Barzani warns al-Maliki of starting oil exports

ARBIL - Anatolia News Agency

REUTERS photo

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani has hinted that his administration could begin exporting crude oil if budget allocation problems continue with Baghdad.

“Our demand is to get 17 percent of the budget, which is written in the constitution,” Barzani said after a recent Cabinet meeting in which the ongoing tension between Arbil and Baghdad was discussed. “If the problem continues, we will start to export crude oil to meet the demands of our people and provide electricity.” After the Cabinet meeting, Barzani said Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was wrong in his accusations about the regional administration’s “oil smuggling,” accusing the central government of acting against the constitution. Commenting on his recent trip to Turkey, Barzani said Turkey’s policy toward the region was contributing to the welfare of his people.