UK parliamentary group launches report after visiting Kurdistan Region

LONDON

London, UK (KRG.org) A report of the All !arty !arliamentary Group on the Kurdistan Region in "ra# and its fact finding mission to $r%il, &uho' and &omi( in )ovem%er *+,-, .ill %e launched during the parliamentary de%ate on UK/s relations .ith Kurdistan Region on 0ednesday, 1anuary ,2. 3he delegation consisted of 4o 4hairs )adhim 5aha.i 6! and 6eg 6unn 6! together .ith 7ice 4hair Ro%ert 8alfon 6!, 6i'e Gapes 6!, Leo &ocherty, the &irector of the 4onservative 6iddle $ast 4ouncil and Gary Kent, the &irector of the A!!G. 3he report titled 9:ive years; the continuing story of success and transition in the Kurdistan Region/, highlights Kurdistan as a ma<or success story in the past five years and reflects on the achievements of the =ritish Kurdish relationship. 3he report outlines the follo.ing areas and issues; the Kurdish Genocide recognition, security, economy, pu%lic services, relations .ith =aghdad and An'ara, energy e>ports, independence or federalism, ?yria, international differences and reform and the future heading of the region. $>ecutive ?ummary of the report is availa%le %elo.. 3he full report is availa%le here; http://uk.ekrg.org/PDF/appg_november_2013_report_version_two.pdf $>ecutive summary of A!!G Kurdistan Region report. :ive years; the continuing story of success and transition in the Kurdistan Region. 0hen .e first started sending parliamentary delegations in *++@, "ra#i Kurdistan .as %arely on the mental map for most. 3hat has changed mar'edly than's to many commercial, cultural and

political groups. ?uccessive =ritish Governments have a%andoned an un.arranted .ariness and no. positively engage .ith the Region. Aur focus in our reports on practical measures has helped lift the #uality of the =ritish Kurdish relationship. 3he A!!G has played a ma<or role in supporting an international campaign %y the KRG to .in formal and legal recognition of genocide against the Kurds of "ra#. 0e strongly %elieve that this should %e treated as the 8olocaust and other genocides are %y the UK and the international community. 0e secured an historic de%ate in the 4ommons on *@ :e%ruary and .on its formal and unanimous support for a formal recognition of the genocide. 0e %elieve that it is possi%le for the =ritish Government to do more formally to mar' the annual Anfal &ay each ,B April. Keeping the memories alive is an essential prere#uisite of ma'ing sure that there is never any repetition. $conomic confidence, gro.th and prosperity flo. from its successful %ut hard fought security. 3he Region remains in transition .ith .eighty and painful decisions ahead %ut can do so on a su%stantially improved %ase. Living standards for all have improved as have pu%lic services %ut are patchy and need to %e improved. 3he cat and mouse game %et.een $r%il and =aghdad is as old as "ra# itself. 0e agree .ith Kurdish leaders that =aghdad should nurture and cele%rate the social and economic achievements of the Region and see it as the future for the .hole country. "t seems possi%le that the autonomous region and the federal government can negotiate a revenue sharing la. that accompanies the ne. pipelines %et.een the Kurdistan Region and 3ur'ey. 3he rapprochement .ith 3ur'ey has concerned some in =aghdad and in America .ho fear that economic independence .ill %ecome political independence and that "ra# .ill disintegrate. 0e accept that a unified "ra# should .or' for all its component parts through .hat !resident =ar(ani descri%ed to us as Cpartnership and po.er sharing.C 3he Kurds told us that the current revenue sharing agreement should give them ,DE of the national %udget %ut that they usually receive a%out ,+E and not consistently. 3he crucial need is for a ro%ust and relia%le revenue sharing la.. 8o.ever, the crisis in ?yria is having a tremendous impact on "ra#i Kurdistan. :e. people realise that *2+,+++ refugees are sheltering in the Kurdistan Region. 0e pledge to do our utmost to increase humanitarian aid to the Kurdistan Region .hich is less a%out cash than capacity %uilding. 0e agree that humanitarian intervention in ?yria, %ac'ed %y military force, should remain an option. 3here are differences %et.een the parties on domestic issues, as is normal, %ut deeper tensions are stretching their young democracy. 3ransitions to parliamentary democracy, .ith its full array of chec's and %alances against centralisation and in favour of a healthy civil society, ta'e time. 3he Kurdistan Region has come far in a fe. short years. "ts oil, gas, minerals, agriculture and tourism plus lin's .ith 3ur'ey, "ran and other countries could lift its profile and the position of its people. An important de%ate is ho. to avoid the curse of natural resources; avoiding their economy and society %eing dependent on this one resource, .hich .ill run out or for .hich .orld demand may drain as other energy sources are esta%lished. 3hey are see'ing to diversify the economy,

although this has %een hampered %y the unrelia%ility of funding from the federal government. 4hange re#uires the reduction in the si(e and scope of the state .hich employs the vast ma<ority of the .or'force .hose temptation is for the #uiet and less productive life. 3his in turn disincentivises initiative, enterprise and economic pluralism. Fet it politics and policy formulation are the preserve of a minority, .ho are over .or'ed and under considera%le pressure. 0e 'no. of proposals for a range of thin' tan's that can complement official programmes to increase capacity and participation and .e urge private sponsorship of such initiatives. 3he Kurdistan Region is ahead in .omenGs rights %ut remains a manGs .orld. 0e congratulate the KRG on its efforts to reduce the incidence of :G6, .hich has fallen %ut should %e eliminated. A healthy %ut professional media is the %edroc' of a democratic society. 0e .ere saddened to hear of the murder of a <ournalist, Ka.a Garmiyan. 0e condemn this murder and as' the authorities to pursue and prosecute those .ho carried out this attac'. 0e have seen a ma<or success story in the Kurdistan Region. !rogress sometimes seems slo.er than necessary %ut they have accomplished %ig changes; a ne. energy sector, radically reshaping relations .ith 3ur'ey, a massive e>pansion of education and a successful election campaign, vigorously fought .ith no ma<or incidents. 0e promise to; H 0e .ill see' to .in a General Ad<ournment &e%ate in the 4ommons on UK relations .ith the Kurdistan Region of "ra#. H 0e .ill suggest that the 8ouse of 4ommons :oreign Affairs ?elect 4ommittee considers an in#uiry into UK relations .ith the Kurdistan Region of "ra# and prospects for Kurds in ?yria, 3ur'ey and "ran. H 0e suggest that the UK Government invite the !resident and !rime 6inister of the Kurdistan Region on an official visit to London to meet the !6 and the :oreign ?ecretary. H 0e .ill suggest that the =ritish Government considers the possi%ility of a visit %y the :oreign ?ecretary to the Kurdistan Region. H 0e urge the UK Government to enter into discussions .ith the KRG a%out the supply of non lethal security e#uipment. H 0e urge the UK Government to appoint a UK 3rade $nvoy to the Kurdistan Region H 0e urge the !rime 6inister to convene a seminar at &o.ning ?treet on the potential for =ritish interests in the Kurdistan Region. H 0e .ill see' a meeting .ith the 8ome Affice to discuss the visa regime and any needless o%stacles to increased cultural and commercial connections .ith Kurdistan. H 0e continue to urge the =ritish Government to formally recognise the genocide conducted against the Kurds and to ta'e a full part in mar'ing the annual Anfal &ay on ,B April. 3he delegation consisted of 4o 4hairs )adhim 5aha.i 6! and 6eg 6unn 6! together .ith 7ice 4hair Ro%ert 8alfon 6!, 6i'e Gapes 6!, Leo &ocherty, the &irector of the 4onservative

6iddle $ast 4ouncil and Gary Kent, the &irector of the A!!G. 3he delegation .as in )ovem%er *+,-.