We Should Follow Long-Term Economic Interests in Region

Iraqi Kurdistan is more secure than Iraq and many Iranian companies are active there. Iran has two consulates in Kurdistan (in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah) and is determined to make the bilateral ties more strong through removing the barriers. The following is an interview conducted with Nazim Omar Dabbagh, the representative of Iraqi Kurdistan in Tehran, in which he pointed to these problems and offers noticeable solution to remove them.

What is your main responsibility in Iran?

I am the representative of Iraqi Kurds in Tehran; our responsibility is coordinating Iran-Kurdistan ties in all political, cultural, economic and other fields.

Relations of Iraq and Kurdistan with Iran are closer than the other regional countries. It is while Turkey is economically stronger than Iran. What is the reason?

In my idea, we have close cultural and religious ties with Iran. The issue is based on the policy of countries and their approaches toward economy. The first subject is related to the sanctions imposed on Iran and this country's policies and also economic relations with other countries. Banking problems is one of the main barriers as well. The second subject is Iran's policies toward Kurdistan and its center of focus in its relations with Kurdistan which is different from other regional countries. Iran has a security approach toward the issues, in a way that the governor generals of those Iranian regions located in Iran-Kurdistan border focus on establishing safety in the region more than creating jobs for the regional people. But Turkey is vice versa in this due and its approach is more economical, in a way that it follows strengthening its economic activities in Kurdistan. They consider it necessary for establishing security in their country. Of course, by Iran's policies, I mean the policies of its provinces toward Kurdistan and Iraq.

Iran-Iraq joint economic headquarters was established after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and we as the representative of Iraqi Kurdistan in Iran are following up the daily and provincial affairs. It is while our responsibility should be about more serious affairs between Iran and Kurdistan.

For example, when this headquarters started its activity, the worth of annual bilateral trade did not reach even ۱۰۰ million dollars in ۲۰۰۰-۲۰۰۱, but the figure is near ۱۳ billion dollars at the present. The only difference is that Iran-Kurdistan trade activities are not complying with the international standards and most of it is in the form of peddling. For example, we had the Union of Iranian Companies in Sulaymaniyah and some ۴۰۰ Iranian companies were active there. Instead of rising, unfortunately the number of Iranian companies fell to ۲۰. But the number of Turkish companies which was about ۸۰ in the past is now over ۱۲۰۰ due to their vast economic activities and trade policies. We do not forget that Iran-Iraq have had always good relations which we should expand.

The other issue is the approach of Iranians in the borders. As I said, there is cooperation between Iran and Kurdistan, but when an Iraqi or Kurd person wants to enter Turkey he can receive Turkish visa in the airport of Turkey, while the process is different in Iran.

You mean that an Iraqi or Kurd person cannot enter Iran in this way?

That's true. It's not possible in Iran and the Iraqi people should receive visa in one of the consulates of Iran in Kurdistan. Of course, the conditions have become easier compared to the past, but it is still very different in Iran from Turkey. We hope that entering and exiting Iran from Iran's border will be possible within ۲۴ hours. But the condition is different in Iraqi Kurdistan border with Iran. The gates work ۲۴ hours a day, in two ۱۲-hour shifts. There are three gates for emergency and a space for waiting. There are unfortunately just ۲ gates in Iran's border and given that some ۳,۰۰۰-۶,۰۰۰ persons are passing via this border per day, one gate for entry and one for exit make the process very slow.

The other issue is that the baggage of passengers is not checked with new technology and it is while the number of businessmen to the total number of passengers is less than ۱۰ percent. It is why the people prefer to peddle in the borders.

Easing the process of issuing visa and making it possible for the businessmen to establish an office in this country, open bank account and receive working visa is a noticeable point. Such condition has not been still created as it should be, so the trade is conducted in the form of peddling in the border markets not through some agreements between the big companies.

How is the condition of Iranian companies in Iraq at the present?

Iranian Vice President Ali Saeidlou came to Iraqi Kurdistan in the last year and a conference was hold there in which we mentioned these problems for the first time. The activity of Iranian companies has not unfortunately led to any positive result in Kurdistan.

Of course, I should say that if there are an Iranian company and a Turk company, we prefer the Iranian one. Companies like STRATUS, Kayson, Omrab and other companies have started activity in Kurdistan.

These Iranian companies have conducted near one billion dollars worth of trade in Iraqi Kurdistan this year.

How do you evaluate the future given the presidency of Hassan Rohani?

I am generally optimistic in this due. Some of the problems have been removed. The new Iranian government's policies have made the people of Iraq and Kurdistan more optimistic about the future of bilateral economic cooperation. The sanctions have been halted and we hope that they are completely lifted and more space is opened for the more economic cooperation between Iran and Kurdistan.

How do you evaluate the role of Iran-Iraq Relation Development Headquarters in Iran?

I personally evaluate it optimistic. We developed our activities during the service terms of both Mr. Danaii-Far and Mr. Kazemi Qomi.

And comments?

I put emphasis on strengthening Iran-Kurdistan economic ties. In fact both countries should try for the growth of border activities and change the condition in a way that people and businessmen welcome it. The people should feel more secure when passing the borders and feel that they are coming to their own country. As you know, some of the Kurd people of Iraqi Kurdistan have previously got married in Iran and have relatives in Iran which show the strong cultural and social relationship between the two countries.