Home
Oil and Gas Legislation Deadlocked
04/03/2012 04:40:00RUDAW
ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan -- Adil Barwari, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s adviser for affairs of the Kurdistan Region, does not think that Iraqi Parliament will pass the oil and gas legislation this year.
Barwari told Rudaw, “Due to political disagreements, it is hard to see the oil and gas legislation resolved this year.”
Maliki’s State of Law coalition in parliament said that the issue of oil and gas would be finalized this year.
The oil and gas legislation has been the major point of dispute between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad for several years.
In 2007, Erbil and Baghdad agreed on a draft law for the country’s oil and gas that was supposed to be sent to parliament for approval, but later the central government abandoned the agreement and prevented the draft from being referred to parliament.
Last summer, the Iraqi Ministry of Oil unilaterally prepared another draft to be reviewed by parliament for voting, but the Kurdistan Region strongly rejected the drafted document and demanded a return to the 2007 agreement.
Following the 2010 elections in Iraq, the Kurds lent their support to Maliki’s government on the condition that he would pass and abide by the points of the 2007 agreement.
But two years on, the oil and gas law still lies in the drawers in Baghdad.
Prime Minister Maliki has indicated in the past that he is willing to finalize the issue and his Ministry of Oil says the draft is in parliament and only needs the blessing of the political parties.
Asim Jihad, a spokesman for the Ministry of Oil, told Rudaw, “My ministry’s duty was to prepare the draft. It is now finished and has already been sent to parliament. That’s why it is not our concern anymore.”
But Farhad Atrushi, a Kurdish member of the oil and gas committee in the Iraqi Parliament, said, “The draft that has been sent to parliament was prepared by the Iraqi Council of Ministers. We, the Kurds, will not approve this document because it is against the constitution and Kurdish interests.”
Atrushi admitted that, “Lack of political agreement has caused the oil and gas legislation to reach a deadlock. It will be difficult to resolve this issue right now.”
On the other hand, Qasm Muhammad Qasim, a Kurdish MP in Iraqi Parliament, said, “There are currently two drafts for oil and gas in Iraq. One prepared by the Iraqi government and the other by the parliamentary oil and gas committee.”
According to Qasim, the different blocs in parliament are in dispute over the two drafts and that is one of the reasons for the delay in passing the country’s oil and gas law.
“According to Resolution 111, priority will be given to the draft law that has been prepared by the committee of oil and gas and we have consulted on this matter with the legislation committee,” Qasim said.
The major difference between the two drafts, Qasim said, is that, “The file prepared by the Ministry of Oil will give more power to the central government and the prime minister, and that goes against the constitution.”
Kurds advocate for the passing of the original draft law that would give provinces and federal regions authority to run their own natural resources without referring to the capital.
Ali Shalla, a close aide to Prime Minister Maliki, told Rudaw, “Passing the legislation will not be delayed another year.”
“The parliament will approve the drafted legislation this year, as the KRG and the central government are both serious about resolving
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
04/03/2012 04:40:00RUDAW
ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan -- Adil Barwari, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s adviser for affairs of the Kurdistan Region, does not think that Iraqi Parliament will pass the oil and gas legislation this year.
Barwari told Rudaw, “Due to political disagreements, it is hard to see the oil and gas legislation resolved this year.”
Maliki’s State of Law coalition in parliament said that the issue of oil and gas would be finalized this year.
The oil and gas legislation has been the major point of dispute between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad for several years.
In 2007, Erbil and Baghdad agreed on a draft law for the country’s oil and gas that was supposed to be sent to parliament for approval, but later the central government abandoned the agreement and prevented the draft from being referred to parliament.
Last summer, the Iraqi Ministry of Oil unilaterally prepared another draft to be reviewed by parliament for voting, but the Kurdistan Region strongly rejected the drafted document and demanded a return to the 2007 agreement.
Following the 2010 elections in Iraq, the Kurds lent their support to Maliki’s government on the condition that he would pass and abide by the points of the 2007 agreement.
But two years on, the oil and gas law still lies in the drawers in Baghdad.
Prime Minister Maliki has indicated in the past that he is willing to finalize the issue and his Ministry of Oil says the draft is in parliament and only needs the blessing of the political parties.
Asim Jihad, a spokesman for the Ministry of Oil, told Rudaw, “My ministry’s duty was to prepare the draft. It is now finished and has already been sent to parliament. That’s why it is not our concern anymore.”
But Farhad Atrushi, a Kurdish member of the oil and gas committee in the Iraqi Parliament, said, “The draft that has been sent to parliament was prepared by the Iraqi Council of Ministers. We, the Kurds, will not approve this document because it is against the constitution and Kurdish interests.”
Atrushi admitted that, “Lack of political agreement has caused the oil and gas legislation to reach a deadlock. It will be difficult to resolve this issue right now.”
On the other hand, Qasm Muhammad Qasim, a Kurdish MP in Iraqi Parliament, said, “There are currently two drafts for oil and gas in Iraq. One prepared by the Iraqi government and the other by the parliamentary oil and gas committee.”
According to Qasim, the different blocs in parliament are in dispute over the two drafts and that is one of the reasons for the delay in passing the country’s oil and gas law.
“According to Resolution 111, priority will be given to the draft law that has been prepared by the committee of oil and gas and we have consulted on this matter with the legislation committee,” Qasim said.
The major difference between the two drafts, Qasim said, is that, “The file prepared by the Ministry of Oil will give more power to the central government and the prime minister, and that goes against the constitution.”
Kurds advocate for the passing of the original draft law that would give provinces and federal regions authority to run their own natural resources without referring to the capital.
Ali Shalla, a close aide to Prime Minister Maliki, told Rudaw, “Passing the legislation will not be delayed another year.”
“The parliament will approve the drafted legislation this year, as the KRG and the central government are both serious about resolving
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
