Kirkuk asks Baghdad for more independence in decision-making

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Kirkuk governor asks the Iraqi government to allow the Iraq’s North Oil Company (NOC) to resume oil production in Kirkuk.

Following a meeting with Matthias Mitman, the US General Consul in Erbil, on Wednesday, Najmaddin Karim, governor of Kirkuk, urged the Iraqi government in a press conference to let NOC resume oil production and export to help Kirkuk, the Kurdistan Region and Iraq with its revenue.

Karim stated that he will visit Baghdad on Wednesday to discuss the matter [resuming oil production] and send Kirkuk’s share in the budget with the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

Kirkuk governor revealed that the city now hosts 500,000 Internally Displace Persons (IDPs), oil production has halted in the city and that Baghdad does not send its share of petro-dollar budget. He concluded by saying that “Kirkuk should be given more self-ruling power.”

“I am sure most of the components of Kirkuk support the decision for Kirkuk administration to decide on its destiny and to decide on what to do for its people. Baghdad should not weaken the administration’s ability to make decisions,” Karim added.

I will discuss all the matters with PM Abadi because, “Baghdad sees Kirkuk as it has been invaded by the Islamic State (IS),” the governor stated.

Mitman revealed that the meeting was held following the governor’s invitation to discuss the war on IS, the political reconciliation process, the humanitarian challenges that face the city and the relations between Baghdad and Kirkuk and Kikruk and the Kurdistan Region.

Mitman said that the US's position is clear regarding the issues of oil and relations with Baghdad. “The relations between the Kurdistan Region, Kirkuk and Iraq is a process that should be decided by people of Iraq and through their representatives.”  

Editing by Ava Homa