Baghdad – IA
Today, Thursday, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Atwan Al-Atwani, announced the agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government to review its oil contracts to adapt them constitutionally.
The media office of the House of Representatives stated in a statement – received by the (INA) – that “the delegation of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, which is currently visiting Erbil, headed by Atwan Al-Atwani, held an expanded technical meeting with representatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government, today, Thursday, in the building of the region’s Council of Ministers, to discuss… Addressing the outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil.”
Al-Atwani said – according to the statement: “The meeting reviewed oil files, financial revenues, automation of border crossings, unification of customs tariffs, and localization of employee salaries.”
He added, “We have developed a road map to resolve the points of contention between the central government and the regional government regarding the oil export file.”
Al-Atwani confirmed that “the meeting reached an initial agreement with the regional government to conduct a comprehensive review of oil contracts to adapt them to the Iraqi constitution, in preparation for resolving the problem of the cessation of the region’s oil exports,” explaining that “the agreement stipulates that the central government and the regional government enter as a unified party in the negotiations with International oil companies operating in the region, with the aim of amending their contracts from production partnerships to profit sharing, as well as reviewing the economic and commercial conditions.”
He pointed out, “The Parliamentary Finance Committee is working to establish a correct basis for negotiating a solution to the outstanding issues, out of its keenness to resolve the oil export file during this year and settle the disputes with the region,” stressing, “The committee will meet upon its return to Baghdad with the Federal Ministry of Oil, with the aim of settling the disputes with the region.” Discussing controversial issues and pushing for them to be addressed under the umbrella of the Constitution.”
Al-Atwani continued, “The meeting reviewed in numbers the steps to implement the file of localization of the salaries of employees in the region, where the need to adhere to the decisions of the Federal Court was emphasized.”
Al-Atwani pointed out – according to the statement – that “the meeting also discussed the file of border crossings, customs and taxes, ways to include their revenues in the country’s general budget, and the extent of the regional government’s commitment to sending these funds to the federal government.”