Al-Ghad

Below are two comments on the KRG statement on the Iraqi Draft Oil Law. One by Dr. Muhammad-Ali Zainy, and the second by Dr. Isam Chalabi. Both are well known experts on the subject.

Muhammad-Ali Zainy:

Dr. Hawrami’s statement indicates one of two things: EITHER his statement is a ploy on the part of the KRG to apply pressure on the Iraqi parliament and on those who oppose the proposed oil law, including us, and consequently push the parliament to ratify the law as is, in which case the KRG seems to lose and the other side (I don’t know who) wins and, so, we should be happy; OR he means what he is saying. In either case we should push for postponement of taking any action on this law until the constitution is amended (hopefully to the Iraqi people’s advantage) because there is no reason whatsoever to hurry with this law. As you have seen, Dr. Hawrami frequently refers to the constitution to support his claims, especially Article 112. If nothing is done about this article, the Iraqi oil industry is in trouble. This is because, as the KRG is doing now, i.e. discovering and exploiting new fields independently of the federal government according to Article 12 of the constitution, the provinces will definitely follow suit, and soon you will see all regions and provinces exploring, developing, producing and selling oil besides to what INOC may be doing. This would be a betrayal to Iraq and the ultimate waste of the Iraqi people’s wealth, and this is what the KRG is asking the parliament and the Iraqi government to do. WE SHOULD DO ALL WE CAN TO AVOID THIS GRAVE PITFALL - JUST FOR THE SAKE OF IRAQ AND OUR PEOPLE!

Issam Al-Chalabi:

As reported by media , the KRG oil minister raised strong reservations during the Dubai meeting claiming that he was not aware of the 4 annexes to the draft oil law.They are proposing major changes to the annexes reducing the scope to be allocated to INOC.

The attached statement carries the stamp of the KRG government and raises serious and strong reservations that unless ammendments to the annexes are made and agreement on the draft revenue sharing law and for that matter agreement on INOC, then KRG will veto the draft law.

The reservations, fears and objections of the Amman meetings are proven to be correct and so far there have been no response from the Iraqi oil minister regarding the KRG statement and who was defending the draft law and critisizing the Amman meetings.

This brings back the whole issue to square one.