Iraqi Kurdistan Region Media Summary --

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000403 SIPDIS SIPDIS UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR PKPA PGOV ECON IZ TU US SUBJECT: Iraqi Kurdistan Region Media Summary -- February 6, 2007 ¶1. (U) This is a Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) cable. KRG President Condemns Bombings in Baghdad, Babil, and Kikuk -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) Newspapers reported on KRG President's condemnation of the recent terrorist attacks in Baghdad, Babil, and Kirkuk. He described the attacks as "cowardly" and acts of "anti-stabilization". He also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and hoped that these attacks would not weaken Iraqis' will and morale to fight terrorism and to work for a safe and secure Iraq. Arab Tribes Council in Kirkuk Refuses Article 140 Committee's Decisions -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) Major print and broadcast media reported on the Arab Tribe Councils' rejection of the recent decisions made by Higher Committee for the Implementation of Article 140. The committee announced on Sunday that, among other things, lands held by Arab who moved to the area during the period of Arabization would be transferred back to their original Kurdish and Turkmen owners. The Arab Tribes Council called on all Arab Tribes in Kirkuk to go out to the streets and condemn the decision. PKK Troops at the Ready -------------- -------------- ¶4. (U) A Chawder newspaper correspondent reported from the Qandil mountains where PKK guerillas keep bases of operations. The report said that in preparation for any possible attacks or raids by Turkey, PKK troops have spread out in different locations throughout the mountains and are on stand-by for any abrupt violence Turkey might initiate. KRG Ministries of Justice to Merge Today -------------- -------------- ¶5. (U) All major Kurdish newspapers wrote about the scheduled merger of KRG-Sulaimaniyah Ministry of Justice and the KRG-Erbil Ministry of Justice which took place today. This merger comes after a series of meetings and debates on how to unify courts and legal institutions into centralized KRG authority. The ministries of justice are one of the four ministries that was left under separate KDP and PUK party control during the unification that took place at the beginning of 2006. The First Development Conference of Sulaimaniyah Governorate -------------- -------------- ¶6. (U) Major newspapers reported on the first development conference of Sulaimaniyah governorate which began yesterday under the slogan "Decision-making, Responsibility, Transparency, and Honesty." The conference was presided over by the Governor of Sulaimaniyah and was attended by KRG Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Reconstruction, Regional Reconstruction Team representatives, and representatives from all local governmental offices. Reports on all aspects of developing Sulaimaniyah were read on the first day of the conference including hydrocarbons, electricity, traffic, architecture, industry, and municipalities. Group discussions will run today in order to reach final decisions about an agenda for reconstructing and enhancing the infrastructure of the Sulaimaniyah province. LG Markets First Cell Phone in Kurdish -------------- -------------- ¶7. (U) All major newspapers wrote today about the first cell phone with Kurdish-language compatibility by LG. The announcement was made at a ceremony at the Sheraton Hotel in Erbil attended by KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, the KRG Minister of Commerce, the Governor of Erbil, Kurdish businessmen, and the CEO of LG. The LG CEO thanked the KRG for the support and facilitation it has provided for the success of this project. Commentaries: -------------- -------------- ¶8. (U) Awene newspaper published a statement by Hiwa Sabir, Secretary of the Kurdistan Islamic Union Political Bureau that SIPDIS dividing the KRG budget for the year 2007 between the PUK and the KDP is an act of terrorism against the Kurdish Parliament. Sabir told Awene that dividing the budget between the PUK and the KDP at a rate of 52% for the KDP and 48% for the PUK will jeopardize the Kurdish Parliament and reinforce corruption in the KRG. ¶9. (U) PUKmedia.com published a statement by PUK's representative in Turkey, Bahroz Gallali, calling for an independent state of BAGHDAD 00000403 002.2 OF 002 Kurdistan. "I and all Kurds want an independent state of Kurdistan. We would establish a state of Kurdistan immediately if we could without fear or hesitation, but the current situation is not suitable for that," Gallali said. He also called on Turkey to support the establishment of the state of Kurdistan because a state is not only a name-it means economy, politics, and foreign relations. ¶10. (SBU) This media summary is completed by Public Diplomacy Assistant Hama Othman.