In its campaign to attract foreign investment, Iraq's self-ruling Kurdish region often promotes itself as the "gateway to Iraq". If investors set up shop in the country's most stable area, they will, say the Kurds, be guaranteed pole position when the rest of Iraq becomes safe for business. Hitherto, visas issued at the Kurds' two international airports or at their land crossings with Turkey and Iran were accepted by Iraq's central authorities when visitors travelled on to Baghdad and beyond. Thousands of foreign businessmen and journalists used to take advantage of this easy entry into Iraq. But Iraq's prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, recently declared that foreigners entering via the Kurdish region without a visa issued by the central authorities may be arrested and deported. So the "gateway" has, for the moment, been closed. Mr Maliki presumably intends to show the Kurdistan Regional Government who is ultimately in charge.
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