|
Turkey angered by Iraqi directive to deal with Kurdistan on oil
|
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
ANKARA — Iraq has required that all business in the north be
conducted through the autonomous Kurdistan government.
The state-owned Iraqi National Oil Co. has invited Turkish fuel
companies to trade with the autonomous Kurdistan region, Middle East Newsline reported. The company said
all business must be conducted through Kurdish authorities rather than with
the Baghdad government.
"If you want to continue oil product shipment to Iraq via Turkey then
contact the relevant officials in the north," the Iraqi company said in a
message to Turkish firms.
The Iraqi directive has angered Turkey, a vociferous opponent of an
independent Kurdistan. Ankara has also accused Kurdistan of harboring
thousands of anti-Turkish insurgents.
"Our interlocutor in terms of such issues is certainly the central
government," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan said.
Copyright © 2007 East West
Services, Inc.
|
