A delegation from the Iraqi government arrived in Erbil on Monday to hold talks with the Kurdish officials to discuss the issues of the airports, border crossings and dams. An agreement regarding Kurdistan region airports was reached.
The Secretary General of the Iraqi Council of Ministers, Mahdi al-Alaq headed the Iraqi delegation.
Regarding Kurdistan region airports, Rudaw reported that the two parties agreed upon the following:
1- Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports come under Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) law number 148 for the year 1974.
2- The two airports will follow the directions of the ICAA with regard to inbound and outbound flights and will not allow any airplane to land or take off without the approval of the Civil Aviation.
3- Permanent representatives will be assigned from the air transport and air safety department to the airports.
4- Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports will also follow the fee system introduced by Iraq in 2008 and will provide their monthly revenue data to the ICAA.
5- Monthly meetings will be held between the ICAA and the airport directors in order to ensure communication and resolve problems.
6- A coordinator will be assigned from the Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports to facilitate communication with the Civil Aviation Authority.
According to AFP, the crisis parties seek a resolution especially after the Kurdish delegation's visit to Baghdad on Saturday. This visit, which is the first since the crisis that emerged due to the referendum on independence on Sept. 25, aims to discuss land borders with Iran and Turkey and lifting the embargo imposed on airports of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.
Following the referendum in which majority of Kurds voted in favor of independence, Baghdad government took a series of sanctions against Erbil.
It also regained control from Peshmerga forces over debated regions. Yet the Kurdish forces still control border crossings with Iran and Turkey.
