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Iraqi premier visiting oil-rich Basra for crucial talks
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Abadi is visiting the oil-rich province of Basra Monday amid increased pressure by the provincial officials for more self rule. Abadi will be accompanied by a large delegation of seven ministers to the city, where he will be in crucial negotiations with a number of Iraqi governors, aides said. “I predict that the meeting will result in giving the provincial authorities more powers,” said Ahmad Jabouri, Iraq’s minister for provincial affairs, who gave no further details. Basra, Iraq’s second-largest city, is also seen as the country’s financial capital, which by some estimates provides Iraq with 90 percent of its budget. City officials have complained of lack of services and high unemployment despite enormous oil resources in the predominantly Shiite province. The prime minister’s spokesperson said Monday that Abadi will be discussing the petrodollar act with city officials, according to which the oil-exporting province will directly receive a portion of every extracted barrel of oil. “Some of the powers of the ministries of education, health and municipality will also be moved from Baghdad to the provinces,” spokesperson Saad Hadisi said. But officials in Basra will likely reach for more than ministerial powers, as influential voices in the province have pushed for a referendum to decide the future of the province. Provincial council officials have also requested the formation of a “Basra Oil Body” which, if formed, would manage the oil issues with the central government in Baghdad. Basra’s former governor Wael Abdul Latif, who is campaigning for a referendum on autonomy, told the Iraqi media they have now sufficient signatures to hold the vote. Legally, 10 percent of the population in the province must sign up for the Iraqi electoral commissioner to allow a referendum
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Abadi is visiting the oil-rich province of Basra Monday amid increased pressure by the provincial officials for more self rule. Abadi will be accompanied by a large delegation of seven ministers to the city, where he will be in crucial negotiations with a number of Iraqi governors, aides said. “I predict that the meeting will result in giving the provincial authorities more powers,” said Ahmad Jabouri, Iraq’s minister for provincial affairs, who gave no further details. Basra, Iraq’s second-largest city, is also seen as the country’s financial capital, which by some estimates provides Iraq with 90 percent of its budget. City officials have complained of lack of services and high unemployment despite enormous oil resources in the predominantly Shiite province. The prime minister’s spokesperson said Monday that Abadi will be discussing the petrodollar act with city officials, according to which the oil-exporting province will directly receive a portion of every extracted barrel of oil. “Some of the powers of the ministries of education, health and municipality will also be moved from Baghdad to the provinces,” spokesperson Saad Hadisi said. But officials in Basra will likely reach for more than ministerial powers, as influential voices in the province have pushed for a referendum to decide the future of the province. Provincial council officials have also requested the formation of a “Basra Oil Body” which, if formed, would manage the oil issues with the central government in Baghdad. Basra’s former governor Wael Abdul Latif, who is campaigning for a referendum on autonomy, told the Iraqi media they have now sufficient signatures to hold the vote. Legally, 10 percent of the population in the province must sign up for the Iraqi electoral commissioner to allow a referendum
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