Hoshiyar Zebari said the central government had agreed for the time being to resume payments from the federal budget for Kurdish civil servants' salaries.
Zebari, who is a Kurd, described the step as a “major breakthrough” that would reduce friction between the KRG and Baghdad. He said the payments would cover October and then November.
The deal was reached after talks between Iraqi Oil Minister Adel Abdel Mehdi and Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani in the Kurdistan region on Thursday.
Baghdad stopped paying for KRG civil servant salaries in protest against the Kurds’ exporting oil to Turkey independently.
Under the agreement, Iraqi Kurdistan will give 150,000 barrels per day of oil exports - equal to around half its overall shipments - to the federal budget.
In Erbil, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) confirmed the agreement.
“What they have agreed is that Baghdad will release some funds - $500 million - and the KRG will give 150,000 barrels per day of oil to Baghdad,” KRG spokesman Safeen Dizayee told Reuters.
Exports still under control of Kurds
He said a KRG delegation headed by the prime minister would travel to Baghdad soon to hammer out a more comprehensive deal and the regional government would not hand over control of exports to Baghdad.A similar agreement was proposed in April but never advanced to a deal.....................http://english.alarabiya.net/en/business/energy/2014/11/14/Erbil-Baghdad-reach-breakthrough-deal-on-oil-exports-.html
14/11/14
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The agreement between Iraq and the autonomous region of Kurdistan on oil exports and budget payments was welcomed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon...
ReplyDeleteUNITED NATIONS, November 14 (Sputnik) — UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomes the agreement on oil exports and budget payments which was reached between Iraq and the autonomous region of Kurdistan.
“The Secretary-General welcomes the agreement reached between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government aimed at finding a solution to the issues related to the general budget and oil exports,” said a statement published on the UN’s official website on Wednesday.
Ban Ki-moon “congratulates Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Kurdistan Regional Government's Prime Minister Nechervan Barzani for the willingness to negotiate and conclude agreements that are in the interest of the Iraqi people,” the statement said...................http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20141114/1014715123.html
14/11/14
Statement by High Representative/ Vice President Federica Mogherini on conclusion of the agreement between the Iraqi federal government and the Government of the Kurdistan Region on transfer of revenues and oil ...
ReplyDeleteSTATEMENT:
"The agreement reached yesterday between the federal government of Iraq and the government of the Kurdistan Region on the transfer of revenues and oil between Baghdad and Erbil is a crucial development which ended a long dispute between the two entities.
All the parties involved have shown the leadership and willingness to compromise that was needed to resolve an issue of key importance at a critical time for the country. The agreement bodes well for further steps to promote dialogue and reconciliation within the framework of the constitution.
The EU will continue to support Iraqi efforts to preserve the unity, sovereignty and integrity of the country, achieve peace and security through a lasting political settlement, and to make progress towards a better future for all Iraqis."