Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki warned that contracts with U.S. oil ExxonMobil with the Kurdistan region represents a serious gesture, stressing that he would go to the "maximum degrees to preserve the national wealth," according to media adviser.
Exxon Mobil signed on October 18 last contract with the Government authorities of the Kurdistan region of Iraq to invest six oil fields, some of which falls within the disputed areas in Nineveh, which was rejected by Baghdad and considered illegal. Iraqi government let Exxon Mobil to choose between Baghdad to work with, or to proceed with the contract with the Kurdish region's autonomous.
Ali al-Moussawi, a media adviser to the prime minister told AFP on Tuesday that Maliki "sees these deals in a very serious gesture that could lead to ignite a war, because they lead to the disintegration of Iraq's unity." He said that Maliki was "ready to go to the extreme scores in order to preserve the national wealth, and the necessary transparency in the investment of Iraqi wealth, especially the oil and do not waste them in any way, whether in the style or in nature of the contract " " When the Prime Minister got information about the contract and that Exxon Mobil is concluding agreements, he sent a letter to President Barack Obama last week urging him to intervene to prevent Exxon Mobil from going in that direction. "
Musawi's comments came against the backdrop of an interview for the governor of Nineveh Ethel Nujaifi on the possibility that his province become a party to the agreement between the Kurdistan region and Exxon Mobil. Najafi said in the interview with the "site of Iraq's oil" in response to a question about whether he wants to be one of the signatory parties "must be part of this contract (...) Of course it cannot be my decision alone, but it will be the decision of the provincial council." "I think that we have the same power and authority that Kurdistan Regional Government enjoyed. In the Constitution, there is no difference between the provinces and territories", asserting that he met with representatives from Exxon Mobil.
Moussawi stressed that "the Prime Minister cannot let pass such contracts not only to the Kurdistan Regional Government and local governments." He said the information obtained by the government, "confirm the existence of a deal with the governor of Nineveh province provide for the waiver bar for a distance of 10 km of the province of Dohuk within the Kurdistan region, and includes this tape and judicial Sheikhan, Qush where they contain twenty billion barrels of oil." Najafi Commenting on al-Moussawi statements told AFP, saying "I did not export our agreement on anything," adding, "This warning is misplaced, we should sit down and reach an understanding on the subject, and the call for fighting is not a signal wise."