Iraq oil law goes to cabinet for approval

[Leigh Meyers <the.buffalo.in.the.midst@xxxxxxxxx>]

[JURIST] Iraqi legislators delivered a draft law [JURIST report] to Iraq's cabinet over the weekend which outlines the development and distribution of oil in the country, according to two members of a negotiating committee tasked with developing the resolution. Negotiations concerning the proposed law have been a source of tension [JURIST report] in Iraq for months as Kurds were adamant about retaining control of Iraq's oil resources [Global Policy backgrounder] in the northern regions. Other government leaders, however, focused on giving the central Iraqi government control over oil revenues and approval rights for any contracts with other countries or international companies to pump oil, since oil revenues are the main source of income to Iraq [JURIST news archive].

While the two committee members did not reveal details of the draft law, a senior Kurdish official suggested that a compromise had been made to appease the northern Kurds. If the cabinet members approve the proposed law, it will then go to the Iraqi Parliament [official website, English version] for ratification. Typically, if Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish political leaders have backed a measure, Parliament almost always gives its approval.

Monday's New York Times has more.