Former Member of Parliament Kazem Al-Touki confirmed on Wednesday that the remarks made by the head of the Border Ports Authority regarding border crossings in the Kurdistan Region are accurate and have been known for a long time.
Speaking to dinaropinions.com, Al-Touki said that the issue is not limited to the entry of goods through border crossings, but also extends to how those goods pass through internal checkpoints and reach areas separating the Kurdistan Region from the federal government.
He pointed out that previous efforts by the Ministry of Trade to support local products and limit imports failed due to goods continuing to enter the country through the Kurdistan Region, noting that part of the responsibility lies with the government.
Al-Touki added that there is clear political collusion driven by political arrangements, courtesies, and agreements, which has come at the expense of the public interest and state financial revenues. He stressed that all border crossings should be under the management of the federal government.
He emphasized that double standards cannot be applied in decisions related to Iraq’s borders, explaining that while the Kurdistan Region has its own laws and local constitution, these must be implemented in a way that does not conflict with the federal constitution and laws.
