KRG Finance Advisor: Ninth Cabinet Solved Water, Electricity Problems
A KRG finance advisor says the 9th cabinet solved water/electric issues. He accuses Baghdad of using the budget as a weapon, a policy since 2014, and defends the Region’s transparency with joint audits.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) ninth cabinet has successfully solved long-standing water and electricity issues, but is facing a deliberate "policy" of financial pressure from Baghdad that is being wielded as a weapon, a senior finance official stated Tuesday, pushing back against claims of a lack of transparency.
Hawre Kamal, the legal advisor to the KRG's Ministry of Finance, told Kurdistan24's Zhino Mohammed that the federal government's withholding of salaries is not due to any failing on the part of the KRG but is a continuation of a political strategy.
"Since 1991, the biggest problems for Iraq and Kurdistan have been electricity and water. Now, the ninth cabinet has solved both issues for us," Kamal said, adding a call for responsible use by the public: "In terms of consumption, citizens must use these resources prudently."
He praised the government's approach to development, stating, "Economic infrastructure is built the way the Prime Minister builds it, not by delivering water to homes with tankers."
Kamal directly addressed criticism aimed at the KRG regarding the salary dispute. "Sometimes we hear talk that due to corruption, a lack of transparency from the Kurdistan Region's team, or a problem with the Region's delegation, salaries are not coming from the federal government," he said. "But if one looks, this situation has been the same since 2014, and it wasn't just this delegation; several other delegations have changed. This is a policy that some of the Iraqi politicians in power have adopted."
He made a sharp comparison, stating that while past methods of oppression are no longer possible, financial leverage is being used instead. Kamal mentioned that while they may not be able to commit "genocide, chemical bombardments, Anfal, or village destruction now, they are putting pressure on the people and government of Kurdistan through financial means."
In defense of the Region’s fiscal transparency, Kamal noted that all data is shared with Baghdad and subject to regular, joint verification.
"Everything I am discussing here has been provided to Baghdad. Every three months, there is a detailed financial audit investigation that comes from the Board of Supreme Audit," he explained. "They come to the Kurdistan Region and jointly investigate this data. This is transparent."
To illustrate the Region's financial reporting, Kamal provided a detailed breakdown of revenues. He said that the monthly average on the general balance sheet, including all revenues, is 297 billion and 465 million dinars. However, he clarified this is not all liquid cash.
"Of this 297 billion that comes in monthly, a portion is non-cash. 59 billion and 914 million is non-cash," he stated, explaining the final cash amount is 239 billion and 657 million dinars.
He gave January as a specific example: "According to the trial balance, the total was 320 billion and 159 million. The non-cash portion was 64 billion and 171 million, and the remaining cash was 256 billion and 676 million."
