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Baghdad: The north of Iraq (Kurdistan), which
is known as the Federal Kurdistan region and
includes the cities of Sulaimaniyah, Erbil and Dhok,
has gained increasing importance recently.
The region is safe compared to other regions, and is
slowly becoming Iraq's main point of contact with
the outside world, especially with the continuous
decline in security that has been going on for two
years.
German, American, Italian and Arab businessmen now
prefer to arrive at Sulaimaniyah or Erbil airports
to find investment opportunities or meet Iraqi
businessmen, as it is safer to stay in these two
cities than in Baghdad and other areas.
Abdullah Sardar, a prominent intellectual from Erbil,
told Gulf News: "We can walk around in the north of
Iraq (Kurdistan) any time we want.
"There are no explosions, no car bombs and no
indications of civil strife, which is not the case
with Baghdad at the moment."
Many of Baghdad's wealthy people pay extended visits
to some of the northern cities to enjoy the
greenery, mountains and security.
Ahmad Al Samarai, an Iraqi businessman, told Gulf
News that the northern cities of Erbil, Sulaimaniyah
and Dhok are preferred by politicians, businessmen
and even workers, who prefer to work in Kurdistan
after terrorist attacks affected their jobs in
Baghdad.
"I know that dozens of my friends of businessmen
have moved with their families to the north of Iraq,
to escape car bombs, kidnappings and perhaps
murder," said Al Samarai.
Baghdad is losing its economic, political and social
stature, while the north is acquiring new glamour.
Mahmoud Al Saadi, manager of a tourism company in
Baghdad, said that he expected trips from Baghdad
and other central and southern cities to increase by
400 per cent this summer, due to the increasing
sectarian violence.
In politics, Kurdish leaders who control the north
(Kurdistan) have not hesitated to make the area a
political hub, as there is a Kurdish attempt to move
some of the negotiations on government formation to
Kurdistan.
www.gulfnews.com
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