report on the financial situation in Kurdistan, which mainly focuses on plans put in place by the Ministry on a better management of the financial sector in this time of difficulties, proposing efficient ways to decrease government expenditure and increase revenues. The Council approved the report, which is due to be submitted to the Kurdistan Parliament.
In another part of the meeting, the Council of Ministers congratulated the Peshmerga forces on their recent victories marked against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, known as ISIS. They also congratulated the liberation of Kobane and expressed their gratitude to the role played by the Turkish government which allowed the safe passage of Peshmerga from the Kurdistan Region to Kobane as well as of humanitarian aid, weapons and ammunition which helped to achieve this victory.
The KRG efforts to obtain international recognition of the atrocities committed by ISIS against the Yezidi Kurds and other religious minorities as genocide, were also discussed in the meeting. The Minister of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs presented a report about the activities of the committee, formed for this purpose. He highlighted the meetings the members of the committee held with relevant agencies and institutions around the world in their effort to promote this campaign. The Prime Minister praised the committee for their work and assured the full support of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers for this campaign.
