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A Kurdistan Parliament delegation led by Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami on 2nd October in Seoul visited several departments and areas of the Korean National Assembly, to understand how the Kurdistan Parliament can learn from the Korean legislature’s experiences and working methods.

A Kurdistan Parliament delegation led by Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami on 2 October in Seoul met with Korea National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang and Korean MPs. The heads of the KDP and PUK blocks Mr. Omed Khoshnaw (KDP) and Mr. Jamal Haruty (PUK) were also at the meeting. The Kurdistan Parliament MPs are in Seoul to forge closer inter-parliamentary ties with the Korean National Assembly, and to learn from its legislative & oversight work.

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq on 1 October met with families of Peshmerga soldiers who were captured and likely imprisoned by ISIS during the war against the terrorist organisation. Speaker Faiq said that the Kurdistan Parliament does its utmost to help families of the captured Peshmerga - the freedom we enjoy in Kurdistan is thanks to the Peshmerga force's loyalty and service to their country. The Speaker said, “We follow up on all cases of prisoners and do our best to obtain their freedom.”

Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami, the head of the KDP block Omed Khoshnaw and of the PUK block Jamal Haruty on 1 October arrived in Seoul, capital of the Republic of Korea. The delegation was welcomed by Members of Korea’s National Assembly. The Kurdistan Parliament delegation and the Korean MPs discussed ways of strengthening relations between their legislatures. 

Two committees of the Kurdistan Parliament on 30 September met with CFI, France's public agency that supports the development of media in southern countries, to learn about the agency's work and views.

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq on 30 September welcomed Ambassador Leonidas Kontovounesios, Greece’s envoy to Iraq. They discussed strengthening economic relations and encouraging investment to develop Kurdistan’s economy.

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Dr Rewas Faiq on 29 September chaired the sitting at which MPs voted on first amendments to Parliament’s Internal Rules of Procedure. Some of the key changes that MPs approved by majority votes were to increase the number of standing committees from 15 to 19, so that MPs can be more focused in their committee work and aims. Women’s rights will now have a dedicated committee. Another major change was to allow MPs to keep their parliamentary seat in the event that they leave their party. MPs also voted in favour of stipulating that at least one member of Parliament's Presidency Board must be a woman.

Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Begard Talabani explained to the agriculture committee the ministry's plans to reorganise and unify Kurdistan's fruit markets and improve marketing of farmers' products. Minister Talabani suggested draft legislation to help the sector. MPs from the energy and finance committees went to Baghdad to meet with the Iraqi Council of Representatives' Petroleum and Energy Committee.  

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq on 29 September welcomed Ambassador Khalid Hamad Al Sleti, Qatar’s envoy to Iraq. They discussed strengthening parliamentary relations and encouraging investment to develop Kurdistan’s economy.

Kurdistan Parliament Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami on 29 September welcomed US Consul General Steven Fagin. They discussed the dialogue between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Region on outstanding issues, Parliament's legislative priorities, and progress in increasing cooperation between committees of the Iraqi Council of Representatives and the Kurdistan Parliament.