Latest news with #IraqCoordinationFramework
Rudaw Net
4 days ago
- Business
- Rudaw Net
KDP warns of 'serious stance' if Baghdad fails to pay KRG's financial entitlements
Also in Iraq Coordination Framework delegation to visit Erbil amid Baghdad-KRG strain Kurdistan workers urge Iraq's top court to order salary release from Baghdad Iraq transfers military college cadets to Baghdad after tragic deaths Iraqi leaders receive Lebanese president for talks on bilateral ties, security A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Kurdistan Region's strongest political party on Thursday slammed Baghdad for its decision to stop paying the Region's civil servants. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) also warned it may take a "serious stance" if the Iraqi government fails to release the Region's financial entitlements by June 6. In a sharply worded statement, the KDP accused the federal government of continuing 'to violate the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region,' adding that the latest violation is the Iraqi finance ministry's decision on Wednesday to cut the Region's funding. The KDP further warned that 'if the rights and financial entitlements of the people of the Kurdistan Region,' including public employee salaries, 'are not sent before Eid al-Adha [on June 6], we will take a serious stance and announce it.' Iraqi Finance Minister Taif Sami claimed on Wednesday that the ministry is 'unable' to continue financing the Kurdistan Region, alleging that Erbil has exceeded its 12.67 percent budget share set by the 2025 Federal Budget Law. In an official letter to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Sami said that Erbil exceeded its allocated share by 13.547 trillion dinars ($10.34 billion), adding that under Iraq's Federal Supreme Court decisions, further funding in such circumstances is prohibited. Sami further added that the Region's oil and non-oil revenues from 2023 until April of this year amounted to 19.9 trillion dinars ($15.19 billion); however it only transferred 598.5 billion dinars ($456.87 million) to the federal government. Importantly, the finance ministry was expected to pay the salaries of civil servants in the Kurdistan Region for the month of May ahead of the Muslim holiday on June 6. Sherwan Dubardani, a KDP member of the Iraqi parliament, told Rudaw on Wednesday that 'the audit process for the salary lists of employees and beneficiaries in the Kurdistan Region has been completed,' and anticipated that salary distribution would occur before Friday. However, the finance ministry's recent decision has effectively brought the process to a halt. The KDP on Thursday censured Sami's decision, calling it contradictory to 'the constitution and the principles of the government formation agreement,' and said it 'reflects the politicization of the people's funds.' Importantly, the KDP is a key member of the governing State Administration Coalition, which includes the Shiite-led Coordination Framework, the Sunni Sovereignty Alliance, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). The coalition's September 2022 formation was marked by the nomination of Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani as prime minister and it currently holds 275 of the 329 seats in the Iraqi parliament. In the lead-up to the formation of the Coalition, Kurdish parties, namely the KDP and PUK, outlined several key demands to ensure their participation and safeguard the Kurdistan Region's constitutional rights. The Kurdish parties' demands included implementing the Oil and Gas Law, ensuring timely payment of the Kurdistan Region's financial entitlements, recognizing Kurdish constitutional rights, and protecting disputed territories such as the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. In light of the finance ministry's recent decision, it remains to be seen whether the KDP will consider withdrawing from the governing coalition. Rudaw has learned that the KRG's finance ministry will respond to Sami's claims soon.
Rudaw Net
4 days ago
- Health
- Rudaw Net
Tragic death of army cadets sparks national outcry in Iraq
Also in Iraq Coordination Framework delegation to visit Erbil amid Baghdad-KRG strain Kurdistan workers urge Iraq's top court to order salary release from Baghdad Iraq transfers military college cadets to Baghdad after tragic deaths Iraqi leaders receive Lebanese president for talks on bilateral ties, security A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani has ordered an investigation into the deaths of two Iraqi army cadets and the illness of many others at a military college in the southern Dhi Qar province. Parliament has also called for accountability in the incident that saw 'over 100 cadets' suffer from extreme exhaustion due to high temperatures and intense physical exertion The Premier's Spokesperson Sabah al-Numan on Wednesday stated that Sudani 'directed the formation of an investigative council to identify those responsible and take legal action, following the deaths of two cadets from the Fourth Military College in Dhi Qar Province and the illness of other cadets.' Sudani further dismissed the head of the military academy, his deputy, and the commanding officer of the regiment whose cadets were affected, Numan said. The Prime Minister also instructed that 'the rank of Second Lieutenant be posthumously awarded to the two deceased cadets,' making their families eligible for compensation granted to fallen soldiers. Earlier in the day, the Iraqi defense ministry stated that the cadets had joined the Fourth Military College in Dhi Qar's provincial capital Nasiriyah on Sunday. During the reception process, 'nine cadets began showing signs of dehydration and health complications' due to prolonged sun exposure, the ministry noted, adding that 'they were immediately transported to Nasiriyah Hospital by the military college's medical team.' Initially, the ministry confirmed that one cadet succumbed to health complications, while six others recovered and are set to be discharged and two cadets remain under medical observation. Later, the Iraqi parliament's Security and Defense Committee stated that the death toll had risen to two, noting that it had formed a 'follow-up team' to investigate the incident thoroughly and 'ensure the safety of the cadets and improve their training conditions.' Importantly, the Committee noted that 'more than a 100 cadets' had 'suffered fainting and severe exhaustion' during the reception process and emphasized that it is 'closely monitoring the health status of the affected cadets to prevent future occurrences.
Rudaw Net
4 days ago
- Health
- Rudaw Net
Iraq transfers military college cadets to Baghdad after tragic deaths
Also in Iraq Coordination Framework delegation to visit Erbil amid Baghdad-KRG strain Kurdistan workers urge Iraq's top court to order salary release from Baghdad Iraqi leaders receive Lebanese president for talks on bilateral ties, security Baghdad decision not to send salaries 'political': Senior KDP official A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi army on Sunday transferred cadets from a military college in the southern Dhi Qar province to Baghdad for redistribution after extreme exhaustion and high temperatures in May led to the deaths of two cadets and the injuries of many others, state media reported. At least 100 students from the Fourth Military College in Dhi Qar province suffered health complications in late May due to high temperatures and extreme physical exhaustion during a training session, which led to the deaths of two cadets and sent the injured to the hospital. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani quickly acted by dismissing the head of the military academy, Nasser Ghannam, along with his deputy and the commanding officer of the regiment whose cadets were affected. The Iraqi army on Sunday 'began transporting students from the Fourth Military College, from the college headquarters in Dhi Qar province to the capital Baghdad, and 15 buses were allocated for this purpose,' state media said. 'This measure comes as part of a plan to redistribute the students among military colleges in Taji, Duhok, and Sulaimani, according to the geographical area and in line with the training and organizational requirements of the military institution,' it added. After their deaths, Sudani also instructed the rank of Second Lieutenant to be posthumously awarded to the fallen cadets, making their families eligible for compensation. During the reception process on May 21, 'nine cadets began showing signs of dehydration and health complications' due to prolonged sun exposure, the Iraqi defense ministry noted, adding that 'they were immediately transported to Nasiriyah Hospital by the military college's medical team.' The Iraqi parliament's security and defense committee later said that more than 100 cadets had suffered fainting and severe exhaustion, and announced the formation of a follow-up team to investigate the incident.
Rudaw Net
4 days ago
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Iraqi leaders receive Lebanese president for talks on bilateral ties, security
Also in Iraq Coordination Framework delegation to visit Erbil amid Baghdad-KRG strain Kurdistan workers urge Iraq's top court to order salary release from Baghdad Iraq transfers military college cadets to Baghdad after tragic deaths Baghdad decision not to send salaries 'political': Senior KDP official A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani and President Abdul Latif Rashid in Baghdad on Sunday, discussing strengthening bilateral ties and promoting regional stability. 'The two leaders held official talks to discuss the overall Iraqi-Lebanese relations and ways to enhance and develop them across various levels and fields,' read a statement from Sudani's office. The discussions also addressed regional developments and the potential for promoting broader regional and international stability. In May at the Arab League summit in Baghdad, Sudani pledged $20 million to support Lebanon's reconstruction following extensive damage from the months-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The fighting began on October 8, 2023, one day after war broke out between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Hezbollah opened a front from southern Lebanon in support of its Palestinian allies, prompting weeks of cross-border clashes with Israel. Hostilities came to a halt in late November after a ceasefire was reached. Despite the ceasefire, Israel's attacks on Lebanon have continued. "We condemn the ongoing attacks by the Zionist regime on Lebanese territory," Sudani said during a joint press conference with Aoun, calling for regional and international support for Beirut. In December, Iraqi government spokesperson Basem al-Awadi said Baghdad 'played a pivotal role' in reaching the ceasefire. Aoun also met with his Iraqi counterpart Rashid, who reiterated Iraq's support for Lebanon's stability and security, according to state media. Aoun expressed his gratitude to Iraq for its ongoing assistance to Lebanon. During the conflict, Iraq also hosted around 20,000 Lebanese refugees as 'guests of Iraq,' most of whom have since returned home. Lebanon's former economy minister, Amin Salam, told Rudaw in March that the war had caused an estimated $25 to $30 billion in economic losses. During the presser with Sudani, Aoun said that among Lebanon's main objectives are 'restricting weapons in the hands of the state and confronting corruption.' Aoun's visit follows controversy in April when he ruled out adopting Iraq's model of integrating armed groups into the state defense structure. In an interview with The New Arab, Aoun was asked whether Lebanon might follow Iraq's approach of incorporating the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) into its national army as a way to manage Hezbollah's armed status. 'Absolutely not,' he said at the time. 'There will be no PMF-style force and no independent units within the [Lebanese] army.' While officially incorporated into Iraq's security apparatus, many PMF factions continue to operate independently and maintain close ties with Iran. The comments prompted Baghdad to summon the Lebanese ambassador in protest. Sudani later received a phone call from Aoun, during which they reaffirmed the strength of Iraqi-Lebanese relations, according to a statement from Sudani's office at the time. Hezbollah, widely seen as a central actor in Iran's Axis of Resistance, has reportedly suffered major setbacks during its latest conflict with Israel, including severe damage to its missile infrastructure and the reported assassination of its long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah in September.
