Baghdad demands control over borders, oil on eve of referendum
BAGHDAD, Iraq – The Iraqi government has demanded Kurdistan hand over control of all its international border posts to federal authorities and has told the international community to deal exclusively with the government in Baghdad, particularly in relation to oil.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi released a statement Sunday evening after a meeting of the National Security Council.
The Iraqi government asked the Kurdistan Region to hand over “all border gates, including the airports, to the federal authorities. It also asks neighbouring countries and international countries to deal exclusively with the federal Iraqi government with regard to the borders and oil,” the statement Abadi read.
He announced that the federal government was taking charge of the movement of “goods and people to and from the Region.”
The statement also called for an Iraqi task force to follow the assets and accounts of the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kurdish officials outside of the country.
The statement also demanded the public prosecutor's office bring charges against every Kurdish employee involved in conducting the referendum.
Baghdad considers the referendum illegal and unconstitutional.
Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani told media on Sunday afternoon that the vote will go ahead as planned on Monday.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi released a statement Sunday evening after a meeting of the National Security Council.
The Iraqi government asked the Kurdistan Region to hand over “all border gates, including the airports, to the federal authorities. It also asks neighbouring countries and international countries to deal exclusively with the federal Iraqi government with regard to the borders and oil,” the statement Abadi read.
He announced that the federal government was taking charge of the movement of “goods and people to and from the Region.”
The statement also called for an Iraqi task force to follow the assets and accounts of the Kurdistan Regional Government and Kurdish officials outside of the country.
The statement also demanded the public prosecutor's office bring charges against every Kurdish employee involved in conducting the referendum.
Baghdad considers the referendum illegal and unconstitutional.
Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani told media on Sunday afternoon that the vote will go ahead as planned on Monday.