|
Iraqi Oil minister authorized to ban
Kurdistan oil exports
24.11.2007
|
|
|
|
November 24, 2007
BAGHDAD,-- Iraqi Minister of Oil Hussein Al-Shahristani
has the authority to cancel oil companies' contracts
with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) until
the new oil law is passed, an informed ministerial
source said on Saturday.
"The Ministry of oil is responsible for managing the
oil department until the issuance of the new oil law
and therefore has the right to cancel any contract
that it deems illegal," the source, who requested
anonymity, told VOI
The ministry plays a significant role in managing
the country's oil wealth, the source indicated,
adding, "Iraq's oil wealth is for all Iraqis, as
stipulated in the Iraqi constitution."
"There is nothing personal between Shahristani and
the regional government. The minister's statements
were made on
national grounds," the source added.
In an interview with Monte Carlo Radio on Friday,
the minister announced the cancellation of the
regional government's contracts with oil companies
and accused it of stalling the passage of the oil
and gas law.
A few days ago, the mass media quoted Shahristani as
saying that oil companies that have contracts with
the regional government without the prior approval
of Iraq's central government would be prohibited
from practicing their activities in Iraq.
The KRG had signed 15 contracts with foreign oil
corporations despite the central government's
objection and ahead of the Iraqi parliament's final
endorsement of the draft law on oil.
A
statement by the Kurdistan
government described the statements
attributed to the minister as "unacceptable
threats."
Kurdistan government said earlier, "our contracts with the IOCs
are both constitutional and legal within the
framework of the Kurdistan Oil and Gas Law.
Dr Shahristani keeps saying that Iraqi law does not
allow this or that. People around the world wonder
which law he is talking about because they know that
since most of Saddam’s laws contradict the new
Constitution, they are now null and void.
www.ekurd.net
The Iraqi Kurdistan region's government
on November 16 said
that statements attributed to Iraqi Oil Minister
Hussein Shahristani in which he threatened to
ban oil companies' contracts dealing
with the autonomous government were "illegal and
won't intimidate companies that have contracts with
the region's government."
www.ekurd.net
VOI
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
® 