Airports do not open, budget crisis continues The political and economic crisis between the Southern Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Iraqi central government of Baghdad continues.

Airports do not open, budget crisis continues
The political and economic crisis between the Southern Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Iraqi central government of Baghdad continues.

The political and economic crisis that erupted between the KRG and Iraqi central government after the capture of Khanaqin, Tuz Khurmatu, Dakuk and Kirkuk by the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi forces on 16 October 2017, continues.

AIRPORTS TO REMAIN CLOSED FOR ANOTHER THREE MONTHS

The opening of the Southern Kurdish airports for international air traffic was postponed for another three months due to the crisis between Southern Kurdistan and the Iraqi central government. According to previous statements, the airports in Hewlêr (Erbil) and Silêmanî (Sulaymaniyah) was meant to be opened at the beginning of March. The 2018 budget discussed at the Iraqi parliament on Wednesday was rejected by the opposition of Kurdish groups.

One dimension of the crisis was the situation of border areas, border crossings and international flight airports in Hewler and Sulaymaniyah. While the issue of border and border crossings was able to be resolved, the airports remain closed since 16 October for international air traffic. Just a week ago, the Iraqi central government said that the airports in Southern Kurdistan would reopen in early March, and two days later the three-month extension of the ban was announced. According to current information, no international flights to Southern Kurdistan will take place by the end of May.

KURDISH MPS REJECTED THE BUDGET DRAFT

Another crisis between the KRG and the central government is the budget for 2018 and the non-payment of public servants’ salaries. On Wednesday, the Iraqi parliament reassembled to finalize the budget for 2018. The Kurdish MPs rejected the draft of the central government, in which the KRG would be granted only 12.66 percent of the budget. When the Iraqi government continued to insist on this budget, the Kurdish MPs protested and left the parliament.

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