Committees' recent meetings - 18 February 2021
Interior, Security and Local Councils Committee
The committee issued the following statement regarding the rocket attacks on Erbil on 16 February 2021:
On 16 February Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, was attacked by rockets in an attempt to destroy the city's peace.
This cowardly attack, when Erbil and all the cities of Kurdistan Region are the most peaceful areas in Iraq, is an effort by our enemies to make our Region a battlefield and terrorize our people.
We condemn the attack in the strongest terms, and we have no doubt that the struggle, sacrifices and will of the people of Kurdistan will prevail over any terrorists’ malicious attempts.
16 February 2021
Committee on Kurdistani Areas outside KRG Administrative Area
We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of a Yazidi man and his son and daughter in a fire in the Bersive 2 camp for Yazidi IDPs in Zakho.
We express our condolences to the family of the victims and wish the injured a speedy recovery. We call on the authorities to urgently implement the Shengal agreement, so that the IDPs can return to their original homes in dignity.
The Kurdistan Regional Government has called on the United Nations to carry out its duties as an observer in the agreement and to oblige the Iraqi government to implement it.
17 February 2021
Health, Environment and Consumer Rights Committee
16 February- The Committee, led by the chair Dr. Sabah Zebari (KDP), held their usual meeting.
The MPs discussed the preparations for a new law on the pharmaceutical profession in Kurdistan Region, as currently the law in force is Iraq’s Law No. 40 of 1970. They gave their opinions on the medicines and pharmaceuticals businesses.
The committee, together with MPs from the Legislative Committee and representatives of the Pharmacists Syndicate, decided to establish a sub-committee to prepare a new bill in order to pass a pharmaceuticals law specific to Kurdistan Region.
The MPs also discussed the need to continue protective measures against the Coronavirus, especially now that a new strain is spreading in some countries and given the many deaths caused by the virus.
The committee therefore decided that ongoing discussions with the KRG Ministry of Health are needed. The high price of coronavirus tests at the borders and the problems involved with the process were discussed, and the committee decided to raise it officially in writing the Ministry of Health.
Agriculture and Irrigation Committee
17 February - The Committee, led by the chair Abdulsatar Majeed (KIG), held their usual meeting.
The importance of water resources was discussed, with comments and suggestions made on how to protect water resources in the public’s interest. The committee believes that an independent board should be established to protect water resources.
The MPs talked about the problem of unlicensed water wells. The committee sent a letter via Parliament's Presidency to the Kurdistan Regional Government asking that this problem be resolved.
The MPs discussed the draft law on regulation of fresh produce (fruit and vegetable) markets in the Kurdistan Region, in which the relevant authorities would be the given the power to determine prices in all provinces of the region.
The committee expressed their support for those who are establishing agricultural projects, and asked the government to allocate a budget for the projects, instead of supporting them with gasoline.
Municipalities, Transport, Communication, Travel and Tourism Committee
17 February- The committee, led by the chair Luqman Wardi (PUK), met with the Ms. Amal Jalal Muhamad, Head of the Kurdistan Tourism Board and her staff.
The Tourism Board gave a letter to the committee asking for more support for graduates of tourism. Ms. Amal Jalal pointed out that the abilities and expertise of tourism graduates should be harnessed to further develop and regulate the tourism sector in Kurdistan Region.
The MPs said that they are working on the Tourism Board’s demands and will decide on them at the committee's next meeting. The committee agreed on the need to take advantage of the competence of tourism graduates and said that they will raise it with the relevant authorities.
Endowments and Religious Affairs Committee
21 February- A delegation, led by deputy chair Mala Ihsan Rekani (KDP), visited the independent administration of Raparin district.
The MPs visited Kurdistan Parliament’s branch office, and then separately visited the Ranya offices of the Kurdistan Islamic Religious Scholars Union and the Endowments Directorate.
At each meeting they discussed the current state of religious practice and relations in the Kurdistan Region, and the role of religious scholars and preachers in raising awareness in the community of many issues.
The MPs asked Raparin’s religious institutions and governing authorities to coordinate with each other more closely to promote religious moderation and tolerance.
The delegation met with representatives of volunteer religion teachers working in the district's mosques. The volunteer teachers have asked the KRG Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs to be employed as public sector staff.
Relations and Kurdish Diaspora Committee
17 February - The Committee, led by Dr. Rebwar Babkayi (KDP), held their weekly meeting online.
The MPs discussed the rocket attack on Erbil of 16 February and the Government’s plans to open new KRG representations abroad.
The committee decided to discuss these two issues at their next meeting with the KRG's Department of Foreign Relations.