Kurdistan
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani speaking at the Iraq Forum in Baghdad on May 4, 2023. Photo: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Thursday said that “technical aspects” are still preventing the oil deal signed between Erbil and Baghdad regarding the Region’s oil exports from being implemented.
Barzani touched upon the matter and a wide range of topics affecting both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq during a panel at the Iraq Forum 2023 in Baghdad.
“There are some technical aspects preventing the deal from being implemented. But we in the Kurdistan Region are certain there is no political decision from Baghdad trying to obstruct this agreement,” Barzani stated.
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) on March 23 ruled in favor of Iraq against Turkey regarding exports of Kurdistan Region oil through Turkey’s Ceyhan port, saying Ankara had breached a 1973 pipeline agreement that obliges the Turkish government to abide by instructions issued by Iraq regarding the transport of crude oil exported from Iraq.
Exports from the Kurdistan Region have been halted since, and while Erbil and Baghdad reached an agreement in early April to resume the export process, there is still no oil flowing through the pipeline to Turkey.
“We have a joint team with Baghdad for the negotiations with Turkey… I am certain these problems are not that major to prevent the process and we will pass them," Barzani said, hopeful that the matter will be resolved soon.
Early last month, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani signed an agreement to resume the Region’s oil exports, calling the deal “important” for all components of the Iraqi state. President Barzani also thanked their efforts and congratulated them for reaching a deal.
Echoing similar remarks, during his own panel at the forum, Sudani cited technical issues as the reason for why the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports have not resumed.
“The relations between Erbil and Baghdad are currently at their best," President Barzani stated. pic.twitter.com/tTbLoDoaqv
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) May 4, 2023
“I hope these technical problems can be resolved by the next two weeks,” President Barzani said about the resumption of the Region’s oil exports, saying PM Sudani told him that the pause in oil exports significantly impacts Iraq as well.
The Iraqi oil ministry in its monthly report on Tuesday said that the country pocketed over $7.79 billion in oil sales in the month of April, a slight increase from March’s $7.5 billion.
The country exported 240 thousand barrels less in April but still saw a rise in the revenue due to the fact that the average price of one barrel was placed nearly five dollars higher than the average price for March.
“The sooner this problem is solved, the sooner this burden is lifted from Baghdad’s shoulders," the Region’s President noted.
“Our deepest strategic relations are with Baghdad, and we can only solve our problems in Baghdad,” President Barzani added, calling on Baghdad, Erbil, and all other parts of Iraq to engage in dialogue to resolve the country’s outstanding issues.
“Being the president of Iraq would be a great honor, but it is not a part of my personal agenda," President Barzani responded to whether he would seek the position. pic.twitter.com/M0rDPPf8qR
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) May 4, 2023
KDP-PUK issues and the Region’s parliamentary elections
“We are trying to make the Kurdistan Region presidency an umbrella that unites all disagreeing parties,” said President Barzani, highlighting that he has deputies from both the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
The KDP and the PUK have been at loggerheads in recent months over the Region’s parliamentary elections, the transparency of the oil and local income of the provinces under their influence, and the assassination of a former PUK colonel in Erbil in October.
Despite working together in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the two parties have established control over different parts of the Region, often being referred to as the “Yellow Zone” and “Green Zone“. The KDP is dominant in Erbil and Duhok provinces, while the PUK rules Sulaimani and Halabja.
The Kurdistan Region is set to hold parliamentary elections on November 18, after being delayed for a year, but a shadow of doubt remains over whether these will be held on time.
“We have asked all parties to abide by the scheduled date for the Region’s parliamentary election,” President Barzani said, urging for the process not to be delayed any longer, calling it a “constitutional right” of the people.
The KRG authorities have come under mounting criticism domestically and on an international level for failing to hold elections.
The inability of the Kurdistan Region to hold elections is largely attributed to contentions and ongoing wrangling between the Region’s ruling parties –the KDP and the PUK - who have often found themselves entangled in a clash of words over the elections law, as the Sulaimani-based PUK has said it would support new polls once the electoral law has been amended.
The recent escalation in the tensions between both governing parties has led to PUK’s boycotting of government’s weekly meetings headed by PM Barzani. Qubad Talabani, deputy PM and a senior member of the PUK, has also stopped attending the meetings of the Council of Ministers.
“I don’t believe the exit of the PUK team from the cabinet meeting was the right move… By exiting the meetings, they have not served the PUK or the Kurdistan Region," President Barzani said of Talabani’s ongoing boycott of cabinet sessions.
"As a main component of the government, you can address your disagreements within the government… the council of ministers is where you fix problems," he added.
Relations with neighbors Iran and Turkey
“Iran is an important neighbor to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region… Iran has always helped us throughout history… We will never help any country against Iran in any way, whether that’s Israel or any other country," President Barzani said.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has struck bases of exiled Kurdish opposition groups in the Region. The KDPI is a Kurdish opposition party that has waged an on-and-off armed war against the Iranian government since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
In March last year, Iran attacked Erbil with twelve ballistic missiles, with the IRGC claiming responsibility for targeting Israeli positions. Kurdish authorities have vehemently rejected this accusation and an Iraqi fact-finding committee found no evidence of any Israeli presence.
"We will not allow the Kurdistan Region to be used to threaten Iran," President Barzani added, stating that the Region has asked Iran to provide evidence of Israeli presence in the area.
“We always want to be a factor for stability… We always want the best relations with our neighbors," President Barzani said about ties with surrounding countries.
Similar issues have also been a major point of contention with neighboring Turkey.
Ankara frequently bombards Kurdistan Region’s mountainous area on the grounds of targeting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters.
“We have to be realistic, and the reality is Turkey has some security concerns that is necessary for Iraq to keep in mind… We must not become a source of threat for our neighboring country… If it wasn’t for the PKK presence on the borders, why would Turkey attack?” Barzani said.
PKK is an armed group struggling for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey. Ankara has listed the group as a terrorist organization.
Updated at 7:39pm
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