Observers have criticized the poor performance of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi, in dealing with the Kurdistan region in several important files, most notably with regard to the management of ports, border crossings and oil companies, referring to his inability to impose "state prestige" on the region.
Al-Kazemi's steps and procedures are seen as weak and incomplete vis-à-vis the Kurds, especially imposing the prestige of the state and government laws on the joints and governmental and official institutions in the region, after implementing a slow series of decisions to impose control over other outlets in the rest of the provinces, especially those that were under the control of the armed Shiite factions. In the southern border regions with Iran.
22 ports
The number of ports and land and sea crossings in Iraq is 22 officially, in addition to other internal ports that are not officially approved, and can be described as the second economic artery in the country after oil, as it secures 12% of the Iraqi economy, and annually wastes an estimated 15 billion dollars, according to Media reports.
The Kurdistan region includes 5 internationally accredited border crossings and border crossings, namely: Hajj Omran, Parwezhkhan, Ibrahim Al Khalil, Feshkhabour, and Bashmakh, in addition to Erbil and Sulaymaniyah international airports, and about 5 unaccredited local crossings.
And the question still poses and controversial: Has Al-Kazemi failed to impose the prestige of the state and its material, moral and political weight on the rich living resources and institutions in the Kurdistan region, at a time when the Iraqi constitution stipulates that they are subject to the administration of the central authority in Baghdad?
Observers believe that the state’s true prestige and position begins with imposing control over its economic and financial arteries, as it represents a vital treasure for it, and the loss of control over it paves the way for the enrichment and strengthening of armed factions out of the law because they make huge sums of money through it.
Al-Kazemi continues to be subjected to harsh criticism, and his position has become very embarrassing in front of his Shiite opponents, due to his inability to impose the prestige of the state on the crossings, ports and oil companies in the Kurdistan region, as he did in the central and southern governorates.
Faith Al-Kazemi
The influence of the ruling Kurdish parties in the region prevents the central authority from controlling the border crossings and outlets in it, and it can be said that it is extremely impossible, because it provides huge sums of partisan influence, and at the same time it is not in Al-Kazemi's interest to distort the personal interests of the Kurdish parties.
What is wrong with Al-Kazemi's steps in this regard is that it lacks seriousness, which is almost like a bubble, says regional parliament member Sirwan Baban, describing the steps and decisions of Al-Kazemi as "fast", considering that this is not desirable in the world of politics, without having the power and parliamentary base.
He expected the Kurdish MP in his speech to Al-Jazeera, the decline of Al-Kazemi's power day after day, commenting on that by saying, "The train that is running faster than its capacity will end with stopping and not continuing."
In response to a question by Al-Jazeera Net about the possibility that political agreements in the upcoming elections will play a role in this matter, Baban says that Al-Kazemi knows how to exploit the sympathy of the Kurdish street, which paves the way for the incomplete negotiations between the two parties regarding oil resources with the interests of countries neighboring the region. Especially with regard to the contracts concluded between them.
Baban expects that the Iraqi prime minister will fail to impose the prestige of the Iraqi state on Kurdistan due to the existing extortion and bribery, as well as the existence of a state within a state and the region’s refusal to conform to the state’s authority, wondering: How will Al-Kazemi be able during this short period to control it? At a time when the Kurdistan government, after 30 years of autonomy, is unable to control the crossings and border crossings, in an indication that the ports and crossings are subject to the authority of the parties and not the government.
The management of the crossings is considered one of the complicated files for the federal government, whether located in Kurdistan or close to the Iranian borders. The fact that it provides huge and large revenues, and it is wasted without knowing its fate or where it is going.
Use of force
It is not sufficient to resort to military force to impose the prestige of the state on these crossings and outlets. Rather, the outstanding problems between Baghdad and Erbil can be resolved through dialogue, and through the application of the law firmly, professionally and impartially, according to political analyst Muhammad al-Hayani.
Scott Al-Kazemi and not taking any action or decision regarding the border crossings and crossings in the region can be explained by his desire to establish flexible friendly relations with the Kurds, coinciding with the imminent holding of early elections and the formation of political alliances, but this matter should not be at the expense of the national interest and the application Law, according to Hayyani.
Regarding his opinion of directing a military force from outside the region to manage the border crossings in Kurdistan, as Al-Kazemi instructed the anti-terror forces to supervise some crossings, the political analyst of Al-Jazeera Net confirms that the Iraqi people are tired of confrontations and the use of force and weapons, suggesting to go to a wider space and national dialogue, with the necessity Preferring the national interest above all other interests in order to reach outcomes that help it impose the prestige of the state and the law at the same time.
Electoral considerations
It is not easy or reasonable for Kurdistan to allow the federal government to control the region's ports, as Baghdad did with other crossings in the southern governorates, says Kata al-Rikabi, a member of the Iraqi Parliament of the State of Law coalition, which is led by former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
Al-Rikabi believes that Al-Kazemi is trying to remain silent about this region to satisfy the influential parties, especially those that have regional and international relations, assuring Al-Jazeera Net that the political agreements and alliances for the upcoming elections will play a role in the continuation of this silence.