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 American's Las Vegas-style casino opens in Iraqi Kurdistan

 Source : The.register | PRI Radio
  Kurd Net does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news information on this page

 


American's Las Vegas-style casino opens in Iraqi Kurdistan  20.9.2007

 


September 20, 2007

Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan region 'Iraq' , -- Not to be outdone by the establishment of the American University in Kurdistan autonomous region so called 'northern Iraq' in the Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah, a ballsy Russian businessman, Vitaly Kouznetzov, has helped bring another, sexier, slice of American life to the Iraqi Kurds: he's brought a touch of Las Vegas to that same Kurdistan's cultural capital with the launch of an American-style casino.

Sulaimaniyah is located near the border with Iran (Iranian-Kurdistan), and has long been considered a bastion of liberalism in a part of the world known more for intolerance and chaotic bloodshed.

Public Radio International (PRI) interviewed Mr. Kouznetov today, and in it he explains to his bemused interviewer, Lisa Mullin, just how he has managed to open a casino in a Muslim country riven by civil strife and religion-inspired killing.

Money to be made?

Very good customers, he notes - just look at their cars. Good peoples, different people.

Not at all worried about security, huh?  

American-style casino opens in Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan

Actually, security is very good, he says, much to Mullin's surprise. Of course everyone is armed. Everyone carries Kalashnikovs, but we have a room by the door where they can check them, one hour, two hours, however long they need.

Booze? Just beer. Well, that's better than nothing. We hear it's hot there.

Iraqi Kurdistan is a secular region, and the most secular city is Sulaimaniyah, the Kurdistan's cultural capital.

Since 1991, the Kurds of Iraq achieved self-rule in part of the country. Today's teenagers are the first generation to grow up under Kurdish rule. In the new Iraqi Constitution, it is referred to as Kurdistan region. Kurdistan region has all the trappings of an independent state -- its own constitution, its own parliament, its own flag, its own army, its own border, its own border patrol, its own national anthem, its own education system, its own International airports, even its own stamp inked into the passports of visitors.

The full interview, with Mr. Kouznetov can be found here in WMA Media Player .

theregister co.uk | PRI radio

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