Erbil aims for 'constitutional conclusion' with Baghdad regarding oil, gas law, says PM Barzani

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Wednesday said the regional government is in continuous negotiations with the Iraqi federal government regarding Kurdish oil as it aims to reach a “constitutional conclusion,” while highlighting other issues in the Region.

The Region “has continued negotiations with the federal government in order to reach a conclusion on the basis of the constitution and in line with the constitutional entitlements of the people of Kurdistan [Region] and Iraq in general,” Barzani said during a presser.

The premier’s remark comes a month after Erbil and Baghdad held the first round of talks regarding the management of the Kurdistan Region’s oil after the top Iraqi court ruled against the Region’s oil and gas law in February, jeopardizing the industry.

During the meeting, the Iraqi oil ministry put forward a proposal that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has “formally” responded to, according to Barzani. 

“Our response was aligned with the Iraqi constitution,” he said.

“A unilateral decision that violates the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region is unacceptable,” Barzani stated.

The KRG passed its oil and gas law in 2007, enabling it to administer and develop its own oil and gas resources.

The Iraqi Federal Supreme Court’s decision found the law to be “unconstitutional,” and therefore struck down the legal basis for the independence of the Kurdistan Region’s oil and gas sector. Kurdish leaders have slammed the decision repeatedly.

Disputes arose between Baghdad and Erbil in early 2014, when Baghdad cut the Region’s share of the federal budget, setting into motion a series of crises that the KRG still suffers from. By March 2014, the KRG started exporting its oil abroad in an attempt to secure the salaries of its employees.

The Iraqi and Kurdish governments were once again brought to the table in 2021 when Iraq was drafting its budget law. Both sides agreed that the KRG would continue its oil sales, and in return would hand the revenue of 250,000 barrels of oil to Baghdad daily.

Barzani also highlighted Sulaimani’s revenues, saying they were higher during the coronavirus and the financial crisis that engulfed the Region.

 “We ask, what are the reasons for the decrease in [Sulaimani’s] revenues?” the premier added.

The PM called on the governors of Sulaimani, Halabja, Raparin, and Garmiyan administrations to point out whether the issues are “local and regional or general, and who is responsible for lowering the needed income to give out [civil servant] salaries,’ which have seen a delay.
With regards to the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region, Barzani emphasized the importance of holding them as scheduled on October 1. 

The KRG has failed to pay the salaries of its civil servants in full and on time for years due to the financial crisis causing strikes across the Region.

Teachers in Sulaimani on Wednesday peacefully protested the delay of March payment.

PM Barzani also made remarks on the recent increase in gender-based violence and so-called honor killings, saying the Region should escalate its efforts and taking precautionary measures to prevent the act through raising awareness. 

At least 11 women were killed in the first two months of the year.

A woman was strangled allegedly by her husband with a hair dyer’s cable in Duhok on Tuesday.