|
Iraqi Kurds want long term US presence in
Kurdistan
12.12.2007
|
|
|
|
December
12, 2007
Erbil-Hewler, Kurdistan region 'Iraq', -- A
top Iraqi Kurdistan leader Tuesday said the Kurds
want a deal with Washington that would protect their
rights as well ensure long term American troops
presence in the country.
On his arrival from a visit to Washington, Omar
Fatah, deputy prime minister of Iraq's Kurdistan
government, said they want a "strategic agreement
with the Americans" similar to the one between
Washington and Baghdad signed last month.
That was for a long-term economic and political
agreement that would also keep U.S. forces in Iraq
beyond 2008. |
Omar Fatah,
deputy prime minister of Iraq's Kurdistan government |
"We expressed our pleasure about the agreement
between Washington and Baghdad, " said Fatah,www.ekurd.net
adding
Iraqi Kurds want a similar deal. "We want an
agreement that would see that Kurds are not
oppressed again," he said, referring to atrocities
committed by the former regime against them.
Fatah said during his visit he also told U.S.
leaders the Kurds were in favor of a long-term U.S.
presence in Iraq.
"We told the Americans that Kurdistan does not
support early withdrawal of U.S. troops. We want the
troops to be present until a democratic and federal
Iraq is built," Fatah said.
The Kurdish leader also said Washington urged the
regional administration to restrain signing oil
deals with foreign companies until Baghdad passed an
oil law.
"The Americans told us not to rush in signing oil
contracts and said 'we know your situation is bad
and need investments but we feel it is better to
wait till the Iraqi oil law is passed.'"
However, Fatah said the Kurdish government had the
right to sign the contracts, as the revenues
generated would be used to reconstruct "thousands of
villages destroyed by the former regime."
The Kurdish government is currently engaged in a
heated standoff with Baghdad over the signing of oil
deals in the absence of a central oil law.
The regional administration has signed 15 deals with
20 foreign companies to explore and export oil in
its territory,www.ekurd.net
angering Baghdad which is yet to pass
an oil bill that has been pending in parliament for
nearly a year.
AFP
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
® 