Iraqi government should justify decision to exclude PM's adviser for Kurdistan affairs
Ashwaq Jaff said the removal of Berwari was a "surprising and unexpected decision" and demanded PM Nouri Al-Maliki to present an explanation for not re-contracting with the former adviser.
"The federal government is trying to bring a new escalation against the Kurdistan Region by exiling the Kurdish leaders," said Jaff.
She added: "There's ambiguity behind the decision of excluding Berwari from his position, especially because he represents the Kurdistan Region's affairs in the federal Council of Ministers."
Berwari announced in press statements earlier that "the reason behind his exclusion from his position is about some previous statements that he has made about the conflicts between the federal and regional governments, few of which were biased to the region's views".
Jaff continued: "Berwari, just like everybody else, was surprised by the council's decision not to renew his contract as an adviser to the Council of Ministers for Kurdistan affairs."
Jaff accused the federal government of targeting the high Kurdish leaders in governmental organizations, adding that the Iraqi government's action is regarded as "excluding a very significant representative of the Kurdistani affairs".
Berwari is a former member of the Council of Representatives and was appointed for the post of adviser according to a contract renewed at the beginning of each year. Berwari's job involved coordination between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the federal government, especially the advisory board headed by Maliki. Berwari said that the Kurdistan Region's President Massoud Barzani nominated him for the position.
Political observers consider the way Berwari was removed and the threats against Kurds about displacement in central and southern provinces as "political targeting" of those Kurds outside of the region.
The relationship between Baghdad and Erbil has become increasingly tense over the past few weeks, following the harsh criticism from Barzani. He said Maliki is "leading Iraq to the unknown".
AKnews
