Home
This is an interesting press briefing from April: re oil exports from Kurdistan, just posting as an FYI in light of the recent developments
15 Apr 2014
State Department Daily Press Briefing
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki briefs reporters in Washington on a range of topics related to U.S. foreign policy and international engagement.
Daily Press Briefing Index
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
1:16 p.m. EDT
Briefer: Jen Psaki, Spokesperson
QUESTION: Can I ask a couple questions about Iraq and Kurdistan?
MS. PSAKI: Sure. Do we have any more on Iran? Okay, go ahead. Iraq and Kurdistan.
QUESTION: We had Brett McGurk like a few weeks – a couple weeks ago in Iraq to help mediate peaceful efforts between Kurdistan and Baghdad.
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: But apparently, he achieved no meaningful result because we just saw yesterday President Barzani saying in the media that a Kurdish independent state is on the way. First of all, like, do you agree with me that Brett McGurk like basically failed in achieving – in bringing Baghdad and Kurdistan together?
And secondly, what’s your reaction to Barzani’s statement about a Kurdish independent state coming soon?
MS. PSAKI: Well, as you know, our position has been pretty consistent. We continue to support an Iraq that is federal, democratic, pluralistic, and unified. And we urge all parties in Iraq to continue working together toward that objective. It would be hard to find a more tireless diplomat who has worked as hard as Brett McGurk has on helping the Iraqi people, helping promote the unity of the Iraqi Government. And my suspicion is he will continue working on that. And the sign of a good diplomat is somebody who doesn’t give up when it’s hard and doesn’t throw in the towel, and so I would just caution you to call him out because he’ll keep working on it.
QUESTION: What about the independent state, Kurdistan? Are you against that?
MS. PSAKI: I think I just answered what our position is on Iraq – federal, democratic, pluralistic, and unified.
QUESTION: But that does not mean that you won’t be against a Kurdish state if it --
MS. PSAKI: That means we believe Iraq should be unified, including all portions of Iraq.
QUESTION: Jen --
QUESTION: That means you don’t believe.
MS. PSAKI: Correct, yes. (Laughter.)
QUESTION: Jen, today the head of ISCI, Ammar Hakim, and Sadr, Muqtada al-Sadr, the head of the Jaish al-Mahdi, they formed an alliance against Maliki. Are you concerned that after the election, and if Maliki wins as he is predicted to, that the country will actually fragment?
MS. PSAKI: I’m not --
QUESTION: And descend into chaos?
MS. PSAKI: Obviously – obviously, the government of – or I should say the country of Iraq is working towards elections. We do have concerns about the nature of attacks that have happened, the recent increased levels of violence. And ultimately, the preparations for national elections at the end of – soon, in coming weeks, is a constant reminder of the formidable challenges they continue to face on the security front.
I’m not going to make any predictions. Obviously, our efforts and our work and the work of Brett McGurk and other diplomats is to support the people and the Government of Iraq, and maintain a democratic, pluralistic, and unified Iraq.
QUESTION: Are you – will you be taking, like, special security measures during the elections?
MS. PSAKI: I don’t have any details on that. We obviously have been expediting our security assistance, as you know and we’ve talked about a little bit in here, and we’re working closely with the Iraqi Government on that. But I will see if there’s more to report around the elections specifically.
QUESTION: Just one more question.
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: Barzani also said in his interview that it’s very strange that the United States and Iran disagree on most everything, but they agree on Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. What do you make of that statement?
MS. PSAKI: I don’t think I have any further comment than he’s been elected to lead Iraq. So go ahead.
QUESTION: Can we stay here in Iraq?
MS. PSAKI: Sure.
QUESTION: And just one more question regarding this independence question.
MS. PSAKI: Okay.
QUESTION: One of the factors of the situation is the oil transfer made by the – I mean, the KRG to Turkey. And I know that your position was against this.
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: And do you have any update? Because the oil – oil delivery is still going on and there was a dispute on the – in interests in revenue sharing on this oil trade between the two --
MS. PSAKI: Our position is exactly the same as it has been. Nothing has changed on that front.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
15 Apr 2014
State Department Daily Press Briefing
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki briefs reporters in Washington on a range of topics related to U.S. foreign policy and international engagement.
Daily Press Briefing Index
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
1:16 p.m. EDT
Briefer: Jen Psaki, Spokesperson
QUESTION: Can I ask a couple questions about Iraq and Kurdistan?
MS. PSAKI: Sure. Do we have any more on Iran? Okay, go ahead. Iraq and Kurdistan.
QUESTION: We had Brett McGurk like a few weeks – a couple weeks ago in Iraq to help mediate peaceful efforts between Kurdistan and Baghdad.
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: But apparently, he achieved no meaningful result because we just saw yesterday President Barzani saying in the media that a Kurdish independent state is on the way. First of all, like, do you agree with me that Brett McGurk like basically failed in achieving – in bringing Baghdad and Kurdistan together?
And secondly, what’s your reaction to Barzani’s statement about a Kurdish independent state coming soon?
MS. PSAKI: Well, as you know, our position has been pretty consistent. We continue to support an Iraq that is federal, democratic, pluralistic, and unified. And we urge all parties in Iraq to continue working together toward that objective. It would be hard to find a more tireless diplomat who has worked as hard as Brett McGurk has on helping the Iraqi people, helping promote the unity of the Iraqi Government. And my suspicion is he will continue working on that. And the sign of a good diplomat is somebody who doesn’t give up when it’s hard and doesn’t throw in the towel, and so I would just caution you to call him out because he’ll keep working on it.
QUESTION: What about the independent state, Kurdistan? Are you against that?
MS. PSAKI: I think I just answered what our position is on Iraq – federal, democratic, pluralistic, and unified.
QUESTION: But that does not mean that you won’t be against a Kurdish state if it --
MS. PSAKI: That means we believe Iraq should be unified, including all portions of Iraq.
QUESTION: Jen --
QUESTION: That means you don’t believe.
MS. PSAKI: Correct, yes. (Laughter.)
QUESTION: Jen, today the head of ISCI, Ammar Hakim, and Sadr, Muqtada al-Sadr, the head of the Jaish al-Mahdi, they formed an alliance against Maliki. Are you concerned that after the election, and if Maliki wins as he is predicted to, that the country will actually fragment?
MS. PSAKI: I’m not --
QUESTION: And descend into chaos?
MS. PSAKI: Obviously – obviously, the government of – or I should say the country of Iraq is working towards elections. We do have concerns about the nature of attacks that have happened, the recent increased levels of violence. And ultimately, the preparations for national elections at the end of – soon, in coming weeks, is a constant reminder of the formidable challenges they continue to face on the security front.
I’m not going to make any predictions. Obviously, our efforts and our work and the work of Brett McGurk and other diplomats is to support the people and the Government of Iraq, and maintain a democratic, pluralistic, and unified Iraq.
QUESTION: Are you – will you be taking, like, special security measures during the elections?
MS. PSAKI: I don’t have any details on that. We obviously have been expediting our security assistance, as you know and we’ve talked about a little bit in here, and we’re working closely with the Iraqi Government on that. But I will see if there’s more to report around the elections specifically.
QUESTION: Just one more question.
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: Barzani also said in his interview that it’s very strange that the United States and Iran disagree on most everything, but they agree on Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. What do you make of that statement?
MS. PSAKI: I don’t think I have any further comment than he’s been elected to lead Iraq. So go ahead.
QUESTION: Can we stay here in Iraq?
MS. PSAKI: Sure.
QUESTION: And just one more question regarding this independence question.
MS. PSAKI: Okay.
QUESTION: One of the factors of the situation is the oil transfer made by the – I mean, the KRG to Turkey. And I know that your position was against this.
MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: And do you have any update? Because the oil – oil delivery is still going on and there was a dispute on the – in interests in revenue sharing on this oil trade between the two --
MS. PSAKI: Our position is exactly the same as it has been. Nothing has changed on that front.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
