Summary of committees’ recent meetings – 19 June 2019
A brief summary of Kurdistan Parliament’s committees’ recent meetings and activities:
Committee on Kurdistani Areas outside KRG Administrative Area
18 June – The committee met with Mr. Rebwar Talabani, the head of Kirkuk Provincial Council, to discuss the Kurdistani areas outside the KRG administrative area including Kirkuk Governorate. Mr. Talabani talked about the abnormal situation in Kirkuk Province, especially after the invasion in October 2017 by Iraqi forces and the Popular Mobilisation Fronts (Hashdi Shabi). They also discussed the obstacles to implementing Article 140 and carrying out a census in those regions.
The committee discussed the plight of farmers whose farms and produce are at risk of arson attacks in a deliberate campaign to drive them from their land. The committee emphasized that it is essential to normalize the situation and establish proper security in those regions. They concluded the meeting by discussing several recommendations for their work on the Kurdistani areas outside the KRG.
Agriculture and Irrigation Committee
18 June – Discussed how to monitor the mechanism of receiving wheat from farmers. Decided to form some subcommittees to follow up on the wheat silos in the Kurdistan Region, and resolve farmers’ daily problems in delivering their produce.
In addition, the committee decided to visit the town of Shekhani and the village of Chira, to help resolve a social problem in those areas that relates to agriculture.
Integrity, Parliament Affairs and Complaints Committee
18 June – The committee held its regular meeting. They discussed the notes and requests submitted to the committee and took appropriate decisions on them. The head of the committee said that she has been appointed as a member of a committee formed to oversee the financing of repairs to the Kurdistan Parliament building. That committee was formed by Parliament’s Presidency.
The committee decided to coordinate with anti-corruption organizations in Kurdistan Region.
Culture, Civil Society, Sports and Youth Committee
18 June – The committee held its regular weekly meeting. The head of the committee Mr. Luqman Wardy (PUK) gave details of their visit to Slemani Governorate’s Intellectual Directorate and several other cultural and intellectual centres in Slemani. They discussed the notes and requests submitted to them.
They decided to form two subcommittees, one to follow up requests on sports issues, and the other to follow up on how to spend the budget allocated to Slemani as Kurdistan Region’s Capital of Culture. The subcommittees will start their work in the next few days.
19 June - The committee welcomed Mr. Dana Saeed Sofi, the Head of the Institute of Reform, and the heads of several NGOs in Kurdistan. Mr. Wardy outlined the committee’s remit and emphasized that it should have strong relations with NGOs in Kurdistan. Mr. Sofi explained the activities and projects of the Institute of Reform and said that close collaboration with the committee will help both sides to carry out their responsibilities. The committee members confirmed the vital role of NGOs, especially in contributing to the drafting of bills on civil society issues.
