Kurdistan President: Iraqi Federal Court’s Ruling against Kurdistan Oil Violates Principles of Federalism

The ruling by Iraq’s Supreme Federal Court against the oil industry of Kurdistan is a violation of the constitution and violates the principles of federalism said Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday.

“At a time when Iraq is passing through a turbulent political period, it is unfortunate that the ruling of the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq deems the Kurdistan Region’s oil and gas law unconstitutional, causing the Kurdistan Region great concern,” Barzani wrote in an official statement.

“We believe that this ruling of the Federal Supreme Court, which has referred to a law of the former regime, has managed to overlook the principles of federalism and the constitutional rights of the people of the Kurdistan Region; the ruling contradicts the letter and spirit of the constitution and the federal system, and it is not applicable in practice and reality,” he added.

The Kurdish president noted that the decision will further exacerbate the disputes between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Federal Government of Iraq, for which progress had been made in bilateral negotiations to address their differences.

He also suggested that the Federal Supreme Court should instead rule that Iraq’s Federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government reach a solution regarding the disputes and the issues of oil and gas according to the constitution and the best interests of all the people of Iraq.

“We urge and look forward to the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq to review this ruling and consider the principles of the constitution and the federal system so that the constitutional and lawful rights of the Kurdistan Region are not violated, avoiding further escalation of the political tensions which would harm Iraq’s interests in general,” President of Kurdistan concluded his statement.

Source: Bas News

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