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Kurdistan speaker says disputes with
central government "normal"
2.1.2008
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January 2, 2008
Erbil-Hewler, Kurdistan Region 'Iraq',--
Iraq's Kurdistan Speaker Adnan Mufti on Tuesday
described the region's disputes with the central
government as "normal," a step described as an
understatement of differences over the budget
allocated for the Peshmerga forces (Kurdistan
national forces).
"I believe disputes with the central government will
be resolved in 2008 by means of negotiations…,"
Mufti said.
The budget allocated for Iraq's Kurdistan region
represents 17% of the government's overall budget.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) seeks to
allocate an extra sum from the Iraqi Defense
Ministry's budget for Peshmerga salaries, currently
paid through the regional government's share of
national oil revenue. |
Dr Adnan Mufti, Iraqi Kurdistan parliament speaker |
On Sunday, the Kurdistan parliament unanimously
approved a Peshmerga forces' service and retirement
law submitted by the region's government.
The KRG's Peshmerga minister, Omar Othman, explained
that the law was drafted in accordance with the
Iraqi Military Service Law.www.ekurd.net
"The Peshmerga forces
are entrusted with protecting the region, but at the
same time they are part of the Iraqi forces," Othman
said.
The Peshmerga is the Kurdish name for a militia that
fought the former Iraqi regime. It had turned into
paramilitary forces to protect the region after
former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein withdrew the
Iraqi army from the three Kurdish provinces in 1992.
In 2006, two ministries were established to deal
with the Peshmerga affairs in the region's
government, one based in Erbil and the other in
Sulaimaniyah.
VOI
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