Iraqi political analyst Salar Mehmud has claimed that Iraqi Kurdistan’s economy is controlled by Turkey.
Commenting on Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s visit to Turkey, Mehmud said that Iraq was in a difficult situation and therefore it had to make compromises.
Mehmud said, “During Turkey’s air strikes several civilians, Peshmergas and border protection guards were martyred. Can Iraq’s central government prevent those annexes and attacks? Has Turkey ever shown any respect for Iraqi Kurdistan’s sovereign rights? These are important questions”.
Regarding the transport of oil, Mehmud said, “If Turkey had bought oil from Iraq’s central government cheaper and gained more profit, it would have made an agreement. Thus it would transfer oil through Iraq. However, that might not be possible”.
Mehmud recalled that Iraq was a formal state and depended on the prices determined by OPEC and other international associations. However, Mehmud pointed out that the Kurdistan Regional Government sold oil to Turkey at a cheaper price, ignoring those procedures, and the money that the KRG gained was transferred to Halk Bank in Turkey before returning to the KRG. “This means that Iraqi Kurdistan’s economy is monopolised by Turkey”, said Mehmud.
“Turkey seriously damaged the Kurdistan region’s sovereignty and its people”, Mehmud added. “Al-Kadhimi should obtain the contents of the 50 year-old agreement”.
Mehmud also stated that Turkey did not want Iraqi Kurdistan to succeed and Turkey’s policy affected the Iraqi government’s behaviour. He concluded by saying that al-Kadhimi should demand Turkish troops leave the Kurdistan region and Iraq.
