Shilan Dosky

Kurdish leader @masoud_barzani: ‘Over 450 drones and missiles have targeted the Kurdistan Region since the start of this conflict, including five attacks on the Barzani HQ and yesterday’s attack on @IKRPresident’s residence.’ He says that this can’t be solved by condemnation, calls or cables; Iraqi authorities must decide — either admit they cannot stop these outlaw groups, or defend the state and hold perpetrators accountable.

I condemn and denounce in the strongest terms the cowardly drone attack on the residence of @IKRPresident Nechirvan Barzani in Duhok. Once again, we call on the federal government to act on its responsibility, bring these outlaw criminals to justice, and curb the continued terrorist attacks carried out by these groups. I also call on the international community and our friends to support the Kurdistan Region in protecting its citizens and safeguarding the interests of the Kurdistan Region. We reserve every right to confront these terrorists, and we will take whatever steps are necessary to protect the Kurdistan Region.

روبيو: ملتزمون بدعم إقليم كردستان العراق وقوات البيشمركة قناة العربية

Secretary Rubio’s Call with Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Barzani state.gov/releases/offic…

I spoke with Secretary @SecRubio. He expressed his condolences on the recent loss of six Peshmerga. We reaffirmed our strong KRG–US relationship. We also discussed relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Federal Government, and economic challenges.

Prime Minister @masrourbarzani visited the wounded Peshmerga at a hospital who were injured in the Iranian ballistic missile attack targeting the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces in the Soran area in the early hours of Tuesday, March 24. The Prime Minister conveyed President Masoud Barzani’s regards, inquired about their condition, and wished them a speedy recovery. He also instructed the Ministry of Health to provide all necessary treatment and care.

The family of Keywan Muzaffar, a Kurdish Peshmerga fighter who was killed in an Iranian missile strike on Erbil's Soran district, mourned his loss after a Wednesday funeral, showing his uniform and photos

I had a good call with @USAMBTurkiye Tom Barrack and thanked him for his thoughtful call and condolences. Our people stand united in mourning the martyred Peshmerga. We value the KRG–U.S. partnership at this critical moment and look forward to continuing our dialogue.

UAE Condemns Iran’s Unprovoked Terrorist Attacks Targeting Kurdistan Region of Iraq mofa.gov.ae/en/mediahub/ne…

My thanks to our partners in the United States for their role and support in this process -mb.

In parallel, our discussions with Baghdad will continue with urgency to lift the restrictions on imports and trade into the Kurdistan Region, and to secure guarantees for oil and gas companies so they can safely resume production.

Given the extraordinary circumstances facing the country, and the responsibility we all share to get through this difficult chapter, we have decided to allow oil to flow through the Kurdistan Region’s pipeline as soon as possible.

ها هيه: أسعار الغذاء تضاعفت الآن في الأسواق المحلية. كانت هذه نتيجة متوقعة وكان بالإمكان تجنبها. لقد حذرنا. لكن لم يُصغِ أحد. رفعت الحكومة الاتحادية الرسوم الجمركية وقيّدت الاستيراد قبل وقت قصير من اندلاع هذه الحرب. والآن، خلال شهر رمضان، تدفع العائلات في جميع أنحاء العراق أسعاراً أعلى للغذاء بسبب السلوك المتهور لعدد من السياسيين الذين يتخفّون بصفة تكنوقراط. وحتى اليوم، مع إغلاق مضيق هرمز، تواصل بغداد عرقلة دخول الإمدادات الحيوية عبر حدود إقليم كردستان. ليش؟

Not a single Iraqi Kurd has crossed the border. This is patently false.

Prime Minister @masrourbarzani Barzani today received a phone call from @HakanFidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye. They discussed the situation in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, as well as the broader regional developments and conflict. They agreed on the importance of preserving peace, stability, and security in the region.

Prime Minister @masrourbarzani and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye @HakanFidan discuss regional developments. gov.krd/english/govern…

This was a predictable and preventable outcome. The KRG counselled against this aggressive approach in the summer last year — with U.S. diplomats in the room. Rather than take stock of our advice, the federal government introduced three major measures on 1st Jan — each a shock to the market: 1. Up to a 30% increase in customs duties 2. The introduction of a customs system at the borders 3. The coupling of dollar transfers to customs clearances. There was no phased or incremental roll-out. No advance notice to allow the market to adapt to new tariffs. And an over-dependence on ASYCUDA — UN proprietary customs software — to tackle structural, operational and policy gaps in the customs regime. The execution has proven reckless in their economic impact. The market was not given sufficient time to adjust. Goods already en route to Iraq are now sit idle at border crossings, incurring penalties everyday. There was little public communication around ASYCUDA — particularly to brokers, importers etc. Banks, ostensibly operating under an independent regulatory framework, have also been drawn into customs-related implementation challenges and disputes between Erbil and Baghdad. The effects have been acute. Cross-border dollar trades has dropped by approximately 70% across Iraq compared to last year, prior to the introduction of these measures. Customs revenue has fallen by nearly 50%, further hurting federal coffers. In the Kurdistan Region, the situation is far more severe given the absence of ASYCUDA. Formal dollar access through banks for imports have flatlined, literally. The parallel market — Hawala/exchange houses— for dollar access has re-emerged. Market demand has driven the price up from 1380 to 1520. Inflation 15% has translated into higher food prices, affecting households across Iraq, including in the Kurdistan Region. One kilogram of meat has increased by 15% in the local market in the last two weeks alone. Stores are closing in Baghdad, importers have staged national boycotts against new tariffs, and families are facing higher food costs in Ramadan. What was intended to increase non-oil revenues has instead contributed to liquidity pressures. Importers are depositing fewer dinars in Iraqi banks, delaying — for the first time — payroll payments to millions in the public sector. At the same time, the hard work over the past three years with the Central Bank of Iraq and the U.S. Treasury on AML/CTF, card usage and cross-border trades through formal (bank) channels is gradually being undone by policy decisions whose full economic impact may not have been — and is still not — fully appreciated. This is personal for me given the work we’ve done together with partners in CBI and licensed-banks to encourage financial inclusion and increase bank deposits. We urge the federal government to immediately review these measures carefully. Facts don’t care about opinions; the data paints a stark picture on trade volumes, customs revenues, inflation, and liquidity, warranting an urgent review to stop the widening spread between the formal and parallel dollar market. The objective was customs reform and more non-oil revenue. The result has been market contraction, liquidity problems, and increased cost-of-living pressures. This is a very good example of the need to sequence reform with clear communications. Markets require time to adapt. And policy shocks, introduced without preparation or communication, carry real life consequences. Why should families across the country have to pay more for poor planning? We have advised colleagues in the federal government and CBI to exercise caution. We propose a roadmap that is gradual, aligns tariffs, implements customs technology at all borders, and restores dollar access. I hope wisdom and pragmatism prevails. #Iraq

خۆشحاڵبووم بە ڕاگەیاندنی خزمەتگوزاریی ئی-پسوولە کە سەکۆی فەرمیی حکومەتی هەرێمی کوردستانە بۆ پارەدانی پسوولەکان. ئێستا هاووڵاتییان دەتوانن بە چەند چرکەیەک و بە ڕێگەیەکی پارێزراو و بێ تێچووی زیادە پارەی کارەبا بدەن. بەم زووانە خزمەتگوزارییەکانی ئی-پسوولە زیاتر دەبن.

I am pleased to meet with H.R.H. Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II at #WEF26. We explored expanding our historic and friendly bilateral relations. We also discussed efforts to form Iraq’s federal government and the need to sustain a ceasefire in Syria through dialogue.

An effective migration policy requires reliable partners in countries of origin. Cooperation with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is a strong example of how such partnerships — including on returns and readmission — can work in practice. Iraq serves as a role model for stability and economic development in the region. Austria values the constructive and trustworthy cooperation with the Kurdistan Regional Government. Thank you, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, for the open dialogue and productive collaboration. Austria remains committed to a forward-looking partnership encompassing migration management, security, and economic cooperation. (cs) 📸 BKA/ Schrötter