Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq welcomes UNDP’s Iraq Resident Representative Mr. Auke Lootsma

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq on 6 February 2023 welcomed the UNDP’s Iraq Resident Representative Mr. Auke Lootsma. They discussed shared concerns, including combating corruption, mitigating climate change and conserving water resources.

Their conversation focused on how Parliament and UNDP can work together on courses and workshops to strengthen parliamentary work in several areas.

On combating corruption, which is one of UNDP’s goals in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, Speaker Faiq said, "We share this aim with you, the Kurdistan Parliament has passed a comprehensive anti-corruption law and we continually monitor this issue.”

The environment and climate change, another of the UNDP’s areas of work in Iraq, were also discussed.

Dr. Faiq highlighted groundwater depletion and the constant threat of droughts, and the solutions to these environmental problems. She explained the important legislation passed in the current term of Parliament to conserve and manage water resources and boost alternative sources of power generation.

Mr. Lootsma welcomed the prospect of more coordination between the Kurdistan Parliament and the UNDP in areas of mutual interest.

The Head of Parliament’s Research Centre Mr. Fuad Ahmed participated in the meeting and spoke about Parliament’s needs and wishes for capacity-building and sharing of expertise.