Baghdad Announces New Measures against Kurdistan

A man holds a printed banner of Kurdistan region referendum in Irbil, Iraq August 26, 2017. (Reuters)
A man holds a printed banner of Kurdistan region referendum in Irbil, Iraq August 26, 2017. (Reuters)
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Baghdad Announces New Measures against Kurdistan

A man holds a printed banner of Kurdistan region referendum in Irbil, Iraq August 26, 2017. (Reuters)
A man holds a printed banner of Kurdistan region referendum in Irbil, Iraq August 26, 2017. (Reuters)

The Iraqi government announced in a statement on Monday new measures against the government in the Iraqi Kurdistan region in wake of last month’s independence referendum.

In a sign that the crisis is escalating between the two sides, Iraq’s government committee for national security, which includes Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, said that the measures are aimed at imposing restrictions on the autonomous region.

Monday’s measures would seek to impose control over Kurdistan-based mobile phone operators and move their headquarters to the capital Baghdad.

There was no details on how the measure would be implemented and whether their licenses would be withdrawn by the central government if they didn’t comply.

“The government committee for national security issued a decision that all mobile phone networks must be under the federal control and should be moved to Baghdad,” it said.

Baghdad reiterated on Monday its call on Iran and Turkey to cease all trade operations with Kurdistan, especially oil exports.

Previous measures by Iraq included halting international flights from the Irbil and al-Sulaimaniya airports.

Iran, which had also opposed the referendum, has cut oil routes towards Kurdistan.



Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
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Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister announced that the country has joined the Middle East Green Initiative, launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to mitigate the impact of climate change on the region.

“This is an essential step for Lebanon, especially since our southern villages and towns have been exposed to significant environmental and agricultural damage due to Israeli attacks, which requires cooperation with all of Lebanon's friends,” a statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers quoted Mikati as saying.

Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan welcomed Lebanon’s participation in the initiative, confirming that a high committee has been established to ensure the project’s sustainability and facilitate relevant cooperation.

He noted that the timing of the announcement “comes in light of the continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, and this matter must be drawn to attention, especially since Israel is destroying very large areas, whether agricultural lands, fruit trees or forests.”

Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said that the Middle East Green Initiative has very important goals to plant 40 billion trees across the region and protect the Gulf and the Middle East from climate change, stop land degradation and desertification and find the means to adapt to future challenges.

The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture estimates that more than 2.8 million square meters of forest and agricultural land were completely burned, while about 6.7 million square meters of agricultural and forest land were partially damaged as a result of Israel’s attacks and its use of internationally-banned incendiary munitions.