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July
7, 2012 - Sulaimaniyah,
Erbil-Hewler, Duhok, Kirkuk, Kurdistan Region 'Iraq'
Kurdistan starts trucking
exports of oil to Turkey
Erbil: The Kurdistan Regional Government has started
trucking exports of crude oil to Turkey despite a
long-running dispute between Baghdad and Erbil. The
export of oil will be via tankers for now until the
government builds an export pipeline. Two sources
said that trucks had begun transporting crude oil
from Kurdistan over the border to Turkey on
Thursday, reported the Telegraph. Erbil and Ankara
agreed to build an export pipeline, which could be
operational next year to transport oil to Turkey.
Turkish Prime Minister Receb Taib Erdogan said in
Brazil: "Iraq’s government halted exporting oil
derivatives and fuel to the Kurdistan Region. Thus
they asked for fuel and we agreed. Instead they will
provide us with crude oil." Oil analyst at VSA
Capital Malcolm Graham-Wood said this move indicates
a "serious commitment" between Kurdistan and Turkey.
"We didn't expect this to happen so soon," he said.
He added: "The opening of the border massively
increases the scope for Kurdistan to sell crude.”
Gorran invited to open
office in Tehran
Erbil: During his visit to Tehran, General
Coordinator of Gorran (Change) Movement Nawshirwan
Mustafa was invited to open a representative office
of his party in Tehran. Kurdistan news website cited
a close source to the major opposition party of
Kurdistan as saying the Iranian officials proposed
that Gorran also open its office like other
Kurdistan Region parties in order to buttress ties
with Tehran. Mustafa responded by saying he needs to
consult the diplomatic relations officials of his
party about this proposal, according to source.
Gorran general coordinator left for Iran on June 29
following an official invitation. He returned home
two days ago.
Shahrestani's office:
Kurdistan not allowed signing oil deals without
Baghdad
Baghdad: The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)
should not sign any oil and gas deals with the
foreign countries independently from Baghdad, said
an officials. The statement by head of the office of
Hussein al-Shahrestani, deputy PM for energy
affairs, followed KRG's announcement of a plan to
export gas to Turkey after two years, directly and
independently of Baghdad. "The KRG or the provinces
do not have the right to make contracts with foreign
countries with regard to exporting oil, gas or oil
derivations…this is the exclusive task of the
[Iraqi] Ministry of Oil," Faysal Abddulla said.
Abdulla noted Ankara has also signed a protocol with
the Iraqi Ministry of Oil which requires Turkey to
deal directly with the Ministry for contracts
related to oil and gas. "Contrary to this is not
right and is rejected by the Iraqi government,"
Abdullah said.
Exxon Mobil is seeking to
divide Iraq, says MP
Erbil: An MP from the Mustaqilloun (Independents)
bloc within the State of Law Coalition (SLC) led by
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Thursday
that US oil giant Exxon Mobil is playing a political
role in its oil deals more than a professional one,
describing its work as a plan to divide Iraq. A
statement quoted Samira al-Moussawi as saying:
"Exxon Mobil is supporting certain political parties
at the expense of the government. This will create a
new political crisis. "The company's lineup with
some of the political parties is a kind of act of
vandalism, because if it contracts with Nineveh
province then it creates tension in Basra and vice
versa. This may create a perception that the Kurds
have an aggressive stance against Arabs and we do
not want to inflame this situation." Moussawi called
on the US administration to stop the "illegal" work
of Exxon Mobil "because people now feel that the
company has began implementing a plan to divide the
country."
MP: Govt. not serious in
inquiry into oil smuggling charges
Baghdad: The Iraqi government is not serious in
forming a committee to investigate the oil smuggling
reports, a Kurdistan Blocs Coalition (KBC) MP said.
Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani had called on
the Iraqi government to create a joint committee
with Erbil administration in order to investigate
the incriminations exchanged between Baghdad and
Erbil over oil smuggling. Deputy PM for energy
affairs, Hussein al-Shahrestani had welcomed the
idea, reports said. The Iraqi government has ignored
the oil smuggling accusations, said Farhad Atrushi.
Atrushi continued "this shows that the allegations
against the Kurdistan Region were not right and now
they [Baghdad officials] have withdrawn the
accusations." The same MP charged some senior
officials in Baghdad of smuggling Iraqi crude oil to
Israel through the Jordanian Aqaba Port.
Gorran spokesperson calls
for dialogue over political crisis
Erbil: A spokesperson for Gorran (Change) Movement
invited the parties to gather for dialogue in order
to break through the current "suffocating" political
crisis in Iraq. The current crisis is "suffocating,
really grave and dangerous," said Mohamed Tofiq.
Tofiq added the situation requires understanding and
dialogue by sitting at the table of discussion.
Gorran official criticized the political parties for
focusing on media as the means for announcing their
attempts to settle the crisis. They should rather
sit at the table of discussion and announce their
efforts and ideas for solving the crisis there,
Tofiq said. Issuance of an arrest warrant for
Iraqiya List leader, Vice President Tareq Hashemi
over terrorism charges, sacking the deputy PM Saleh
al-Mutlag, who is also an Iraqiya leader, and the
disputes between Erbil and Baghdad over oil have all
created a crisis in the country.....
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