Qubad Talabani: Kurdistan's share of the Iraqi budget should stay out of political disputes

Kurdistan 10:45 AM - 2023-05-04

Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani

Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Qubad Talabani, said the following while taking part in the Iraq Forum for Iraqi Stability and Revival in Baghdad: "Iraq and the Kurdistan Region need to export oil and gas, and we also need a law that deals with the issue of oil and gas, but before that, we must think about meeting domestic needs and using this energy for 24-hour electricity."

"Our strategy is to serve the citizens through energy revenues. It is crucial for us that the portion of the Iraqi budget that goes to Kurdistan is not caught in political disputes in the Kurdistan Region, nor does it allow any party to punish one region with that portion," said Qubad Talabani. "People have a right to know who the oil was sold to and how the revenue from that export was spent," he added, noting that there have been protests regarding the oil issue in the Kurdistan Region.

Exports of oil and gas must be a joint effort between the parties

"In order to put our residents first and provide energy revenues for Iraqi civilians, we must seize this chance to export oil and gas from Iraq and go forward with new methods." "Although we are optimistic about the future, we acknowledge that the energy crisis will take time to resolve," he stated.

The Deputy Prime Minister responded to the parties' positions on the oil and gas problem by saying: "The parties must collaborate and have the proper objectives when it comes to the export of oil and gas, which can, of course, have a significant impact on the budget issue and foster agreement on the budget bill."

There are concerns in the Kurdistan Region regarding the oil situation

Qubad Talabani stated that he does not care who is selling the oil but how the oil is being sold and how the revenue from the exports is being spent, implying that there should be transparency in both spending and income. "We also support the oil deal reached between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, and SOMO is responsible for exporting oil from the Kurdistan Region," he continued.

Qubad Talabani responded to a guest's question about oil exports and revenues by saying, "I do not hide the fact that there are complaints in the Kurdistan Region over the oil issue, and the people of the Kurdistan Region have a right to know how the oil is being sold."

"While the budget is the cornerstone of transparency in revenue and expenditure, I want to call attention to the fact that the Kurdistan Region hasn't had one for several years."

In response to another guest's inquiry about the proportion of the Iraqi budget, Qubad Talabani said: I support the budget bill, and we want all of Kurdistan's rights and financial entitlements to be protected in the Iraqi budget. However, it is crucial for us that the portion of the Iraqi budget that goes to Kurdistan is not mixed with political disputes in the Kurdistan Region, nor does it allow any party to penalize one region with that portion. Instead, we want all areas of the Kurdistan Region to benefit from the Iraqi budget share.



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