SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) President Bafel Talabani said Iraq’s national oil marketing company (SOMO) must be the only party responsible to sell the Kurdistan Region’s oil.
Talabani on Sunday released a statement via his Facebook account regarding the Kurdistan Region’s oil issue and its administration.
His statement is amid the controversial arbitration ruling that halted the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports via Turkey last week in favor of Iraq.
The leader stated, “For the sake of our nation’s future and avoiding the emergence of massive crises and trouble, it is the time to make the right decision.”
Talabani stressed in the statement that Iraq’s SOMO company must be the only party responsible to sell the Kurdish oil.
“SOMO must sell the Kurdistan Region’s oil and the entire oil revenue across Iraq must return to one treasury,” he said, according to the statement.
The leader also called for guaranteeing Kurdistan’s share in the Federal budget including the salary of Kurdish civil servants and pensions.
Moreover, Talabani requested to tie the Kurdistan Region energy system to the one in Iraq which helps Kurdish citizens to buy energy at lower prices.
Talabani further stated that “There should be Kurdistan representative in Iraq’s SOMO including in the entire oil and gas system of Iraq.”
“The Kurds should also play a role in the administration and decision-making.”
According to Talabani’s words, it has been years since the PUK endeavored to reach an agreement with Baghdad and mark the end of the disputes.
He further stressed that “it’s isolation, autocracy, and internal disputes that jeopardize the Kurdistan Region’s entity nor cooperation and coordination with Baghdad.”
“The PUK has spilled a river of blood for the sake of Kurdistan’s prosperity and success, we do not consider any forces or parties as loyal as us [PUK] to Kurdistan and striving to fulfill the high interests.”
“Therefore, the logical and responsible step is an agreement with Baghdad and securing our rights,” Talabani continued.
