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Erbil, November 30 (Rn) - Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan region of Iraq on Wednesday that the province would go ahead with the agreement for oil exploration with Exxon Mobil over the objections of the federal government in Baghdad.
Barzani said in an interview with "Reuters," Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has been informed of the agreement before signing it and raised no objection. Baghdad, described the opposition to the agreement as "unconstitutional."
"The contract is not unconstitutional. Yes, we have signed with Exxon Mobil, according to the Constitution ... the objection we have heard from some officials is unconstitutional," adding, "We are committed to the agreement and Snnfzh without paying attention to what he says some officials in Baghdad."
Exxon became the first major oil company to enter the Kurdistan region when it signed an agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government on 18 October / October, to explore for oil and gas in six areas.
The Iraqi oil ministry said the agreement is illegal and can result in cancellation of the contract Exxon to develop the first phase of West Qurna oil field in the main south. Officials said later that they were studying sanctions.
There was no public comment on the agreement of the Exxon and Iraqi oil officials say that the company did not respond to their requests for an explanation.
The agreement highlighted tensions between Baghdad and Erbil on the management of oil wealth and the disputed areas and other issues for years with the imminent withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
In spite of the silence of Exxon commented on the State Department agreed, saying she hopes that Iraq can and Exxon to settle the dispute in a manner as not to undermine the development of Iraqi oil resources in the future.
The head of the province, said "the agreement with Exxon will benefit the whole of Iraq, not just the territory of Kurdistan." He said he was surprised by the warning which was issued recently from Baghdad on the agreement.
He went on saying, "It's really strange and senseless. For us, it does not mean anything."
He said, "In the first step sent a letter to the Prime Minister and told him all the details. The answer he received was not there any objection .. before signing."
Barzani criticized the policy of Iraq's oil and said Baghdad was slow to approve the draft law of oil and gas has been agreed upon between the two governments in 2007.
"The oil policy in Iraq, a failed policy. I say it clearly. Ask people of Iraq where the oil refineries ..... How many hours of electricity available to Iraqi citizens in the central and southern Iraq .. and live on a sea of oil."
He asked, "If you were not a failed policy .. So what is the reason .."
The new president of the province the position adhered to by the Kurdistan region for a long time that the oil and gas contracts signed by the Kurdish government unconstitutional and will not abandon the region in such rights in order to settle disputes with Baghdad.
He also said under the agreement due to the 2007 and approved by the Government of the territory and the federal government to continue to sign contracts with oil companies, pending approval of the oil and gas law, which is long overdue.
It was agreed that Prime Minister Maliki and Barham Salih in a meeting last month to provide an oil law to parliament by the end of the year and said it would be the draft law approved by the political blocs in 2007 or a copy of it with the amendments agreed.
Barzani said "We are exercising the right that gave us the Constitution and not to any official in Baghdad, hitting the right of us."
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