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