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Statement by Prime Minister Nechirvan
Barzani on non-implementation of the Iraqi
constitution
27.9.2006
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Erbil,
Kurdistan Region-Iraq, September 27, -- In an
interview with al-Sabah newspaper published 24
September, Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Shahristani
said his Ministry is not committed to investment
contracts signed by the Kurdistan Regional
Government.
He further stated that the Baghdad Oil Ministry
would review the terms of these contracts.
Dr. Shahristani’s comments suggest he is not
committed to Iraq’s Constitution. Article 115 of the
Constitution gives Regions “all powers not
stipulated in the exclusive powers of the federal
government.”
Oil and Gas are not among the exclusive powers of
the federal government. Further, the articles of the
Iraqi Constitution that do address oil provide for
joint control by the federal government and the
regional Government of oil fields currently in
production. |
Nechirvan Barzani, Prime minister of Kurdistan region (Iraq) |
The constitution gives the federal government no
role at all with regard to the new oil fields that
are the subject of the KRG-signed contracts.
Finally, as if there were any doubt as to the
validity of KRG-signed contracts, Article 141 of the
Iraqi Constitution specifically validates “decisions
issued by the Kurdistan Regional Government,
including court decisions and contracts” since 1992.
As the elected Kurdistan official ultimately
responsible for my government’s oil contracts, I
resent Dr. Shahristani’s efforts to sabotage foreign
investment in Kurdistan’s oil sector.
The KRG is working to develop petroleum in
Kurdistan, an area that previous Iraqi regimes had
declared off limits as means of punishing our
people. Since 2003, foreign companies have invested
more than $100 million in exploration activities in
our region and have already made one significant new
discovery.
Meanwhile, the Baghdad Oil Ministry has done nothing
to encourage foreign investment in other parts of
Iraq or to start new petroleum activities. Dr.
Shahristani would better spend his time getting his
ministry working rather than tearing down our
achievements.
The people of Kurdistan chose to be in a voluntarily
union with Iraq on the basis of the constitution. If
Baghdad Ministers refuse to abide by that
constitution, the people of Kurdistan reserve the
right to reconsider our choice.
krg org
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