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Korek, Newroztel, the others and the end of game |
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The opinions
expressed in this commentary are solely those of the
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Korek, Newroztel, the others and the end
of game
15.5.2012
By Mrs. Benaw Izzat, Erbil
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Ekurd.net |
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May
15, 2012
ERBIL-Hewlęr, Kurdistan region 'Iraq',
— Kurdish telecom companies are motherless children
fed with the bitter milk of corruption and internal
rivalries. This is the message that a group of
international lawyers received when they gathered
last week in Geneva working on the court case that
Andreas Koutroukides is going to launch soon against
Nawroztel but also the Kurdistan Regional Government
KRG.
Koutroukides overcame cancer after he was completely
stripped of his rights in the now defunct Ariafon
Company which became Nawroztel. The man went through
many evidences and remained calm all along the five
hours meeting. It is clear that the cancer which did
not kill him made him stronger,www.ekurd.net
more determinate than ever to obtain Justice.
Justice with a “J” that could be the first step
forward for others.
One British lawyer tried to understand how many
operators were effectively registered in Iraq. Well
that is not an easy question to answer, let say you
have some wireless local loop operators,
ItisalunaAbr Al Iraq, Hi Link Telecom ,Omnnea ,and
Kalimat.
Kalimat will be active in the KRG at the end of 2012
or so according to their web site but there are many
other players Zain, Asiacell, Korek, Sanatel,
Mobitel, Nawroztel.
Already lawyers were flabbergasted but the meeting
turned into a one man show when Koutroukides
explained that Kurdish citizens needed two cell
phones until 2007 if they wanted to call someone in
the Kurdistan Democratic Party KDP and PUK regions.
The rivalries were so intense that when Sanatel from
the South opened its network to Korek through a
partnership they faced violence.
The original copy of
Sanatel licence, which was obtained from the CPA in
PDF format Size 14 MB
The original copy of Sanatel licence in
PDF from Ekurd.net
The Licensee
has agreed to pay a license free of US$ 100,000 for
calendar year 2004, and US$ 150,000 for the
remaining period through December 2005.
Today Aso Ali founder of the Halabja group and
Sanatel mentions in his official resume that he is
or was a major shareholder in Korek( see the page of
the KUST council
http://www.kusts.com/ACouncil.asp )
but this could add to confusion.
How could France Telecom be involved in such a mess,
paying such a huge price a minority shareholder ship
in company loosing so much money? How can you expect
setting up a national work while the Iraqis suffer
from important power shortage, organized crime
racket and political turmoil?
None of the numerous participants to this meeting
could provide an answer but the new French
Government could be eager to provide the answers to
the French taxpayers who still largely own France
Telecom but also funded the competitor Zain through
a French state owned fund loan.
It is clear that one international court case will
lead to further investigation in France Telecom loss
and curious investment.
So far lawyers from Dubaď, London and Geneva have
understood why Transparency international and
financial institutions are sending strong warning
messages to those who consider investing in the KRG.
Those who live upon false hope will die fasting.
By Mrs. Benaw Izzat - Ekurd.net
Copyright
© 2012 ekurd.net. All rights reserved
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