Latest news with #KRG
Rudaw Net
19 minutes ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
French, US officials to meet with Syrian FM in Paris: Source
Also in World Yazidi woman rebuilds life years after ISIS captivity US passes Syria sanctions bill, ties relief to reforms Rubio tells Sudani important to pay KRG salaries 'consistently' Brawl breaks out between pro-Damascus, Kurdish rallies in Germany's Dusseldorf A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Top US and French officials are set to discuss the latest developments in Syria with the Syrian foreign minister in Paris on Friday, a French diplomatic source told Rudaw. 'The US Special Envoy [for Syria] Thomas Barrack is in Paris today and tomorrow. The [French Foreign] Minister [Jean-Noel Barrot] will meet with him and Syrian Foreign Affairs Minister Asaad al-Shaibani tomorrow to discuss the latest developments in Syria,' the diplomatic source said in response to an email. The source skipped a question about reports saying that Mazloum Abdi, commander-in-chief of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which rules northeast Syria (Rojava), is set to meet with Syrian interim officials in Paris for talks over the landmark March 10 agreement between Abdi and Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The French, American and Syrian officials will likely discuss the latest sectarian violence in the Druze-majority province of Suwayda in southern Syria, which has killed at least 1,300 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). The conflict between Druze fighters and pro-Damascus Sunni tribal forces has heightened regional tensions, particularly between Syria's allies and Israel. Tel Aviv intervened in the fighting in support of the Druze after Syrian government forces were accused of backing the tribal fighters. Harrowing footage of mass killings in Suwayda has triggered international condemnations. The US and European countries have lifted some sanctions on Syria but have emphasized the need for an inclusive government in Damascus. However, the ongoing violence casts uncertainty over the future of this sanctions relief.
Rudaw Net
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Yazidi woman rebuilds life years after ISIS captivity
Also in World US passes Syria sanctions bill, ties relief to reforms Rubio tells Sudani important to pay KRG salaries 'consistently' Brawl breaks out between pro-Damascus, Kurdish rallies in Germany's Dusseldorf US encourages Iraq to end tensions with Kurdistan Region A+ A- WASHINGTON DC - A Yazidi woman, captured by the Islamic State (ISIS) at the age of 11, has rebuilt her life in the US. She endured torture and immense suffering, and the loss of family members during the brutal ISIS genocide against the Yazidi community. Many of her loved ones are still missing. She was rescued from ISIS captivity in 2016 and arrived in the US six months ago to build a new life there. In the halls of the US Congress, Navin on Wednesday joined several prominent figures and American officials in a ceremony marking the 11th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide. 'We were rescued from ISIS in 2016. Our entire family fell into ISIS hands. Until now, a large part of my family is missing - my father, sisters, brothers, and uncles. We still don't know anything about them. We want the government to help us search for our missing family members and assist those who have been rescued,' she told Rudaw. Although the Yazidi cause has garnered widespread sympathy in the US, Nadine Maenza, former chief of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) told Rudaw that it is time to move beyond words.
Rudaw Net
13 hours ago
- Business
- Rudaw Net
KRG receives May salaries from Baghdad
A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region's finance ministry on Thursday said that it received nearly 975 billion dinars (about $737 million) from the federal government to cover public sector salaries of May, after Erbil and Baghdad reached a breakthrough in talks. 'The amount of (974,813,000,000) dinars has been transferred to the bank account of the Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Finance and Economy as the entitlement for the salaries of employees and pensioners of the Kurdistan Region for the month of May,' the finance ministry said in a statement. The payment comes after the Iraqi government on Tuesday decided to resume the payment of the salaries of public sector employees in the Kurdistan Region, following nearly three months of suspension due to financial disputes with Erbil. Salary distributions are set to begin tomorrow, according to the ministry. Tensions between Baghdad and Erbil escalated in late May when the federal finance ministry suspended transfers, accusing the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of exceeding its 12.67 percent federal budget share and failing to deliver the agreed oil volumes to Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO). The freeze affected more than 1.2 million public sector employees in the Kurdistan Region. Per the new deal, the payment will only cover the month of May, and the disbursement of salaries for the remaining months will depend on how the agreement is implemented moving forward. On Wednesday, the KRG Council of Ministers called on Baghdad to abide by the new deal and stressed that it has 'fully implemented all its obligations.' The Erbil-Baghdad agreement also includes the resumption of KRG's oil exports. The process has been halted since March 2023 when a Paris-based arbitration court ruled in favor of Baghdad against Ankara, saying the latter had violated the 1973 pipeline agreement by allowing Erbil to begin exporting oil independently in 2014. Under the agreement, the KRG must export its entire oil output through SOMO, keeping 50,000 barrels daily for local use. In return, Baghdad is expected to make budget transfers and provide refined fuel if needed. However, the KRG, the Iraqi government, and international oil companies operating in the Kurdistan Region have yet to reach a final agreement on the future of Kurdish oil exports.
Shafaq News
a day ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
KRG: Baghdad must honor salary obligations under oil deal
Shafaq News – Erbil The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Wednesday reaffirmed its full compliance with the recent financial and oil-sharing agreement with Baghdad, calling on the Iraqi government to immediately release salaries and financial entitlements. In a statement issued following a cabinet session chaired by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, the KRG pointed out that the Region had deposited 120 billion dinars into the federal treasury as part of non-oil income, in addition to submitting the finalized salary lists for May and June. It noted that relevant ministries and auditing bodies from both sides continue to verify monthly revenues and expenditures. The statement added that the relevant ministries had also approved mechanisms to harmonize customs procedures and quality control standards between the KRG and federal institutions. Regarding oil exports, the KRG confirmed that its Ministry of Natural Resources had cooperated with federal counterparts by providing access to oil production data and facilities, despite recent drone attacks on oil fields that disrupted output. Technical teams from the two sides have reportedly agreed to begin transferring KRG-produced oil through the federal marketing company SOMO. 'The Council of Ministers affirmed that these measures demonstrate the Region's full commitment to the agreement, and in return, the federal government must also adhere to what was agreed upon—particularly the disbursement of salaries and entitlements for citizens in the Region, which have not yet been sent. Employees in the Region have been deprived of their salaries for three months, which is a constitutional and legal right that must not be violated under any circumstances, especially since the Region has fully met its obligations,' the KRG stated The KRG also urged its media institutions to act responsibly and refrain from spreading misinformation that could cause unrest or obscure the government's efforts.
Rudaw Net
a day ago
- Business
- Rudaw Net
KRG says implemented ‘all obligations' in budget deal with Baghdad
Also in Kurdistan Sulaimani man swallows 24 tweezers, needles in rare medical case Two 'dangerous terrorists' arrested in Sulaimani Iran's surprise release of water into Kurdistan Region shocks locals KRG opens child protection center in Halabja province: Official A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region's Council of Ministers said on Wednesday that it has 'fully implemented all obligations' in the recent budget agreement with Baghdad and called on the Iraqi government to abide by the deal. 'The Council of Ministers reaffirmed that the Kurdistan Region has fully implemented all its obligations' regarding sending its non-oil revenues, salary lists, and joint cooperation on the Region's oil exports through Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said in a statement. It called on Baghdad to 'also fulfill its obligations according to the agreement by immediately sending the salaries and financial entitlements of the people of Kurdistan,' lamenting that the Region's civil servants have been deprived of their salaries for three months, 'which is their constitutional and legal right that should not be violated under any pretext.' 'The federal government must send the salaries and financial entitlements of the people of Kurdistan as soon as possible,' the KRG asserted. The Iraqi government on Tuesday decided to resume the payment of the salaries of public sector employees in the Kurdistan Region after nearly three months of suspension due to financial disputes with Erbil. Tensions between Baghdad and Erbil escalated in late May when the federal finance ministry suspended transfers, accusing the KRG of exceeding its 12.67 percent share of the federal budget and failing to deliver the agreed oil volumes to SOMO. The freeze affected more than 1.2 million public sector employees in the Kurdistan Region. Last week, the federal and regional governments reached a new deal over financial and oil disputes following the failure of several similar deals in the past. The Iraqi government approved the agreement during a cabinet meeting and decided to resume the disbursement of the salaries of KRG's civil servants on Tuesday. The payment will only cover the month of May, and the disbursement of salaries for the remaining months will depend on how the agreement is implemented moving forward. In the statement, the KRG thanked the Kurdistan Region's civil servants for their 'resilience' in the face of unpaid salaries. 'The Council of Ministers, with great respect and appreciation, highly values the responsible stance and resilience of the Kurdistan Region's people who have the necessary understanding of this difficulty imposed on the Kurdistan Region and have defended, with a high responsibility, the constitutional entity of the Kurdistan Region,' it said. The Erbil-Baghdad agreement also includes the resumption of KRG's oil exports. The process has been halted since March 2023 when a Paris-based arbitration court ruled in favor of Baghdad against Ankara, saying the latter had violated the 1973 pipeline agreement by allowing Erbil to begin exporting oil independently in 2014. Under the agreement, the KRG must export its entire oil output through SOMO, keeping 50,000 barrels daily for local use. In return, Baghdad is expected to make budget transfers and provide refined fuel if needed. The KRG is also obligated to hand over 120 billion Iraqi dinars (nearly $92 million) in non-oil revenues monthly for May. However, the KRG, the Iraqi government, and international oil companies operating in the Kurdistan Region have yet to reach a final agreement on the future of Kurdish oil exports. Fuad Hussein, Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, told Rudaw on Tuesday that Baghdad will continue paying the KRG civil servants for the months of June and July as well.
