Iraqi MP warns about Baghdad–Erbil agreement

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi Shia member of parliament Hanan al-Fatlawi warned on Wednesday that her followers will storm Iraqi streets if Baghdad signs a new oil agreement with the Kurdistan Region.

On her official Facebook account, Fatlawi asks if the federal government of Iraq has gained anything from previous oil agreements with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in order to sign a new agreement.

In her accusatory statement, Fatlawi calls KRG is an “unconstitutional government” and warns the federal government of Iraq about signing new agreements with the Kurdistan Region.

Recently, KRG Spokesperson Safeen Dizayee told Reuters that Kurdistan Region would be willing to sell its oil through Baghdad if the federal government of Iraq provides US$1 billion a month to the KRG.

“If Baghdad comes and says ok, give me all the oil that you have and I'll give you the 17 percent of the budget, which equals to one billion, I think, logically it should be the thing to accept,” Dizayee stated.

He pointed out that it does not make a difference if the Kurdistan Region oil goes to the international market directly or through Baghdad. Dizayee stated that KRG is ready to have a dialogue with the federal government of Iraq.

Fatlawi has opposed Dizayee’s statement. “Federal government must tell the Region [KRG] that keep your oil for yourself, and ours for us,” she said.

Her offer contradicts Article 111 of the Iraqi constitution of Iraq that states, “Oil and gas are owned by all the people of Iraq in all the regions and governorates.”

This is not the first time Fatlawi releases such statements promoting division.

The relations between Erbil and Baghdad has suffered since the beginning of 2014 when the federal government denied the budget share of the Kurdistan Region, accusing the Region of selling oil independently. For their part, KRG says that the constitution of Iraq allows Kurdistan Region to manage and administrate its oil.

Editing by Ava Homa