Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAGHDAD859
2007-03-11 13:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
IRAQ KURDISTAN REGION MEDIA SUMMARY --
how-toVZCZCXRO1885 RR RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #0859 0701300 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 111300Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0111 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BAGHDAD 000859
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
UNCLASSIFIED
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PINS IZ US
SUBJECT: IRAQ KURDISTAN REGION MEDIA SUMMARY --
MARCH 4, 2007
UNCLAS BAGHDAD 000859
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
UNCLASSIFIED
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PINS IZ US
SUBJECT: IRAQ KURDISTAN REGION MEDIA SUMMARY --
MARCH 4, 2007
1. (U) This is a Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) cable.
300mW Electricity Generation Station to be Build for Sulaimaniyah
--------------
2. (U) Major Newspapers reported that a memorandum of understanding
has been signed between the KRG and a German company called BandB
Operations to build a 300mW electricity generating station for the
city of Sulaimaniyah. The memorandum was signed yesterday by both
Reconstruction Minister and the German company's representative.
The project will abide by the Kurdistan Investment Law and has an
estimated cost of $90 million and an anticipated duration of 20
months. In return, the KRG will allocate a piece of land for the
project and provide part of the stations' fuel.
75 Percent of Environment Protection Law Completed
--------------
3. (U) Major newspapers reported that the Kurdistan Environmental
Protection Law project is now 75 percent complete. "The environment
protection law project is one of the projects our ministry has been
working on with the intention of submitting it to the Kurdistan
National Assembly. This law is to set a limit to all factories and
cars that do not meet the criteria of keeping a clean environment,"
said Minister of Environment Dara Muhammed.
Protest Prior to Kurdish Uprising Celebration in Raniya
--------------
4. (U) Major Kurdish-language news websites reported on a protest
in Raniyah, about 70 miles from Erbil, prior to the celebration of
the 16th anniversary of the Kurdish uprising in 1991. The protest
responded to a show on Kurdsat TV denying that the 1991 uprising
started in Raniya.
University of Sulaimaniyah Students Announce "Orange Revolution"
Against Corruption
--------------
5. (U) Newspapers reported on the so-called "Orange Revolution"
campaign against corruption conducted by University of Sulaimaniyah
students today. Two-thousand students gathered on campus with
orange signs on their chests. The organizers of this event said
that through this event they wanted to stand against corruption and
send a message to the KRG. A similar event was to be held at the
Technical Institute of Sulaimaniyah, but was not allowed by the Dean
of the Institute.
Petition to Stop the Circumcision of Women in Kurdistan
--------------
6. (U) Newspapers wrote about the ongoing process of collecting
signatures to stop the circumcision of women in Kurdistan. The
signature collecting process started a week ago and has been going
on in Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, Halabja, and Garmian. This process has
been arranged by WADI organization. In a statement WADI said that
about 60 percent of women in the Kurdistan Region have been
circumcised. The petition and a report by WADI will be delivered to
both the KRG and the KNA.
7. (U) This media summary is completed by Public Diplomacy
Assistant Hama Othman.
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
UNCLASSIFIED
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PINS IZ US
SUBJECT: IRAQ KURDISTAN REGION MEDIA SUMMARY --
MARCH 4, 2007
1. (U) This is a Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) cable.
300mW Electricity Generation Station to be Build for Sulaimaniyah
--------------
2. (U) Major Newspapers reported that a memorandum of understanding
has been signed between the KRG and a German company called BandB
Operations to build a 300mW electricity generating station for the
city of Sulaimaniyah. The memorandum was signed yesterday by both
Reconstruction Minister and the German company's representative.
The project will abide by the Kurdistan Investment Law and has an
estimated cost of $90 million and an anticipated duration of 20
months. In return, the KRG will allocate a piece of land for the
project and provide part of the stations' fuel.
75 Percent of Environment Protection Law Completed
--------------
3. (U) Major newspapers reported that the Kurdistan Environmental
Protection Law project is now 75 percent complete. "The environment
protection law project is one of the projects our ministry has been
working on with the intention of submitting it to the Kurdistan
National Assembly. This law is to set a limit to all factories and
cars that do not meet the criteria of keeping a clean environment,"
said Minister of Environment Dara Muhammed.
Protest Prior to Kurdish Uprising Celebration in Raniya
--------------
4. (U) Major Kurdish-language news websites reported on a protest
in Raniyah, about 70 miles from Erbil, prior to the celebration of
the 16th anniversary of the Kurdish uprising in 1991. The protest
responded to a show on Kurdsat TV denying that the 1991 uprising
started in Raniya.
University of Sulaimaniyah Students Announce "Orange Revolution"
Against Corruption
--------------
5. (U) Newspapers reported on the so-called "Orange Revolution"
campaign against corruption conducted by University of Sulaimaniyah
students today. Two-thousand students gathered on campus with
orange signs on their chests. The organizers of this event said
that through this event they wanted to stand against corruption and
send a message to the KRG. A similar event was to be held at the
Technical Institute of Sulaimaniyah, but was not allowed by the Dean
of the Institute.
Petition to Stop the Circumcision of Women in Kurdistan
--------------
6. (U) Newspapers wrote about the ongoing process of collecting
signatures to stop the circumcision of women in Kurdistan. The
signature collecting process started a week ago and has been going
on in Erbil, Sulaimaniyah, Halabja, and Garmian. This process has
been arranged by WADI organization. In a statement WADI said that
about 60 percent of women in the Kurdistan Region have been
circumcised. The petition and a report by WADI will be delivered to
both the KRG and the KNA.
7. (U) This media summary is completed by Public Diplomacy
Assistant Hama Othman.