SOUTH KURDISTAN (IRAQ) : Baghdad ‘to pay Kurdistan Region $900 million’ in oil dispute deal

18 Sep 2012 – Kurdistan Tribune – Following the visit by a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) delegation to Baghdad – headed by KRG natural resources minister Ashti Hawrami and under the supervision of Iraqi deputy prime minister Roz Nuri Shaways – Baghdad and Hawler have reached a preliminary agreement, due to be ratified by their respective cabinets, on the main points of contention in their oil and gas dispute.

Following this visit, Xebat – the website of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) – reports that the Baghdad government is to pay the KRG $900 million owed to oil companies currently operating in Kurdistan. The head of the Iraqi Parliament Committee for Oil and Gas, Dr Kasim Mohammed, told Xebat: “This agreement means that the Iraqi government recognises these foreign companies in Kurdistan as legitimate companies that have agreements with the KRG”.