New gov. has no right to cancel oil contracts with foreign companies – Maliki

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said on Tuesday that the coming Iraqi government has no right to cancel the contracts his government signed with foreign oil companies. Speaking at a press conference at the Council of Ministers in Baghdad, the premier said “the oil contracts signed by his government with foreign companies to increase the oil production are constitutional and the next government has no right to cancel them.” “The Council of Ministers tackled during its regular session on Tuesday (Nov. 10), the file of al-Zubair oilfield and decided to refer it to the council’s legal department and to the Oil Ministry to prepare it before signing on it during next Tuesday’s session,” the premier added. He asserted the improvement of the Oil Ministry’s performance and its work through the increase of the crude oil production and the stop of importing benzene as vehicles’ fuel. SH (P)/SR 1