Senior Kurdish official: Baghdad and BP agreement is illegal

Kirkuk (250 km north east of Baghdad) is of the disputed areas between the central government and Kurdistan Region. It was hoped to settle the dispute under Article 140 of the Constitution at the end of 2007, but the security tensions and political divisions prevented it.

The deputy of the Parliament Speaker, Aref Tayfur criticized the Ministry of Oil in the federal government for signing an agreement with "BP" British oil Exploration Company in Kirkuk field and make a full survey without the knowledge of the local government.

Tayfur said in a statement received by “Shafaq News “ that “ signing this contract is illegal and violates the Constitution because Kirkuk is a disputed area and subjected to Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution “.

“The British company BP has a black history as it has recruited customers in the fifties and planted discord among components in Kirkuk”.

Baghdad and BP agreement in early September last year allows the British company - which currently runs Rumaila , the largest oil field in Iraq - to negotiate to access huge reserves in the north for helping Baghdad to halt the sharp decline of oil production from Kirkuk field .

Tayfur demanded Minister of Oil , Abdul Karim al-Luaibi and Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs , Hussain al-Shahristani to " take into account the sensitive circumstance in the country and to refrain from concluding contracts and agreements with foreign Petroleum companies and control resources of the people , especially in the disputed areas as differences still exist around these areas “.

It is worth mentioning that the spokesman for the Ministry of Natural Resources in Kurdistan said after the agreement that , " the position of Kurdistan Regional Government has not changed in this regard and it will not allow any company to operate in the disputed territories , including Kirkuk without formal approval from the government and its participation”.