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Forum 2015 Session 9: Internal and External Crisis Facing Kurdistan: Challenges and Opportunities

Date: 5th November, 2015
Venue: Rotana

  • Dlawer Ala’Aldeen, President of MERI (Chair)
  • Ali Bapeer, Leader of Kurdistan Islamic Group
  • Mohammed Amin Faraj, Leader of Kurdistan Islamic Union
  • Roj Nuri Shaweys, Polit Bureau Member, Kurdistan Democratic Party
  • Adnan Mufti, Polit Bureau Member, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
  • Shorsh Haji, Former Iraqi MP, Change Movement

Kurdistan is at a crossroads not seen since the formation of a unified Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in 2006. Political institutions are confronting a mounting number of serious internal and external challenges. Internally, the KRG is faced with a political stalemate and worsening economic crisis which taken together have led to an increase in social grievances.

The current crisis is an outcome of our past shortcomings.”

Ali Bapeer

The Presidency issue should have been resolved in August. The political stalemate has led to violent protests and the breakdown of the national unity government.   Externally, the KRG is dealing with serious security threats as well as many outstanding differences with Baghdad over oil and territory. These internal and external challenges are intertwined and involve many actors, further complicating the path to their resolution.

We need to institutionalise and unify the Peshmerga forces, and to nationalise the security and police forces.”

Shorsh Haji

Panellists will stipulate causes of internal and external challenges, identify areas of consensus and opportunity, set priorities, and propose practical steps and strategies for moving beyond existing impasses.

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