25 November 2011

Erbil is the capital of Kurdistan and Kurdistan is the new Saudi Arabia with the fourth largest oil reserves on the planet. Erbil could be Aberdeen in the 1970′s albeit without the sea, the harbour and sand storms replacing easterly wind and sea harr! It is a boom town and is pulsing with energy as a massive exploration deal has just been signed between the American giant Exxon Mobil and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Kurdistan is part of Iraq but is the safer part of that war torn country. I visited last week as part of a cross-party delegation asked to describe the financial accountability of the UK and Scottish Parliament systems. Erbil and wider Kurdistan has been mercifully free of kidnappings, road side bombs and killings since 2007. It feels safe to walk and drive around despite the obvious security, bag checks and police who are present at all major buildings. UK interest is considerable with