Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Dr Rewas Faiq on 29 September chaired the sitting at which MPs voted on first amendments to Parliament’s Internal Rules of Procedure. Some of the key changes that MPs approved by majority votes were to increase the number of standing committees from 15 to 19, so that MPs can be more focused in their committee work and aims. Women’s rights will now have a dedicated committee. Another major change was to allow MPs to keep their parliamentary seat in the event that they leave their party. MPs also voted in favour of stipulating that at least one member of Parliament's Presidency Board must be a woman.
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Summary of committees' recent meetings – 30 September 2019
Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Begard Talabani explained to the agriculture committee the ministry's plans to reorganise and unify Kurdistan's fruit markets and improve marketing of farmers' products. Minister Talabani suggested draft legislation to help the sector. MPs from the energy and finance committees went to Baghdad to meet with the Iraqi Council of Representatives' Petroleum and Energy Committee.
Parliament Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq meets Qatar's Ambassador Khalid Hamad Al Sleti
Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq on 29 September welcomed Ambassador Khalid Hamad Al Sleti, Qatar’s envoy to Iraq. They discussed strengthening parliamentary relations and encouraging investment to develop Kurdistan’s economy.
Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami meets with US Consul General Steven Fagin
Kurdistan Parliament Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami on 29 September welcomed US Consul General Steven Fagin. They discussed the dialogue between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Region on outstanding issues, Parliament's legislative priorities, and progress in increasing cooperation between committees of the Iraqi Council of Representatives and the Kurdistan Parliament.
Speech by Speaker Dr. Rewas Faiq on second anniversary of Kurdistan Independence Referendum
"The siege and the political, military, economic consequences of holding the referendum and were difficult for Kurdistan. The effects of the referendum continue, through the attempts to decrease the constitutional powers of Kurdistan Region’s institutions. But in the end, the right to self-determination remains one of the legitimate rights of peoples. International treaties have affirmed this legitimate right of all peoples. We ask God to protect the Kurdistan Region and our people, and to preserve our institutions so that we may continue to serve all the people of Kurdistan."
Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami meets Iraqi Council of Representatives’ Sports and Youth Committee members
Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami on 25 September welcomed MPs from the Iraqi Council of Representatives’ (ICOR) Sports and Youth Committee, led by its chair Mr. Abbas Alewi. The ICOR committee visited Kurdistan Parliament after recent agreements to strengthen relations, coordination and mutual support between the committees of the Kurdistan Parliament and of the ICOR.
Order of business for 29 September: MPs to vote on amendments to Parliament’s Internal Rules of Procedure
The Presidency of the Kurdistan Parliament announces the order of business for the sitting of today, Sunday 29th September at 11am: MPs will vote on first amendments to Parliament's Internal Rules of Procedure, per Articles 90, 91, 93, 96, 97 and 125 of the Internal Rules of Procedure.
Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami meets Iraq’s Finance Minister Dr. Fuad Hussein in Baghdad
Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami on 28 September in Baghdad met with Iraq’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Fuad Hussein. Mr. Hawrami outlined the current political and economic situation in the region, and bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Iraqi government.
Summary of committees' recent meetings – 26 September 2019
The Culture, Civil Society, Sports and Youth Committee met civil society groups from Koya and Garmian who said that a high board should be established to tackle narcotics on many fronts and to help drug addicts to recover. They also met with MPs from the Iraqi Council of Representatives' Sports and Youth Committee and discussed the problems between the Iraqi and Kurdistan Olympic committees. The environment committee discussed the problem of disposal of medical items and medical waste.
Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami speaks at Economic and Security Forum in Baghdad
Kurdistan Parliament Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami on 27 September said that Iraq and Kurdistan Region can together act as a bridge between different state and non-state actors in the Middle East, and help to promote regional convergence. He also said that Baghdad and Kurdistan Region have reached a good understanding in their talks on pending issues. He made the speech at the Al Rafidain Center for Dialogue’s Economic and Security Forum in Baghdad.