KRG site quoted the government spokesman , Safeen Dazia in statements briefed by “Shafaq News " , in which he expressed optimism about the future political and economic relations between KRG and Turkey .
Dazia said that introductions and background of the project to export oil from Kurdistan Region to world markets via Turkey , date back to more than two years , meaning that the work on the export of oil from Kurdistan Region took more than two years . Considering it as a constitutional rights for the region .
Dazia added that Turkey expressed continuously its commitment to the agreement signed between them and Kurdistan Region in the energy field, but they want Erbil and Baghdad to reach consensus in the interest of all Iraq , noting that the region in turn wants it , but according to the mechanism, which are " Baghdad must not use budget paper and salaries as political leverage against the region and made use of the oil wealth is in the interest of all Iraqis . "
Dazia said that “ the elections are close and a conclusion can’t be reached during this short period , but after the elections may arise radical change on the political scene in Iraq , " then may widen the space in front of Kurdistan Region and the possible application of the agreement signed between the region and Turkey. "
He pointed out that the region is trying to achieve some sort of economic independence , for fear of that Baghdad may use economy as a weapon against it , noting that this actually happened and expectations were right.
He added that the economic independence does not mean political independence or split , welcoming each country that has a willingness to coordinate to help Kurdistan as Turkey has done so during the past two years and tried to get closer to the region.
He said that Kurdistan market is " promising and important " for Turkey, as the trade size of the region reached to 89 billion dollars , and with Iraq up to 1213 billion dollars , adding that this means that Iraq comes in second only after Germany in the volume of trade with Turkey , and the largest share of this trade is with the region.
In response to a question on whether the Kurdistan is moving towards split from Iraq and his expectations of the Turkish position if that happens, Dazia said that the Kurds are not a factor for the division of Iraq , pointing out that Iraq is moving towards division and what matter for Kurds is to keep the region stable and enjoy the security and peace and maintains its progress done during the last twelve years .
However, Kurdistan Region’s President ,Massud Barzani said that Kurdistan independence is one of its rights , stressing that any independence ,must be on the basis of mutual understanding and away from war and violence .
Relations between Erbil and Baghdad has witnessed tensions unprecedented recently , after the federal government cut salaries for the staff of the region as a result of disagreements over the budget for the current year and the Kurdish leaders , including the region's president , Massoud Barzani threats to split from Baghdad if it continues to approach in this way .