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Rudaw Net
2 days ago
- Business
- Rudaw Net
KRG calls for resumption of oil exports, salary payments
Also in Kurdistan Explosive-laden drone intercepted near Erbil airport Duhok forest catches fire Explosive-laden drone crashes in Sulaimani province President Barzani, UNAMI chief discuss regional developments A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region's Council of Ministers met on Wednesday to reiterate Erbil's 'full readiness' to cooperate with Baghdad for resuming the long-stalled Kurdish oil exports and 'to cut all of Baghdad's excuses and pretexts' for not sending the Region's salaries. 'The Kurdistan Region has implemented and exceeded any commitment imposed upon it, showing all flexibility for resuming oil exports, therefore, we expect Baghdad to end its policy of not sending salaries,' the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said in a statement. Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline have been suspended since March 2023, following a ruling by a Paris arbitration court that found Turkey had violated a 1973 pipeline agreement by allowing Erbil to export oil without Baghdad's approval. In February, Iraq's parliament amended the federal budget law to include a $16-per-barrel fee to cover production and transportation costs for international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the Kurdistan Region. The amendment also requires Baghdad and Erbil to jointly appoint an international consultancy to audit and assess these costs. If no consensus is reached, the Iraqi cabinet will choose the firm. 'The Kurdistan Region and oil companies have shown full readiness to cooperate with the federal government for resuming oil exports, all in order to cut all of Baghdad's excuses and pretexts for withholding salaries to Kurdistan's employees,' the statement said. The Council of Ministers also stressed that Erbil is ready to resume oil exports through Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) 'and to return the Kurdistan Region's oil sales revenue to the federal finance ministry.' Tensions between Erbil and Baghdad intensified in late May when the federal finance ministry suspended all budget transfers to the KRG, including the salaries of more than 1.2 million public employees. The ministry cited the KRG's alleged overspending beyond its 12.67 percent share of the 2025 federal budget. Kurdish political parties have strongly condemned the suspension, describing it as unconstitutional and politically driven. 'Baghdad must end its policy of not sending salaries to the people of Kurdistan, as salaries are a normal, legal, and constitutional right of the Region's employees, and according to all laws and regulations, they should not be deprived of this right under any pretext,' the KRG stated. Washington is also pushing for the resumption of oil exports. On Tuesday, a State Department spokesperson told Rudaw that restarting the exports 'is critical,' adding, 'This is unacceptable. We have repeatedly urged all parties to resolve their issues and will not accept an indefinite delay.'
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Rangasamy submits memorandum to Vice-President seeking Statehood for Puducherry
Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has reiterated the demand for Statehood for Puducherry. In a memorandum to visiting Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday, the Chief Minister said Statehood was essential for the development of the union territory. He urged Mr. Dhankhar 'to discuss granting of Statehood issue whenever possible at higher levels to take Puducherry to the next level of quality of life and for enhanced tourism and industrial development.' Mr. Rangasamy said all political parties while in power have impressed upon the Central government the need for granting Statehood to the union territory. The Legislative Assembly has passed several unanimous resolutions demanding the same. It was the earnest desire of all political parties and more importantly people of Puducherry to get Statehood, the memorandum said. 'I would like to emphasize that the elected government of U.T. is a limited government, not by the Constitution but because of the decades old law of Parliament, the U.T. Act of 1963, which is still in force. Even though the government is elected democratically with Council of Ministers and an Assembly, it is unable to function and execute various developmental activities quickly because of lack of powers at the level of Council of Ministers,' he said. The Chief Minister said the territory would be eligible for additional revenue of ₹ 1,500 crore to ₹ 2,000 crore through devolution of funds if Statehood is granted.
