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Kurdistan Region-Iraq News in brief
10.12.2006
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December 10,
2006 - Sulaimaniyah,
Erbil, Duhok, Kirkuk, Kurdistan Region (Iraq)
Kirkuk budget unexpectedly shrinks
The budget for the Kirkuk city will be increased to
200 billion Iraqi dinars for the year 2007.
Kirkuk City Provisional Council held its regular
meeting last week to discuss and vote on the budget
earmarked for 2007. In the meeting, members of the
Brotherhood List in the council boycotted the vote
on the proposed budget.
"We heard from the council, following its latest
meeting with Iraqi Prime Minster Al-Maliki in
Baghdad, that the budget for the city will be
increased to 200 billion Iraqi dinars for the year
2007. However, we have seen it surprisingly shrink
to 114 billion dinars," said city council member
Mohammed Kamal to Khabat.
"The population of Kirkuk is currently estimated at
over one million, not counting the people who will
be returning to the city," Mohammed said, adding,
"Any attempt to reduce the budget is interpreted as
an oppressive act against the city and its people."
Sulaimaniyah bans seven companies
Some companies did not comply with the procedures
and conditions of the contracts.
Sulaimaniyah municipality decided to ban seven local
and foreign companies as a result of insufficient
work performance, local media reported last week.
"Sulaimaniyah municipality has executed many
projects so far, particularly services projects such
as water projects, roads, etc., through tenders from
the private sectors and ministries of the former Sulaimaniyah
administration. Some companies did not comply with
the procedures and conditions of the contracts,
especially the period completion.
We tried to help them, but still they did not
complete their projects. Therefore, we have
blacklisted seven local and foreign companies. These
companies shall not execute any project for one year
in Sulaimani. At that time, they must ask for
consent to complete a project," Hakim Qadir,
chairman of Sulaimaniyah municipality, said.
"If they believe that they were treated unfairly
they can sue us in the court," he added.
Local villager builds six-classroom school
Othman Faraj, a local of Shoraw village in Kirkuk
province, built a school of six classrooms at his
expense. With 50 students enrolled in it, the school
has been in operation since November 23, 2006, under
the supervision of the Directorate of Education in
Kirkuk.
Border areas in Duhok attacked
Turkish forces have attacked border regions
belonging to the Duhok Governorate.
A representative of the Kurdistani Peshmerga Forces
in the town of Zakho announced Wednesday that
Turkish forces have attacked border regions
belonging to the Duhok Governorate.
"At 6.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 14 artillery shells were
directed at Siara Korke in the north of Zakho, and
the assault lasted for about a half hour," stated
the representative.
A citizen from the region reported that the
bombardment included several different regions, and
people in Siara Korke are planning to leave the
territory.
Special education training program deals with
disabled children
A special training program for 25 teachers from
Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, and Halabja.
The Holland Akorm organization opened a special
training program for 25 teachers from Erbil, Sulaimaniyah,
and Halabja, local media reported.
The goal is to familiarize teachers on how to deal
with disabled and handicapped children to improve
their educational and social capabilities and enable
them to participate with ordinary children in
schools.
"This kind of special training program is regarded
as a novel achievement in Kurdistan, and I hope for
all handicapped children to be able to share with
other children in ordinary schools," Sindi Larof
said, who is working for the organization and holds
a master's degree in special education. The training
course will last for five days.
Article 140 committee receives $15 million
monthly
The article was endorsed completely and presented to
the Council of Ministers.
Kaka Rash, head of Kirkuk's Article 140 Committee
office, told the media that after a committee
meeting on December 6, the article was endorsed
completely and presented to the Council of
Ministers. He also pointed out that during the
meeting, the budgets for the Kirkuk, Khanaqeen, and
Shangar offices were approved. Rash indicated that
one of the members of the committee from Turkoman
group proposed a suggestion, but was refused by the
committee.
Deadline for Kurdistan constitution extended
The constitution recognizes Islam as a source of
legislation sparking some angry reactions by civil
society organizations.
Kurdistan Parliament has extended the time to review
the draft copy of the region's constitution. Extra
time has been called for to allow more opinions from
experts and the public on the content of the
charter.
The original date was set for the beginning of
December but for now has been pushed back to April
1st, next year. Kurdistan lawmakers say that since
this is the first draft of the constitution for the
Kurdistan Region, they want to give an extended
opportunity to a wider number of people and
different factions to have their say on the
constitution's development.
"This is the first draft constitution for Kurdistan
Region, so we would like to value the views of all
segments and factions concerning the amendments in
the constitution," Tariq Jambaz a member of the
constitutional panel, told the Globe.
Jambaz added that they have consulted 50
constitutions of various countries from around the
world with a view to further enrich the
constitution.
"We are asking media outlets and experts to
participate in this process and suggest their
proposals to enrich the draft." He said.
The constitution recognizes Islam as a source of
legislation sparking some angry reactions by civil
society organizations, especially NGOs acting on
behalf of women, who believe it will restrict civil
liberties.
The charter has also been criticized by some
minority groups in the Region who are demanding more
rights. A prominent Christian leader, Sarkis Agha
Jan, has asked the Kurdistan constitution to
recognize self-rule for Christians in areas where
they constitute the majority.
The
Kurdish Globe | Agencies
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