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Interview - Shahristani: Iraq is in talks with America on the Exxon deal
Sun Dec 4, 2011 5:20 pm GMT
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A senior Iraqi official said that Iraq is in talks with the United States on the dispute agreements to explore for oil and Exxon Mobil signed with the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan without the approval of the central government in Baghdad.
Hussain al-Shahristani, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for Energy, told Reuters on Sunday that Iraq is considering several options for not including penalties on the deal and there is no deadline for a decision against the company.
He said in an interview that he was holding talks with the U.S. government after the announcement of the deal and that the issue is not mediation as much as a source of concern for the two governments.
He added that Exxon is considering its options, as well as the Iraqi side.
He continued by saying that any decision will be discussed first with Exxon before the announcement.
Exxon became the first major oil company into the Kurdish region in mid-October when it signed the agreement with the provincial government to drill in the six areas. And entered the Kurdistan government in a dispute with the central government over land and oil rights.
The Iraqi Oil Ministry, said the deal is illegal and could lead to end the contract Exxon to develop the first phase of West Qurna oil field in the south of the country.
The Foreign Ministry said it had informed the U.S. Exxon and all the major U.S. oil companies that are looking for work in Iraq that there is a significant risk to signing deals with the Kurdistan government before agreeing on the Iraq oil law aimed at resolving the dispute over land and oil fields.
Shahristani's remarks and refused Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani, told Reuters on Wednesday when he was told Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki signed a deal before the Exxon did not appear to the opposition.
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