KRG Council of Minister address recent violations against Kurdish farmers in Kirkuk
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the prime minister emphasized that all obstacles faced by farmers should be removed in accordance with Law No. 3 of 2025, recently passed by the Iraqi House of Representatives.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani presided over a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Council of Ministers meeting on Wednesday, with Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani in attendance, according to an official statement from the KRG.
At the outset, Prime Minister Barzani addressed recent violations against indigenous Kurdish farmers in the villages of Sargaran district, Kirkuk province. Condemning the reported incidents of rape and obstruction, he stated, “This behavior is unconstitutional, illegal, and unacceptable. We oppose all forms of oppression against farmers who are the rightful owners of their land and must have the right to freely cultivate and use their property, as well as that of their ancestors.”
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the prime minister emphasized that all obstacles faced by farmers should be removed in accordance with Law No. 3 of 2025, recently passed by the Iraqi House of Representatives. He stressed the importance of ensuring that the lands are returned to their rightful owners through legal channels.
The meeting also covered the KRG delegation’s recent participation in the World Government Summit in Dubai, held from February 11th to 13th. The high-level delegation, led by Prime Minister Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Talabani, engaged in discussions on governance, economic development, and cooperation with international partners.
In the second segment of the meeting, a joint committee report between the KRG and the Federal Government was presented. The report focused on regulatory quality control measures and the classification of contractors, with relevant ministries outlining their recommendations for improvements in these sectors.
Additionally, Acting Minister of Natural Resources Kamal Mohammad Salih provided an update on a joint meeting held in Erbil regarding the implementation of Law No. 5 of 2025, the first amendment to the federal budget law concerning oil exports.
The Council of Ministers reaffirmed its support for the implementation of the amendment to Article 12 of the Federal Budget Law and reiterated the Kurdistan Region’s demand for the resumption of oil exports. Officials highlighted that the ongoing halt in oil exports since March 2023 has resulted in billions of dollars in lost revenue for Iraq. To expedite a resolution, the Council instructed the Ministry of Natural Resources to collaborate closely with the Federal Ministry of Oil to finalize procedures and mechanisms for the immediate resumption of oil exports.
