Committees' recent meetings - 28 December 2020
A summary of Kurdistan Parliament's committees' recent meetings and activities:
Peshmerga Committee
22 December – The committee, led by the chair Reving Heruri (KDP), held their regular meeting by video conference.
The committee have published a compilation of their work, meetings and activities, available here as a PDF file. Kurdistan Parliament Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami’s letter of thanks was read out to the members.
The MPs discussed their future plans, to look further into Peshmerga soldiers’ retirement and to hold a meeting in the spring session of Parliament on Peshmerga’s living conditions and problems and the unification of the forces.
Most of the MPs said that they must be more serious about follow-up so that they can serve the Peshmerga forces with better concrete outcomes.
They also decided to visit Peshmerga forces to better understand their requirements in the barricades for the winter season.
The committee reviewed and evaluated their work over the five months of the current autumn session of Parliament’s second year, from 1 August to 24 December 2020. They held 32 activities, of which 10 were regular meetings on various subjects, 22 were visits and follow-ups, and four were meetings with official and non-official organisations to discuss their demands. All the notes and questions that Parliament’s Presidency sent to the committee were answered.
At most of the committee's visits and activities, MPs from most of the parliamentary parties were present.
Report on the work and activities of the Peshmerga Committee (PDF file)
Finance and Economic Affairs Committee
22 December- The committee, led by the chair Ziyad Jabbar Mohammad (PUK), held their regular meeting.
The first item on the agenda was fall in the value of the Iraqi Dinar versus the US dollar and its impact on prices of goods and on the debate on the tax rate.
The MPs said that the Iraqi Central Bank’s decision to devalue the Iraqi Dinar did not take into consideration those on low incomes or means who will be adversely affected by it.
The committee suggested that as Kurdistan Region has had to adapt to the KRG’s reduced income to pay monthly salaries and benefits, and adapt to rising prices, taxation on goods should be be reduced so that people on low means can afford them.
The MPs made some suggestions, including tax cuts on foods and daily goods, accurate market monitoring by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to prevent price increases, preventing increases in the price of fuel, and the ministries of Municipalities and Tourism, Agriculture and Water Resources, and Trade and Industry all focusing on local production.
The committee expressed their support for the KRG’s negotiating team, led by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, in their talks with Baghdad to obtain the financial rights of the people of Kurdistan in the 2021 budget and in Iraq’s Fiscal Deficit Coverage Law.
Committee on Kurdistani Areas outside the KRG Administrative Area
22 December - The committee, led by chair Jiwan Rojbayani (KDP), held their regular meeting.
The reports and notes sent to the committee by the public were read and received responses or were directed to Parliament’s Presidency for further follow-up.
To look into the current attempts to forcibly Arabize the Kurdish districts of Sargaran and Palkana, the committee decided that more coordination between them and KRG is needed. The committee has given their views and proposals about Sargaran and Palkana to MPs of the Iraqi Council of Representatives (Iraqi Parliament) who intend to visit there soon.
Martyrs’ Affairs, Genocide and Political Prisoners Committee
21 December - The committee, led by the chair Sawsan Muhammad Said (KDP), held their 34th meeting.
The MPs reviewed the notes and requests sent to the committee, and discussed the problems currently experienced by the families of martyrs and political prisoners.
Ms. Danaz AbuBakir, a researcher, joined the meeting to talk about her research on genocide and Halabja.
The MPs decided to meet with the Ministry of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs to raise the problems facing martyrs, Anfal victims and political prisoners.
Dr. Bryar Sherko, an adviser, explained the activities in the court of the Hague on the Genocide against the Kurdish people.
The committee decided to visit all the directorates for martyrs’ affairs in the governorates, to look into implementation of the Reform Law and the challenges facing families of martyrs, genocide victims, and political prisoners.
The MPs will attempt to collect all of the statistics on martyrs' families who have not been given land to which they are entitled or have not had it registered, and on the lack of services for them.
Health, Environment and Consumer Rights Committee
20 December – Members of the committee visited Duhok General Directorate of Health and Duhok Environment Office.
The MPs and Dr. Afrasiab Musa, the General Director of Duhok Health, discussed the problems and shortcomings of the governorate’s healthcare system and provision and agreed on more coordination in order to improve health services to the public.
In their meeting with Dilshad Abdul Rahman, the new Director of Duhok’s Environment Office, the MPs gave their suggestions and comments on protecting the environment for Duhok’s residents.
Municipalities, Transport, Communication, Travel and Tourism Committee
20 December – Several residents of the residential complex in Erbil called Korean village met with the committee in Parliament to raise their complaints.
The residents of Korean Village handed the committee their written requests, which included giving the complex direct access to the new highway under construction, which is the 150 metre road, and to keep the two drinking water wells for the complex. They asked the committee to visit the project to get a better understanding of the problems and help the residents to get them resolved.
The same day, members of the committee, led by the chair Luqman Wardi (PUK), visited Korean Village and heard at length from the residents. The committee told the residents that their demands were valid and pledged to meet with the Ministry of Municipalities to raise them.
Korean Village is located between the new 150 metre highway and Baherka district in Erbil. 1,500 families live in the complex, which was originally built for people on low incomes and those without their own homes.