Russian ambassador says KRG has the right to export natural gas to Europe

Russia's ambassador to Iraq Elbrus Kutrashev spoke to Rudaw’s Bestoon Othman on Tuesday about the prospect of exporting the Kurdistan Region’s natural gas to Europe, saying that Russia had no objections to that possibility and is willing to endorse it if need be, as Iraq and the Region have the sovereign right to deal with their resources as they please.

Kutrashev stated that Russia has in fact been affected by the sanctions imposed upon it by western powers, but it has not been the effect that the powers were looking for, as the country keeps receiving support from its partners around the world which also includes both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Russia "absolutely" has no objections to the Kurdistan Region's plans to export natural gas, Kutrashev said, adding that "It is a sovereign right of Iraqi authorities, including Kurdistan Region authorities. If they want to do whatever they want with their gas, they can do it."

The ambassador also said that "Russia does not have the right neither to object nor to approve."

Asked if Moscow is willing to endorse Erbil to export the natural gas, Kutrashev replied, "If they need endorsement from our side, we are ready to endorse it but ... this is an issue which nothing to do with. It is not our right to think about such things."

The Russian diplomat also said that the possibility of Kurdish natural gas replacing the Russian for European countries "is not a problem for us, it is a problem for Europeans."

Updated on May 12, at 7:10 pm

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