Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (krg.org) - The Kurdistan Parliament held a session yesterday, 10 November, to discuss the Kurdistan Region’s share of the Iraqi budget and the embargo on Kurdistan by Baghdad. Prime Minister Barzani, Deputy Prime Minister Talabani and the other ministers in the Kurdistan Region Oil and Gas Council presented their views and reports at the session.

The purpose of the session was to discuss the joint report prepared by the parliament’s financial, economic and investment committee and the industry and natural resources committee, in relation to the Kurdistan Region’s share of the Iraqi budget. In addition the Parliament provided instructions to the delegation planning to negotiate with Baghdad.

Prime Minister Barzani in his speech to the MPs highlighted the problems between Erbil and Baghdad, such as illegally withholding the Kurdistan Region’s share of the Iraqi budget, Kurdistan’s oil export to international markets, government employees’ salaries, relations with neighbouring countries and the war against terrorism.

Ministers belonging to the Kurdistan Region Oil and Gas Council also attended the session: Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, Minister of Natural Resources Ashti Hawrami, Minister of Finance Rebaz Hamlan and Minister of Planning Ali Sindi.

Dr Hawrami and Minister Hamlan read their reports, and Dr Sindi presented statistics and facts on poverty in the Kurdistan Region.

At the outset of the meeting, the Speaker of the Kurdistan Parliament Dr Yousif Muhammad read a statement by the seven parties in parliament, all of which had requested the session. The statement declared that the meeting would not be secret but at the same time not broadcast directly to the media, because some of the information and statistics given could have a negative effect on talks and negotiations with Baghdad.

More than 20 MPs asked questions and gave their comments about the future of the hydrocarbons sector, the financial crisis and relations between Erbil and Baghdad.

MPs sitting on special committees, as well as MPs from parties that are not represented in those committees, presented questions to the Oil and Gas Council, which responded at length. The Speaker asked MPs who did not have an opportunity to ask questions to send them to the Committee for response as soon as possible.

After more than eight hours of discussions between the MPs and members of the Oil and Gas Council, Prime Minister Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Talabani held a joint press conference on the most important issues discussed during the day-long session.