Page 16 - DMEA Week 14 2021

DMEA NEWS IN BRIEF DMEA

POLICY our disputes, but it is a strong basis to tackle province,” the PM’s office said on Wednesday
the remaining issues,” the Kurdish PM tweeted – but protesters are not happy with the
KRG ready to abide by on Wednesday. news.
“Khafaji came from outside the protest
Barzani also added that a draft of the new
budget commitments KRG budget is being prepared to be sent to sites, and this is completely unacceptable,”
the Kurdistan Region parliament.
Activist Walaa Kadhim told Rudaw English on
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) “This budget was an compromise — it Wednesday, confirming demonstrations and
is ready to adhere to its commitments in the doesn’t address all the hopes of either party. sit-ins will continue in Nasiriyah until their
recently-passed budget bill, Prime Minister Our principal win is the continued protection demands are met.
Masrour Barzani said on Wednesday, also and reinforcement of our constitutional The change in governor comes the same
calling on the federal government in Baghdad rights,” he said. day Kadhimi was supposed to announce
to send funds to Erbil for the first three RUDAW the results of an investigation into bloody
months of the year. protester killings in the province. No results
“Passing of the bill is an achievement for PM appoints new Dhi Qar have been released as of Wednesday evening.
all Iraq and Kurdistan,” he said in a press State media also reported Kadhimi’s
conference following a meeting with the governor amid Nasiriyah formation of a five-member “advisory
Council of Ministers. council” in Dhi Qar to assist the governor
“In normal circumstances this should not sit-ins and other officials – but protesters are not
have been considered as an achievement but satisfied.
rather something normal, however the topic Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al- Kadhimi “This council is an attempt to satisfy tribes
was politicized.” has assigned a new governor for Dhi Qar in Nasiriyah. It is made up of tribal sheikhs in
The budget bill, approved by the Iraqi province, state media reported on Wednesday the governorate, and they are all affiliated with
Council of Ministers in December, took evening, after protests demanding the the parties in power,” Muhamed al-Khayat
more than three months to be passed by dismissal of the local government. told Rudaw English on Wednesday.
Iraq’s parliament. It was finally put to a vote Abdul-Ghani al-Asadi has been removed RUDAW
on March 31. Under the law, the Kurdistan as governor after less than two months
Region will hand over revenues of no less than in office, replacing Nathem al-Waeli who
250,000 barrels of oil per day at state-regulated resigned in February after bloody protests COMPANIES
prices to Baghdad in exchange for federal calling for his dismissal.
funds. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on Kuwait wealth fund reaches
“The KRG is ready to fulfill all Tuesday appealed to the people of Dhi Qar
responsibilities as part of this budget,” he to stand by the local government “regardless deal on KPC dividend
added, calling on the federal government to of the name of the governor.” A “fuel crisis”
“perform its duties” and send the funds owed was announced in the city on the same day, as Kuwait’s sovereign wealth fund has reached
for January, February and March. protesters blocked access to the Nasiriyah oil an initial agreement with Kuwait Petroleum
Kurdish and Iraqi leaders alike have voiced refinery and local government buildings. Corporation (KPC) on new payment terms
hope that the passage of the bill will lead to Ahmed al-Khafaji, a cardiologist and for over $20 billion in accrued dividends,
better Erbil-Baghdad relations, with the end of former provincial health official, has been a government source said, as the Gulf state
months of financial disputes. appointed as the new governor, according to seeks ways to counter a liquidity squeeze.
“Let’s be optimistic about the Iraqi budget. state media. KPC has owed for years about 7 billion
I urge the federal govt to deliver its obligation Kadhimi has directed Khafaji to “work and Kuwaiti dinars ($23 billion) in dividends
under the new law. It will not address all of make every effort to serve the people of the to the General Reserve Fund (GRF), one of

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