ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – An Iraqi lawmaker has alleged the United States is encouraging Kurdish forces to rebel by providing financial assistance and called on the prime minister to speak out on the matter.
“Delivering financial aid for the Peshmerga from a bank account in the US shows disrespect to the sovereignty of Iraq and is an encouragement for the Peshmerga to rebel against the Iraqi government,” said Firdaws al-Awadi, an MP with the State of Law Coalition.
The US is assisting the Peshmerga with $365 million in 2018. The Peshmerga ministry said on Saturday that an installment was received and will be used to pay salaries this week.
Awadi criticized the agreement made between the KRG and Washington without the involvement of Baghdad.
“Delivering this money to an armed national force in Iraq without knowledge of the Iraqi government is a big problem,” she continued.
“The US is trying to build an armed force as strong as that of Iraq or even stronger in order to use it to confront the crises that might arise in the future. I think the US doesn’t want good for Iraq and is to this day trying to divide the country. This financial aid is just one of the plans to divide the country,” Awadi alleged.
“Is Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi aware of this aid? It is a disaster if he is aware of this. If he is not, he should immediately take international legal procedures,” she added, saying that Abadi should not stay quiet.
“He shouldn’t allow the US to play with the sovereignty and honour of Iraq.”
Awadi is a member of the State of Law Coalition, headed by Nouri al-Maliki, current vice president and former prime minister of Iraq.
“Delivering financial aid for the Peshmerga from a bank account in the US shows disrespect to the sovereignty of Iraq and is an encouragement for the Peshmerga to rebel against the Iraqi government,” said Firdaws al-Awadi, an MP with the State of Law Coalition.
The US is assisting the Peshmerga with $365 million in 2018. The Peshmerga ministry said on Saturday that an installment was received and will be used to pay salaries this week.
Awadi criticized the agreement made between the KRG and Washington without the involvement of Baghdad.
“Delivering this money to an armed national force in Iraq without knowledge of the Iraqi government is a big problem,” she continued.
“The US is trying to build an armed force as strong as that of Iraq or even stronger in order to use it to confront the crises that might arise in the future. I think the US doesn’t want good for Iraq and is to this day trying to divide the country. This financial aid is just one of the plans to divide the country,” Awadi alleged.
“Is Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi aware of this aid? It is a disaster if he is aware of this. If he is not, he should immediately take international legal procedures,” she added, saying that Abadi should not stay quiet.
“He shouldn’t allow the US to play with the sovereignty and honour of Iraq.”
Awadi is a member of the State of Law Coalition, headed by Nouri al-Maliki, current vice president and former prime minister of Iraq.
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