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KBC demands investigation over deputy
Iraqi PM's oil smuggling accusations
12.4.2012 |
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Mohsin al-Saadoun,
Kurdish Blocs Coalition (KBC) Vice President.
Photo Reuters
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April 12, 2012
SULAIMANIYAH, Kurdistan region 'Iraq', —
The Kurdish Blocs Coalition (KBC) in the Iraqi
Council of Representatives called on Thursday for an
in-depth investigation into Iraqi Deputy Prime
Minister for Energy Affairs Hussein al-Shahristani's
accusations that the Kurdistan Region
smuggles oil.
KBC Vice President Mohsen al-Saadoun said
Shahristani's statements are not based on real
evidence and were made at a time when the deputy PM
is responsible for wasting Iraq's money.
"Committees were formed to investigate Shahristani's
direct responsibility for the fake contracts with
the electric companies and Iraq's loss of billions
of dollars in addition to the disruption of
electricity for infrastructure in Iraq,www.ekurd.net
while he is accusing Kurdistan and escalating the
disputes between Baghdad and Erbil."
Shahristani heads the Mustaqillon (Independents)
bloc, which belongs to the State of Law Coalition (SLC)
led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Shahristani
held the post of oil minister in the previous
government and managed the Electricity Ministry
after its former minister Rash Shallal was sacked.
"The draft oil and gas law was agreed upon between
the governments of Baghdad and Erbil since 2007 and
the law was supposed to be legislated and sent to
the Council of Representatives," added Saadoun.
"But the federal government sent this law to the
State Council and changed the legal context using
words that do not agree with the agreement achieved
in the Council of Ministers in a way that gives more
centralism to the federal government in the
management of oil and this led to the objection on
the draft."
The Kurdistan region decided to stop all of its oil
exports at the beginning of this month in protest
against Baghdad's non-payment of the dues owed to
foreign oil companies operating in the region.
The Kurdistan Regional Government called on the
federal government last Thursday to form a joint
committee between Erbil and Baghdad to investigate
the mutual accusations between the two sides about
the smuggling of Iraqi oil.
The call came after the Shahristani accused
Kurdistan of smuggling oil to Iran and Turkey. This
was denied by politicians and officials in the
region.
By Hiba Ali
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