Summary of committees' recent meetings – 30 September 2019

Summary of Kurdistan Parliament committees’ recent meetings and activities:

Agriculture and Irrigation Committee

29 September – The chair and MPs of the committee in Parliament welcomed the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources Begard Talabani and her staff. They discussed reorganizing the fruit markets in Kurdistan, and marketing Kurdistan farmers’ products.

Minister Talabani suggested relevant draft legislation to support the sector. She said that the ministry plans to unify fruit marketing systems in all of Kurdistan Region. The committee members pledged to follow up on the issues raised in the meeting.

The meeting also discussed villages next to airports, where villagers’ land has been used for airport construction. The parliament committee and the minister decided to direct the request to return the villagers’ lands to Parliament’s presidency. The committee documented the ministry’s requests and suggestions.

Legislative Committee

26 September - The committee led by the chair Mr. Bizhar Kocher (KDP) held their regular weekly meeting. They discussed all of the comments and recommendations made by MPs during the second reading of proposed amendments to Parliament’s Internal Rules of Procedure, on 25 September. They drew up a report on the amendments which they submitted to Parliament’ Presidency, ahead of the vote by MPs.

Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs with Committee on Energy, Natural Resources, Commerce and Industry

26 September – During a visit to Baghdad, the two committees led by Mr. Balen Ismaeel (Gorran), chair of the energy committee, and Mr. Hevidar Ahmad (KDP), deputy chair of the finance committee, met with the Petroleum and Energy committee of the Iraqi Council of Representatives (ICOR).

They discussed ensuring that Kurdistan Region’s share is provided in the Iraq 2020 budget. They also briefed the ICOR Petroleum and Energy committee on the new Kurdistan Region Government cabinet’s strategies. They said that the KRG is working to develop strong relations with the Iraqi Federal Government on the basis of mutual understanding, dialogue, and the Iraqi Constitution.

The ICOR Petroleum and Energy committee accepted the Kurdistan Parliament committees’ invitation to visit Kurdistan to increase their cooperation, and said that they hope to visit as soon as possible.