IRBIL
Kurdish regional administration PM Nechirvan Barzani said the energy deals they signed with Turkey are the start of a new Iraq and there is no need for fear.
Barzani’s remarks came in his opening speech of Kurdistan-Iraq Petrol and Gas Conference on Monday.
“We are after utilizing the gaining that we have as Iraqi citizens. I sincerely say that all our works will have results […] Our doors are open and they will remain open. Kurdistan region will do its part to help Iraq. Kurdistan region will be an asset for Iraq” Barzani said.
Nechirvan Barzani added that they are making oil deals with Iraqi government according to Iraqi constitution’s article 112 but Iraqi government has a centralized policy and mentality.
“Everybody should openly and clearly know that Kurdish people and Kurdistan have given their own decision and they can not take a back step. We want to create a country that abides by the democratic federal constitution,” Barzani also stated.
On the recent energy deals signed with Turkey, Barzani said all the deals were signed on legal grounds and all their efforts were for the interests of the region and Iraqi people, adding that thanks to an honest policy they followed after 2003, many international oil companies came to the region.
“The discovery of 45 bn barrel oil and 3-6 trillion cubic meters of gas in our region is very important […] this year is the 28th anniversary of Enfal (massacre of Kurds by Iraqi government) and it has been recognized as a genocide by many countries. Iraq’s petrol resources were used to oppress Kurds and to attack neighboring countries but there is stability and security in Kurdistan region now, ” Nechirvan Barzani also said in his speech.
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