Iraqi Kurdistan representative spoke about debts to Russian companies

The authorities of Iraqi Kurdistan maintain debts to foreign energy companies, including Russian ones. Danar Mustafa, acting representative of the Kurdistan region - Iraq in the Russian Federation, told Izvestia.

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"When Mr. Bogdanov (special representative of the Russian President for the Middle East and African countries, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Mikhail Bogdanov - Ed.) went to Kurdistan, then a large debt was closed to Russian companies. Not the entire amount, but some part of it was paid," he said.

According to Danar Mustafa, oil exports from Kurdistan are still stopped, and despite regular meetings and promises to solve the problem, no agreement has been reached yet. The issue is being discussed between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan administration, the diplomat added.

"Right now they cannot agree on how to work with foreign companies. How much the authorities should pay, how much the companies want - they can't agree. Kurdistan used to determine the amount on its own. Now Baghdad does it," the office noted.

Russian Ambassador to Iraq Elbrus Kutrashev earlier in an interview with "Izvestia" explained that work in the Kurdish oil sector returns under the wing of federal legislation, now it is necessary to renegotiate contracts with all working foreign companies, until now they were signed under production sharing agreements.