“In a short meeting… the latest trends of discussions between KRG and Iraqi federal government committees were discussed, and [both sides] stressed the continuation of the work of the committees to resolve issues. Both sides expressed their commitment to dialogue and the resolution of issues on the basis of the Iraqi constitution,” read a statement from the KRG.
They also touched on the issue of oil. Managing oil, and its revenues, is a recurring problem between Erbil and Baghdad. The central government stopped sending funds to the KRG when Kurdish leaders proposed exporting oil independently.
The two sides “decided that the Iraqi Ministry of Oil and KRG Ministry of Natural Resources will hold a special meeting on how to export oil that has been suspended for a while and reach an agreement [on the issue],” the KRG’s statement read.
As the two governments have resumed relations and begun the difficult process of resolving their issues, Baghdad wants to exert federal control over oil and Erbil wants financial guarantees if it agrees to send oil revenue to central coffers.
How to handle the rich oil reserves in the disputed province of Kirkuk, that were suspended after Iraq took control of the province, is also a sticking point.
As Iraq is looking to rebuild its economy and infrastructure after the war with ISIS, OPEC has seen a "renewed vigor" reconstructing the oil and gas sector under Abadi’s government, OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo told Rudaw’s Hemin Lihony in Davos.
"We in OPEC are very proud of [that]," he added.
Responding to a question about the KRG's contribution to Iraq's success, Barkindo said "Iraq is the dutiful, rightful representative in OPEC."
Iraq, as a founder and the birthplace of OPEC and currently its second-largest producer, was described by Barkindo as a "very important" member.
OPEC has seen a “gradual but steady rebalancing of the market” after concerted efforts from member states to address oversupply.
"We are not yet declaring victory,” he said, explaining that they do not have a price goal. "Our prime objective remains assisting the market to bring it back to balance, which has eluded us for the past several years and we are confident, satisfied that we are on cause."
The Davos forum brings together world, business, and industry leaders, making it a good opportunity to look at the issue of equality, Anne Mitaru, policy and campaigns manager of Oxfam in Erbil, told Rudaw English this week.
“A lot of those decisions between political heavyweights, economic heavyweights, and other heavyweights, changes how people live, how much they have access to food, how much they have access to water, how much they pay for clothes and other things,” she said, noting that “a lot of power resides with the people who go to Davos.”
These power players must consider not just one country, she asserted, but ensure benefits from the meeting are shared with people around the world.
Earlier in the day, Barzani met with Jordanian King Abdullah and Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan.
