Kurdistan Region denies closing foreign offices abroad
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Foreign Relations Department announced on Tuesday that no foreign offices would be closed, after the KRG’s representative in Moscow decided to shut down due to financial problem.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Foreign Relations Department announced on Tuesday that no foreign offices would be closed, after the KRG’s representative in Moscow decided to shut down due to financial problem.
On Monday, Aso Sheikh Jangi, the KRG’s Representative to Russia, stated that they had closed the office since Sunday due to the delay of budget from the main government.
According to Jangi, the office had not received any budget from the Kurdistan Region for a year, and now outstanding loans have been accumulated which are difficult to pay.
Additionally, the KRG’s Representative office in Tehran also pointed out their financial issue and threatened to close the office and return to the Kurdistan Region.
On Tuesday, the KRG Department of Foreign Relations released a statement explaining that the current financial crisis engulfing the Region for almost two years has affected the KRG.
“Foreign offices belonging to the KRG are like other establishments of the government and are not excluded from the impact of the financial crisis,” the statement read.
The statement mentioned that the Department of Foreign Relations is in close contact with the head of the Ministerial Council and Finance Minister to resolve the budget delays.
Moreover, the Department noted that the KRG foreign offices have to adjust to the current financial situation in Kurdistan.
“The KRG does not currently plan to close any foreign offices, but to make changes in the status of those offices,” the statement said.
“[These changes include] relocating offices and decreasing the number of staff until the current financial issues are resolved,” the report added.
The KRG aims to open more foreign offices abroad as some countries have also expressed their desire. However, it would be done after the financial situation is resolved, the Department concluded.
Currently, the Kurdistan Region has representative offices in 14 countries around the world.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany