Kurdistan Regional Government
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About the Kurdistan Regional Government

MON, 9 NOV 2009 20:07 | KRG.org

Kurdistan Regional Government, Council of Ministers Building, Erbil
Structure of the KRG
The democratically elected Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) exercises executive power according to the Kurdistan Region’s laws, as enacted by the Kurdistan Parliament.

The current government, led by Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, assumed office on 5 April 2012. His Deputy is Mr Imad Ahmad Sayfour.

The government coalition consists of several political parties, reflecting the ethnic and religious diversity of the Region’s people, who are Kurds, Turkmen, Chaldeans, Assyrians, Syriac, Yazidis and others living together in harmony and tolerance.

The cabinet is made up of members of the Kurdistani List coalition, which won the region’s parliamentary elections in July 2009, together with other parties. The coalition government consists of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Kurdistan Islamic Movement, the Chaldean Assyrian Syriac Council, Turkmen representatives, Communists and Socialists. The government has 19 ministries.

The KRG is based in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region. It administers the governorates of Erbil, Suleimaniah and Dohuk.

The KRG’s programme: Renewal and reconstruction
The KRG will not stand still upon its achievements, it will work for change, revival and reform.

The seventh cabinet has the responsibility to:
  • protect and expand upon the achievements of the previous cabinet,
  • maintain several critical initiatives of the previous cabinet in terms of administrative and financial reform, and
  • resolve the shortcomings that we have not yet been able to tackle.

Transparency and reform
The seventh cabinet will fight against corruption, through the rule of law and transparency in government activity. The Minister of Justice will also shoulder the duty of Public Prosecutor; ensuring that dossiers of corruption and mismanagement of public funds will be sent to court.

The KRG will put an end to political party interference in governmental affairs. It will also work to create the necessary atmosphere for political activity and the development of multi-party traditions, by amending the laws pertaining to parties and communities, and also by issuing a law regarding political party funding.

Unifying institutions
The KRG plans to unify the Erbil/Dohuk and Suleimaniah institutions of the Asayish (intelligence and security), Peshmerga forces and finance, to completed the process of unification started in 2006, and to end once and for all the legacy of the era of dual administrations.

Public spending
The KRG will build on the Kurdistan Region’s considerable economic progress and improved living standards by further developing education and higher education, health, agriculture, irrigation and roads, and by resolving the housing problems for low-income citizens, increasing the income level of the individual and the living standards of the lower class.

The public budget will be allocated according to the principles of balance and fairness, to meet the needs and requirements of the entire Kurdistan Region without prejudice. The KRG will work for precise transparent monitoring through the Parliament Audit Committees, and will strive to diversify the sources of income and disclose its expenditure. The KRG aims to establish an integrity commission for monitoring and investigation, and to pass a law requiring properties of officials to be made public. This will improve financial policy, help to tackle corruption and establish better transparency in government activity.

Pending issues between Baghdad and Erbil
The KRG remains committed to the democratically approved Iraqi Constitution, which guarantees coexistence among the Iraqi factions. The issues of Kirkuk, Khanaqin, Sinjar and other disputed areas; federal oil and gas and revenue sharing laws; and power sharing can only be resolved through commitment to the Constitution.

The political situation in Iraq and the challenges that the Kurdistan Regions demand that we all work hand in hand, both government and opposition, to protect our experience, development and progress. We must work together to regain unachieved rights for the people of Kurdistan and to guarantee a bright future for the democratic and constitutional experience in Iraq.

Kurdistan Region's relations with its neighbours
The KRG will continue its policy of having good stable relationships with its neighbours, based on the principles of mutual interest. Faithful to the Kurdistan Region’s friends and supporters, the KRG will strengthen its already strong ties with our allies in Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as the wider international community, with the aim of achieving our mutual goals.

Recognition of the Anfal genocide
The victims of the Anfal genocide and the Halabja bombardment should never be forgotten. The KRG will lobby international decision makers for officially recognition of the Iraqi Special Tribunal’s ruling that these crimes were acts of genocide. We will also endeavour to implement the decision to compensate the victims of the Anfal campaign and those who were affected by chemical weapons. The KRG will continue to bring back to Kurdistan the remains of the Anfal victims found in the mass graves in the middle and the south of Iraq, and to build deserved monuments of remembrance to them.

Participation of the young and women in political life
The government will promote political freedom and public determination. We will encourage civil society and the media to play a greater and more constructive role in promoting public opinion and expanding the circle of democracy.

Young people and women will be given the encouragement and space to participate in the Kurdistan Region’s political decisions. The KRG sees young people as valuable assets. The future of Kurdistan will be guaranteed through their development and provision of opportunities for them, whether within government or within society. The KRG will create space for capable and qualified youth.

See also the fact sheets, PDF files:
The Kurdistan Region in brief

About the Kurdistan Regional Government

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