Interior of the region: Resolving the dispute with Baghdad about Asikuda and its application will revitalize trade in Iraq

The Interior Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Riper Ahmed, announced on Tuesday that Erbil andBaghdad reached a final agreement on the application of the "Asyekoda" customs system in the ports of the region, while demanding the abolition of customs points established by the federal government between the provinces adjacent to the region.

Ahmed said in a statement to journalists that "long-term talks were held between Erbil andBaghdad about the regime, under the supervision of the head of the regional government, Mesur Barzani, and his direct contact with the federal head of Council of Ministers".

He added that "the two parties have recently reached an agreement under which the final point of dispute regarding the sharing of financial revenues obtained from border ports has been decided", based on the fact that "the agreement approved the revenue balance of 50% forErbil and its counterpart forBaghdad in accordance with the constitution and law, and there is no longer any obstacle to the application of the system".

The Minister of Interior of the region stressed that "the application of the ASICUDA system will revitalize the trade movement in ports and border crossings in the interest of both parties", stressing at the same time that "the customs points established by the federal government in the surrounding provinces of the region are unconstitutional and illegal, and were diligent officials of the previous government, and should be abolished as soon as the new system begins to work".