KURDISH VIEWS

The answer to all of Iraq’s problems: Centralism or Federalism?

2012-01-26T13:53:00.001Z

By Shwan Zulal Published on Niqash Fans of a federal union of states in Iraq are accusing PM Nouri al-Maliki of taking on the role of dictator in Iraq. They see separation of sects as the only answer to Iraq's problems. Yet advocates of centralised power in Iraq support the PM's actions. Who's right? The sorry state that Iraq is in today illustrates, once again, the complexity of

New UK plan could bring internationals complicit in Halabja massacre to justice

2012-01-19T15:54:00.003Z

By Shwan Zulal Published on NiqashSaddam Hussein’s poison gas attacks on Halabja still claim victims today with locals sick and projects on hold because of contamination. International firms that supplied gas ingredients have never been brought to justice either. A new UK plan could change all that. Of all the crimes against humanity committed by former Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, the one

Reforming Iraqi Kurdistan’s Oil Revenue

2011-12-21T21:09:00.001Z

Bublished on Carnegie Endowment / Sada By Shwan Zulal Oilmen have often described Iraqi Kurdistan as the last unexplored on-shore frontier in the world. Since the region opened to petroleum developers after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003, it has lived up to expectations of plenty. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated in 2007 that the Kurdistan reserves alone contained a median

The negotiators: Kurds may hold key to solving iraq’s political crisis

2011-12-21T15:06:00.000Z

By Shwan Zulal Published on Niqash The Iraqi VP, accused of terrorism, has said he would be happy to face trial in Iraqi Kurdistan. This puts the Kurds in a difficult position. Can they act as mediators between opposing Iraqi parties? Or will they choose sides? As most Iraqi observers now know, the last US troops were barely out of Iraqi airspace when the delicate coalition government in

Property boom: A burst housing bubble could leave kurdish region in tears

2011-12-14T15:02:00.000Z

By Shwan Zulal Niqash In Iraqi Kurdistan, locals are enjoying a property boom. As demand outstrips supply, buying off-the-plan is more popular. But if this housing bubble bursts, the region could face severe economic and political consequences. In the semi-autonomous state of Iraqi Kurdistan, an area that is generally more secure and more open to international investors than many other

Time to move on: iraq's oil and gas impasse explained

2011-12-01T23:30:00.000Z

As published on Niqash "The furore over the contract signed by US oil giant Exxon with Iraqi Kurdistan is another sign that Iraq urgently needs a new oil and gas law. As this primer explains, the lack of this law could well be a sign that the dream of united Iraq is over." By Shwan ZulalIt’s been years in the making and the latest row about Iraq’s much-debated, much-delayed and

Exxon excluded from Iraq's next licencing round while Shell seals a $17Bn Gas deal

2011-11-28T11:24:00.001Z

By Shwan ZulalThe latest ExxonMobil deal with Kurdistan region has raised few eyebrows and it has brought into focus the bitter dispute between the central Iraqi government in Baghdad and the Kurdish regional government. Current and previous Iraqi government both lead by AL Maliki has refused to recognise the Kurdish production sharing contracts awarded by the KRG. Baghdad has also

Exxon deal beckons Kurdistan's advent

2011-11-11T12:42:00.001Z

By Shwan Zulal: In a game-changing oil deal in the Kurdistan region, Exxon Mobil has signed a contract for six blocks with Kurdistan Regional Government, reported the FT. There were rumours about a major US oil company circling in the Kurdistan region, but experts dismissed any deals because of the danger of being blacklisted by Baghdad. What Exxon has done is of immense importance to

US withdrawal brings the Kurds closer to Iran

2011-11-04T16:22:00.000Z

By Shwan Zulal The manner of the US withdrawal from Iraq has been appalling to say the least and greeted with dismay in Kurdistan Region and some parts of Iraq. In the latest survey by Gallup, three out of four American approved Obama's withdrawal from Iraq. Nevertheless, it is not clear what the strategic objective of the withdrawal is, except electioneering and cost cutting. Apart from

The consequence of failing to unite Kurdish Peshmerga amidst Obama's desertion

2011-11-04T11:09:00.000Z

By Shwan Zulal Whilst Michael Rubin, a scholar from the American Enterprise Institute, argues in Kurdistan Tribune that Kurdistan Region (KR) President Massud Barzani and PM Barham Salih should pressure US policy makers to block the latest proposed Turkish arms sale, the attention of Kurdish politicians should also focus on their failure to convince the US to sell them military hardware too.The

Kurdistan: It's not independence but oil revenues stupid!

2011-10-25T14:25:00.000+01:00

By Shwan Zulal The idea of independent Kurdistan has been making the headlines recently. Politicians and commentators from all spectrums are airing their views like never before. The latest politician to wade into the argument is no other than Hassan Alawi, who is identified as a vocal support of the Kurds and one of the founders of Baath party, which is not two qualities one hear in a one

Kurdish flag controversy raises tension as KRG redirects oil export

2011-10-17T12:38:00.001+01:00

By Shwan Zulal Demonstrations in Kurdistan Region Tension between Baghdad and Kurdistan region has reached its peak since the Iraqi PM, Nuri AL-Maliki ordered the removal of Kurdish flags from government buildings in Khanaqin in Diyala province, which is in the disputed territories defined under Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution. Since the directive was issues by the Iraqi PM,

Publication of Kurdish PSCs and Baghdad use of delaying tactics

2011-10-10T12:21:00.001+01:00

By: Shwan Zulal It has been three weeks since the KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government) published the Kurdish PSCs (Production Sharing Contracts) and surprisingly there has been very little reaction from Baghdad and the media in general. Before the publication of the oil deals, commentators were speculating about the content of the contracts and allegation of corruption was rife.

KURDISH ENERGY AND THE EU: TIME FOR A (DIFFERENT) BEAR HUG?

2011-09-13T00:00:00.004+01:00

Published on EUCERS Newsletter Kings College London A decision by several European countries to phase out nuclear production will leave the continent even more exposed to Russia as their main supplier. Alternative solutions mooted so far range from renewable types of generation to natural gas piped from theCaspian region. Increasingly, the resource‐rich Kurdistan region in northern Iraq

Halting Kurdistan oil reminds Baghdad of Kurdish dominance in the north

2011-09-12T15:39:00.001+01:00

By: Shwan ZulalOn Sunday, oil export from Kurdistan Region dropped significantly and Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki's adviser on Kurdish affairs told Reuters "the stoppage was a reaction to central government approving a new oil and gas law without consulting Kurdish leaders". A few hours later the KRG(Kurdistan Regional Government) said in a statement that" the Ministry of Natural

Kurds could bring down Al-Maliki over Hydrocarbon Law

2011-09-06T12:12:00.002+01:00

By: Shwan Zulal Kurdistan region slammed the Iraqi central government in strongest terms, on its handling of the newly proposed oil and gas law and accused Baghdad of dirty manoeuvring. The Kurdistan region presidency office condemned the tactics used and called on the Council of Ministers to withdraw the government's version of the draft law immediately, saying the draft contradicts the

Pressure is mounting on Kurdish PSCs as Iraq's Cabinet approves Hydrocarbon Law

2011-08-30T15:03:00.002+01:00

By: Shwan ZulalThe Iraqi Cabinet has finally approved the draft Hydrocarbon law and will soon be read in parliament. This latest development comes on the backdrop of another draft oil law, which was introduced by the Iraqi Parliamentary committee for energy pushed, by Iraqiya List and the Kurds. Incumbent MPs walked out of parliament when the draft was supposed to have its first reading

Kurds show revulsion at Turkish attacks & Barzani calls for calm

2011-08-24T18:09:00.001+01:00

By:Shwan ZulalDemonistaration in Erbil, Kurdistan Region's capital was underway today condemning the Turkish air raids on Qandil mountains and PKK (Kurdistan workers Party) bases in Kurdistan. The Banners were calling for justice for the innocent seven civilians killed by the Turkish Air strike. They were calling on Turkey to stop its aggression and its disregards to Kurdistan Region's

Iraqi leaders met, Maliki forwarded manifesto but failed to address Kurdish PSCs & Iranian aggression

2011-08-17T10:42:00.000+01:00

By: Shwan Zulal After meeting at Iraqi President, Jalal Talabani's home, couple of weeks ago, Iraqi political leaders agreed to put an end to months of political deadlock. In the last few months, Iraq's political process has grounded to a halt because of heated debates over the allocation of security ministries and the implementation of the power-sharing deal signed by the political blocs

Declining oil prices could strain Baghdad-Erbil relations further

2011-08-09T20:06:00.003+01:00

By: Shwan ZulalOil prices are falling and set to go even lower as the global uncertainty over EU debt crises and US downgrade continues. It is hard to predict oil prices in the coming six month, but it is becoming clear that the global economy is not able to sustain $100 USD plus price for very long. It is somewhat good news for the developed and developing economies like the US and China and

Revival of banking sector in Iraq & Kurdistan Region

2011-08-05T12:39:00.008+01:00

By: Shwan Zulal Published on Huffington Post Kurdistan Region and Iraqi economists' were convinced that Iraq was immune from the recent Global banking crisis after Lehman's collapse on Wall Street. The Kurdish banking sector was close to none existence at the time, therefore it was thought that Iraq would not be affected, but the reality was far from it. Looking at the investment figures from

Kurdistan Region defy Baghdad & grants new oil contracts

2011-07-30T09:02:00.004+01:00

By: Shwan Zulal As published on Huffington Post Ashti Hawrami, KRG oil Minister The rush for Kurdish Oil and Gas has stepped up a notch this week. More options exercised and two other hydrocarbon deal done plus renewed interests from Vallares. The Canadian ShaMaran Petroleum and the Australia Oil Search, have announced that they have exercised an option from a 2009 seismic deal and entered

Ex BP chief to spur a takeover frenzy in Kurdistan Region

2011-07-11T12:58:00.005+01:00

By: Shwan Zulal It has been reported in the Sunday Times that former BP boss, Tony Hayward, and his investment vehicle Vallares, which he has set up with Nat Rothschilds, have made a move on the Turkish Genel Enerji. Since leaving BP, Hayward's fund attracted many inventors including BlackRock, Paulson and Co Hedge fund and Mubadala among many others. Mr Hayward told FT in June: "Vallares will

Culture of dependency & newly proposed welfare reforms in Kurdistan Region

2011-07-02T14:44:00.003+01:00

By: Shwan ZulalKurdistan Region Government (KRG) or the same group of leaders have been running the northern region of Iraq for over 20 years and it has come a long since. Fratricidal conflicts and petty politics have taken its toll on the region and hindered progress for years. The government has often been described as an infant and the public has made many concessions for its early stage of

Kurdistan Region’s new riches spent on luxury not essentials

2011-06-29T14:23:00.003+01:00

By Shwan ZulalAs published on kurdistantribune The Kurdistan Region has been seen as a model for the rest of Iraq and much has been made of the economic boom. Anyone landing at Erbil Airport and driving down the new roads past the new hotels and shopping malls can see the boom at first hand.The other apparent boom is in personal wealth, which is contributing to a massive consumption bonanza.