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Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Kurdistan salary dispute: US, Shiite leaders step in amid Kurdish boycott threats
Shafaq News/ Tensions over delayed salary payments in the Kurdistan Region have escalated, drawing in Iraq's Shiite leadership and the United States, as Kurdish parties weigh suspending or withdrawing from the political process in protest against Baghdad's financial policies. On Facebook, Ali Hama Saleh, leader of the Kurdish Position Trend (Tayyar al-Mawqif), disclosed Saturday that Fatah Alliance Head Hadi al-Amiri is planning a visit to Erbil to mediate the dispute between the Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional governments. 'US officials are also urging both sides to resolve the impasse through dialogue,' he added. The negotiations will reportedly center on two key issues: Baghdad's freeze on May salaries for public employees in the Kurdistan Region, and the broader standoff over oil revenues and Erbil's budget share. A senior political source told Shafaq News that top Kurdish leaders are seriously considering a parliamentary boycott or full withdrawal, depending on whether Baghdad lifts what officials describe as 'sustained financial and political pressure.' 'This is a response to the Iraqi Finance Ministry's move to block salary disbursements,' the source confirmed, explaining that a high-level meeting in Erbil, led by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), reviewed these potential measures to align Kurdish factions on a unified strategy. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani had reportedly offered, according to a source, to release the funds, but only as a temporary loan and contingent on forming a joint committee with Erbil to address the backlog before Eid al-Adha. While Baghdad claims the freeze stems from the Region exceeding its budget allocation and 'failing' to transfer oil and non-oil revenues, Kurdish officials reject the charges, arguing the move violates Federal Supreme Court rulings mandating unconditional salary payments to public employees.
Rudaw Net
07-05-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
PM Barzani urges shift from tragedy to tourism in promoting Kurdistan Region
Also in Kurdistan Qatar invites President Barzani to Doha Forum Turkey receiving significant interest at Erbil tourism fair: Consul Experts discuss educational reform, AI integration at key Erbil confab Erbil to face more frequent dust storms: Researcher A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday called for a renewed focus on showcasing the Region's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, moving beyond its historical narrative of tragedy. He delivered the remarks at the Middle East Tourism Expo (METEX2025), held in Erbil with the participation of around 200 companies from 11 countries. 'For years, our efforts to introduce Kurdistan to the world centered on our national identity through the lens of suffering,' said PM Barzani, adding that 'Kurdistan has much more to offer… It is a place of deep history, rich culture, and peaceful coexistence among diverse religious and ethnic communities.' 'Kurdistan's beauty lies in its diverse nature and how hospitable and friendly its people are, which is a common trait throughout Kurdistan, to make our guests feel at home.' PM Barzani also emphasized the strategic importance of strengthening the tourism sector. 'Improving our tourism sector will help us introduce Kurdistan to the world so that more people come and visit us and get to know our people and the different parts of our Region better,' he said. 'We must continue to develop services so that more people, whether from Kurdistan or abroad, benefit more from this sector.' PM Barzani underscored the role of events like METEX2025 in elevating the Kurdistan Region's profile as a key tourist destination. Today in Erbil, we opened #METEX2025 — a platform for tourism, aviation, and investment. The path for Kurdistan is clear: more visitors, more trade, more partnerships. That's the future we're building. — Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) May 6, 2025 'One of the factors that will help us introduce Kurdistan to the world more effectively is our focus on the tourism sector,' the premier said, stressing that 'by working together and with the [Kurdistan Regional] Government's [KRG] support, such events can serve all of the Kurdistanis.' The Kurdistan Region premier additionally stressed the importance of restoring and renovating historical sites and cultural relics across the Region 'as each possesses its own unique natural and cultural beauty.' According to the Kurdistan Region's Tourism Board, nearly eight million tourists visited in 2023, primarily from Iraq's central and southern provinces. For its part, the KRG in March 2024 announced that 1.7 million tourists had visited the Region in the first three months of that year. Geographically, the Kurdistan Region is characterized by predominantly mountainous terrain, offering particularly striking natural landscapes in its northern and northeastern areas, especially along the borders with Turkey and Iran. In addition to its breathtaking natural scenery, the Kurdistan Region is rich in cultural and historical heritage, positioning it as a significant part of ancient Mesopotamia. The Region is also home to a wealth of archaeological sites, ancient cities, and religious landmarks that bear witness to thousands of years of continuous civilization. These include remnants from the Sumerian, Assyrian, and Median eras, highlighting the Region's deep historical roots. At the heart of this archaeological landscape stands the Erbil Citadel, widely regarded as the world's oldest continuously inhabited settlement. Dating back to 6000 BC, the Citadel serves as a symbolic and cultural centerpiece of the Kurdistan Region's enduring legacy.
Shafaq News
27-02-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Russia to restart Kurdistan oil projects
Shafaq News/ Russian energy companies are set to restart oil projects soon in Iraqi Kurdistan after an agreement between the federal and Kurdistan Regional governments, Russia's Energy Ministry revealed on Thursday. The resolution of oil disputes will allow operations to resume, with Russian companies instructed to prepare a roadmap for the Al-Nasiriyah oil project in southern Iraq 'in the near future,' Russia's TASS news agency quoted Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev as saying. 'We rate high this project. We have already reached an agreement at the intergovernmental level [on it],' Tsivilev noted following the meeting of the Russian-Iraqi intergovernmental commission on trade-economic and scientific-technical cooperation. 'Our company that plans to enter the project, regards it as one of the most important from the viewpoint of oil production.'
