MESOP NEWS FOCUS : ANOTHER BYE-BYE TO BAGHDAD ! – Basra Threatens to Declare Self-governing Region

SOUTH KURDISTAN (IRAQ)

15 Oct 2017 – ERBIL — Basra Provincial Council threatened on Saturday to declare a self-governing region if the central government continues to delay the financial entitlements of the province. The deputy head of the provincial council, Walid Qaitan, said “Basra province holds the largest share in the budget of the country, more than 80% of its total budget, through oil exports and sea ports and other resources.”

“The government of Baghdad has not provided the province with its financial dues for a long time,” he added, asserting that this was negatively reflected significantly on the service and strategic projects in the province.  Qaitan said “The province will move towards the declaration of Basra Region to secure its financial rights,” pointing out that “the centeral government has cut even petrodollar on which the province largely depends for managing its affairs and service projects.”    Basra has suffered from a severe financial crisis since the declaration of austerity measures in the country, affecting many governmental departments to the extent that they have become almost unable to perform their duties in the province.  www.mesop.de