23 January 2011
Iraqi finance minister vowed to insert Kurdish demands in budget bill
Erbil - The Iraqi Finance Minister, Rafi' Isawi vowed to incorporate the Kurdish demands in the 2011 Iraqi general budget bill, adding the price for one barrel of oil has been increased to 76.5$.
Rashid Tahir, the deputy Kurdistan finance minister told AKnews after meeting with the Kurdish officials in Erbil, Isawi promised to include all the requests of the Kurdish side in the Iraqi budget bill.
The Iraqi senior official met Saturday evening in the Kurdish capital with the Kurdistan Regional Premier Barham Salih, Kurdistan natural resources minister, Ashti Hawrami and the regional minister of finance, Bayeez Talabani. The assembly in Erbil follows a visit by Salih and a high delegation to Baghdad.
Last Monday Salih meet with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for a series of issues, most importantly, Kurdish budget share, which reportedly has been decreased from 17% to 11.6% . The two sides agreed on resuming Kurdistan oil and complying with constitution to settle the disputes.
The Iraqi minister has promised the Kurdish side that the agreements between Baghdad and Erbil over Kurdistan oil exports and reimbursing the foreign oil companies in the Kurdistan will be included in the 2011 budget bill after the bill will be returned to the Iraqi Council of Ministers for such amendments.
The Iraqi budget bill passed its first reading, despite the Kurdish lawmakers' boycott of the session, threatening to file a suit against in the Federal Court if their objections are overlooked.
Iswai has also assured the Kurdish officials that after the Iraqi Council of Ministers is done with the amendments, his ministry will consider the viewpoint of the Kurdish government on the modified budget before submitting it for final voting in parliament.
Since June 2009 Kurdistan drilled and exported 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) from its fields. The revenues were apparently remitted to the Iraqi development fund. However, since Baghdad declined the recompense the companies (amounting to 42 from 17 countries) the Region suspended the export. This comes while Iraq exported 2,100,000 bpd in 2010.
However, reports after Salih's return from Baghdad state the Iraqi government has agreed to reimburse the foreign companies.
After a visit to Jordan, the Iraqi officials agreed with the International Bank to raise the price from $73 to $76.5 for each barrel of oil, Tahir quoted the Iraqi minister as saying.
In addition to budget and oil contracts, there are some other issues in dispute between Kurdistan and Baghdad. The status of the Kurdistan armed forces (locally known as peshmarga), their budget, and the tenure of some areas are among the other suspended issues.
According to an agreement between Baghdad and Kurdistan Region, the latter is entitled to %17 of the Iraqi total budget until a nationwide population census is held under which the share is amended. However, the population is not conducted but reports indicate the Kurdish share has shrunk to %11.6 in the proposed Iraqi budget for 2011.
© AK News 2011
Iraqi finance minister vowed to insert Kurdish demands in budget bill
Erbil - The Iraqi Finance Minister, Rafi' Isawi vowed to incorporate the Kurdish demands in the 2011 Iraqi general budget bill, adding the price for one barrel of oil has been increased to 76.5$.
Rashid Tahir, the deputy Kurdistan finance minister told AKnews after meeting with the Kurdish officials in Erbil, Isawi promised to include all the requests of the Kurdish side in the Iraqi budget bill.
The Iraqi senior official met Saturday evening in the Kurdish capital with the Kurdistan Regional Premier Barham Salih, Kurdistan natural resources minister, Ashti Hawrami and the regional minister of finance, Bayeez Talabani. The assembly in Erbil follows a visit by Salih and a high delegation to Baghdad.
Last Monday Salih meet with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for a series of issues, most importantly, Kurdish budget share, which reportedly has been decreased from 17% to 11.6% . The two sides agreed on resuming Kurdistan oil and complying with constitution to settle the disputes.
The Iraqi minister has promised the Kurdish side that the agreements between Baghdad and Erbil over Kurdistan oil exports and reimbursing the foreign oil companies in the Kurdistan will be included in the 2011 budget bill after the bill will be returned to the Iraqi Council of Ministers for such amendments.
The Iraqi budget bill passed its first reading, despite the Kurdish lawmakers' boycott of the session, threatening to file a suit against in the Federal Court if their objections are overlooked.
Iswai has also assured the Kurdish officials that after the Iraqi Council of Ministers is done with the amendments, his ministry will consider the viewpoint of the Kurdish government on the modified budget before submitting it for final voting in parliament.
Since June 2009 Kurdistan drilled and exported 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) from its fields. The revenues were apparently remitted to the Iraqi development fund. However, since Baghdad declined the recompense the companies (amounting to 42 from 17 countries) the Region suspended the export. This comes while Iraq exported 2,100,000 bpd in 2010.
However, reports after Salih's return from Baghdad state the Iraqi government has agreed to reimburse the foreign companies.
After a visit to Jordan, the Iraqi officials agreed with the International Bank to raise the price from $73 to $76.5 for each barrel of oil, Tahir quoted the Iraqi minister as saying.
In addition to budget and oil contracts, there are some other issues in dispute between Kurdistan and Baghdad. The status of the Kurdistan armed forces (locally known as peshmarga), their budget, and the tenure of some areas are among the other suspended issues.
According to an agreement between Baghdad and Kurdistan Region, the latter is entitled to %17 of the Iraqi total budget until a nationwide population census is held under which the share is amended. However, the population is not conducted but reports indicate the Kurdish share has shrunk to %11.6 in the proposed Iraqi budget for 2011.
© AK News 2011
