| 2007: Oil law to positively impact Iraq's unity - Al Shahristani |
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7/24/07 By Basil Adas, Correspondent Baghdad: Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain Al Shahristani, in special interview with Gulf News, said the enactment of an oil and gas law, which was approved by the Iraqi Cabinet and forwarded to the Parliament for endorsement, will be important and significant because it is a "national achievement of Iraq's people." The Iraqi oil minister told Gulf News in a telephonic interview: "The 50-article Oil and Gas Law faces some observations, [but] not disapproval. Thus the Iraqi Parliament members have the right to discuss each article of it and make relevant amendments." He said that some political blocs "want amendments to the Iraqi permanent constitution before discussing the oil and gas law", stressing that parties which oppose the law do not reject the entire political process which means they are "rejecting it for political reasons." Al Shahristani said some major Iraqi parties pledged to support its legislation including the Shiite coalition, the Kurdistan Alliance and Tariq Al Hashemi, the leader of the Sunni Islamic Party, confirming that differences are tending towards law's ratification with some modifications which do not conflict with its fundamental contents. Territorial powers The Iraqi oil minister emphasised that the controversial oil and gas law would have a "positive effect on Iraq's unity because of the presence of a decision-making authority in the Federal Council of Oil and Gas" in addition of reducing the territories' powers. Some Iraqi political parties did not hide their concern and fears that this law would threaten Iraq's unity. The Iraqi minister denied any foreign interference especially from the United States. He told Gulf News: "The law tops Iraqis' interests and its clauses are based on realising national interests and no other country has the right to intervene in legislating this law." In the meantime, the opposition statements escalated against the oil and gas law in Iraq. Some parties in the Sunni Accord Front called for approving amendments to the constitution before starting with the oil and gas law's legislation. Some Iraqi deputies asked to postpone debating the law until after the summer Parliament recess. Sami Shorash, a journalist close to the Kurdish political leadership, told Gulf News: "The federal Kurdistan government in northern Iraq wants to make some changes to the law that grant the territorial governments more power on two issues: petro-leum contracts and industry." PARLIAMENT
'Law unlikely to move forward significantly' An influential legislator in the ruling Shiite-dominated alliance said it was unlikely that a US-backed oil law would move forward significantly before August, when Iraq's parliament is scheduled to break for a vacation. The oil law is one of the so-called benchmark issues that the Bush administration views as essential to restoring stability in Iraq. "The problem is the cabinet agreed on this oil law and sent it to the parliament. But every day, a political bloc comes and says, "I have some kind of reservation about this point, or change this point, or cancel this point,' " said Abbas Al Bayati, a Shiite Turkmen legislator who is a member of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki's United Iraqi Alliance. "It will never happen before September," Al Bayati said. - Los Angeles Times-Washington Post Parliament approves refineries law Iraq's parliament approved a draft law yesterday that opens the way for foreign companies to build and operate oil refineries in the country. According to the law, regional governments and provincial authorities will be able to deal individually with foreign companies, sign contracts and award licences for the construction of refineries. The Law on Investing and Refining Crude Oil is separate from a draft hydrocarbons law that will govern overall exploration and production and which is seen as crucial to bridging the deep sectarian divide in Iraq. - Reuters |