...

Bagdad Not to Hand over Kirkuk Oil to Kurdish Administration’s Control

Oil&Gas Materials 31 October 2008 12:30 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, 31 October / Trend corr. B.Hasanov, U.Sadigova / The Kurdish Administration can use oil from Kirkuk field only within the framework of laws, which were adopted by the Iraqi Central Government.

"The Iraqi Government wants fully to supervise over production of Kirkuk oil and specify size of incomes, given to Kurds. The Regional Kurdish Administration seeks to prevent it," Fikret Ertan, a Turkish expert, told Trend via telephone.

A serious conflict may arouse between Kurds and Arabians in Iraq soon, the international crisis group stated. The field in Kirkuk city may be a reason for the conflict, CNN Turk channel reported.

The hugest Iraqi Kirkuk field was put into exploitation in 1934. Oil deposits are located in 300-1,400m depth. Tightness of the produced oil makes up 0.84 - 0.86 g/sm3 and crude base content - 2%. Geological reserves of crude base amount to 2.2bln tons. The Kirkuk oil is exported via pipeline to the Turkish Ceyhan Port with permanent intervals.

Population of 'oil city' Kirkuk are mainly Turkmans, Kurds and Arabians reside in. The Regional Kurdish Administration in the north of Iraq seeks to exploit this field independently. Arabians and Turkmans, including, the Bagdad Government, seriously protests against similar attempts of Kurds and demand to share equally income from oil amongst all ethnic groups.

Bagdad states that demand of the Kurdish Administration to exploit the field independently contradicts the constitution of the country.

There is not any reason for beginning of the Kurdish-Arabian conflict from juridical point of view, Fevzi Ekremoglu, a MP of the Iraqi Parliament told Trend via telephone.

"Under the Iraqi Constitution, right of one of ethnic groups in the country cannot prevail over rights of other groups," Ekremoglu said.

Serious conflicts should not arouse between Kurds and Arabians under presence of the US forces in Iraq, Kamil Mehdi, the Professor of the British University Exeter, believes.

"Although serious conflicts between Kurds and Arabians are not expected, the situation will be strained. When the US forces leave the country, the sides will clear up relations between themselves," Mehdi told Trend via telephone.

According to the expert, the reason of tension between Kurds and Arabians is not only connected to Kirkuk city and its natural resources, but also will of the Kurdish Administration to possess big political force in the country.

Arabians will not give full freedom of action to Kurds in Iraq, Ertan, a famous Turkish expert for foreign policy, said.

"It is not convincing that the Iraqi Government will fully hand over Kirkuk to Kurds' control," he said.

When the Iraqi Government adopted a bill on oil fields in February 2007, differences aroused between the Kurdish Administration and the Central Government on issues to manage the field, to sign contracts with foreign companies and to share income. The Iraqi Government is expected to discuss a bill on oil fields soon.

"The Kurdish Administration, which seeks fully to subordinate Kirkuk, should understand that rights of all nations living in Iraq are equal," Mehdi said.

The correspondent can  be contacted at [email protected]

Latest

Latest