PM Barzani: Constitution does not stipulates exporting oil through SOMO only
Barzani 's remarks came during a meeting hosted in Kurdistan Parliament at his request to discuss the differences with the federal government in which he said that there is no constitutional article states that SOMO must oversee the issue of oil export from Kurdistan .
Barzani added that it is Kurdistan Region 's right to obtain 17% of the imports and sale of region’s oil, noting that the regional government had informed Baghdad that it will deal with this by the ratio of imports and the rest will be sent to Baghdad .
He stressed that his government wants to reach a solution with Baghdad , adding that the policy of Baghdad is not with this solution.
He noted that during this period he made several visits to Baghdad , noting that the Government is working in order to reach a solution since 2005, with regard to the law of oil import’s distribution.
Barzani pointed out that Baghdad actions with the region is like with any other province , adding that after such a long period of rule in the region and the Kurd’s participation in drafting the Iraqi constitution, Baghdad wants to act with the region as do any other Iraqi province, and this will never be accepted by Kurds.
On the issue of how to export oil from Turkey after talks between lasted for two years , the regional government has reached an agreement with them to export oil from Kurdistan
Barzani added that Iraq does not suffer from any financial crisis , noting that Baghdad prevented sending the region's share of the budget based on the decision of Prime Minister ,Nuri al-Maliki.
Barzani said that his government believed that there was a financial crisis in all of Iraq, and that he personally informed the delegation that accompanied him to negotiate with Baghdad to show the necessity of flexibility in talks with Baghdad as long as the crisis is in all of Iraq .
However, he said that during his meeting with Iraqi Minister of Finance the minister told him that Baghdad has no financial crisis , and that it will not send the region its share of the budget according to a decision of Prime Minister and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces ,Nuri al-Maliki .
Nechirvan Barzani expected on Wednesday, that the United States would play the role of mediator between the governments of Baghdad and Erbil to find a satisfactory solution to both parties in exporting the region’s oil.
He added “ We had two choices , either return to Baghdad and surrender to Maliki or export oil, and relying on the law and the people of Kurdistan , we have taken the second resolution.
Barzani said that "so far our doors open with Baghdad and it is the interest of the region to reach a solution with Baghdad," adding, "What would we do if they closed all doors in front of us?".
“We took the decision to sell oil so that Baghdad would understand that we can do that and have proven that for you and will not retreat ,” he said.
Nechirvan Barzani has also warned that Maliki will divide the country because of his "individual" actions .
