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Baghdad: Massoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan region, will today sign a security agreement with the international coalition forces, said Kurdish security officials.
Under the agreement the Kurdistan civilian authority will assume the security operations in Arbil, Dohuk and Sulaymaniya, said the officials.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki will attending the signing ceremony, said sources.
Jabbar Al Yawar, Iraqi Forces General Command Spokesman in Kurdistan, told Gulf News: "The memo [agreement] contains 30 pages and it was issued after painstaking negotiations which lasted more than a year. It contains a structure to organise the relationship between federal government forces and their coalition counterparts, besides it organises the process of sending Kurdistan troops to Baghdad and vice-versa."
He said: "The memorandum between the province and Americans also establishes a coordination centre in Arbil linked to Baghdad and the coalition forces operation centre. In practical terms, the memo lifts security protection provided by American forces for Iraqi army and security services in Kurdistan."
This move comes as part of a series of steps taken by the Iraqi government, headed by Al Maliki, which aspires to expand and include more provinces and cities in southern Iraq, which has a Shiite majority.
The Americans seem to be more than willing to transfer security operations in Kurdistan, which is witnessing widespread activities by the Mehdi Army and other armed militias supported by Iran.
Kurdistan enjoys a stable and safe situation despite recent security penetration by Al Qaida members.
Al Qaida threat
Arbil, which is gearing up for the signing ceremony, has been under tight security after fresh Al Qaida threats.
Fadil Merani, the Kurdistan Democratic Party Secretary, told Gulf News: "Transferring the security operation does not imply that the province is moving towards secession or independence.
"Kurdistan is part of the Federal Democratic Iraq. Iraq's neighbouring countries should be assured that Kurdistan authorities are able to recognise [and take charge of] its security responsibilities. The transition of security operation in the Kurdistan region will put the territorial government in front [and with] more serious responsibility, especially concerning relationship with the neighbour, Turkey, which accuses Kurdistan of harbouring elements of PKK Turkish opposition party."
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