KRG: No agreement on handing over border exits to Baghdad signed yet

Erbil (IraqiNews.com) Kurdistan Regions’s Government has not signed any agreement with Baghdad over taking over border crossings, the prime minister said.

In a press conference held in Erbil, Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani expressed readiness of his government to hand over issues of oil revenues to federal government “on condition o paying 17 percent of the state budget to the region.”

Barzani also highlighted the region’s rights, in accordance with the Iraqi constitution. He indicated that “some countries demand that issues between Baghdad and Erbil be resolved within constitution, on which Iraqis voted.”

“No military agreement between Baghdad and Erbil was signed. These issues were discussed orally,” he said.

Barzani expressed disappointment over the unclear stance with Kurdistan. He also expressed readiness to work with Baghdad on finding solutions for those issues.

Earlier on the day, Walid al-Helli, advisor to Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said Iraqi government will impose its control on the border crossings that are out of its control, even if by force. He added that 29 crossing are out of the federal government’s control.

On Sunday, Jabbar al-Yawar, secretary general of Peshmerga Ministry said that the recent confrontations with Iraqi troops left 60 fighters of Peshmerga killed and 150 others wounded.

This came after Hadi al-Ameri, secretary-general of Badr Organization, ruled out on Friday possibilities that Iraqi federal troops attack the kurdish Peshmerga at the disputed regions in Nineveh and Kirkuk.