Kurdistan threatens to sell Kirkuk oil directly

(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – On Wednesday the spokesman for the Kurdistan Regional Government Sven Dzia threatened to sell Kirkuk oil directly if Baghdad reneged to pay the region’s dues, calling on the federal government to the obligation to pay the salaries of the region and Kirkuk.

Dzia said in an interview published by the official site of the Kurdistan Regional Government, followed by IraqiNews.com: “Kurdistan Regional Government made every effort to serve Kirkuk in all fields, especially on health, education and energy, in addition to bearing responsibility for security in the city.”

“The provincial government is waiting Baghdad’s position on Kirkuk’s share of the public budget,” adding that, “if Baghdad reneged, the provincial government will compensate Kirkuk through direct sales of oil from the Kirkuk fields in a response to the dues of petrodollars of the city,” Dzia added.