Iraq’s Kurdistan region on Sunday slammed legal action filed by the central government against Turkey, saying it was illegitimate and likely to fail, in the latest sign of worsening ties with Baghdad, AFP reported on May 25th.
Relations between Iraq and its Kurdish region, and between Baghdad and Ankara, were already fragile and are likely to chill further over the row, with the latest shipments flying in the face of the Iraqi government’s insistence that it has the sole right to sell its prized natural resources.
“The MOO (Ministry of Oil) is, with its behaviour, isolating itself… (and) potentially damaging Iraq’s petroleum industry and Iraq’s petroleum reserves,” the statement said.
It also acknowledged that Kurdish authorities had been “exporting oil by trucking through Turkey and Iran for many years,” insisting it was done with the knowledge of the federal government.
Baghdad has branded the trucking of oil as “smuggling”.
Washington has warned that the oil export move could destabilise Iraq.
The tensions come as Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki looks to secure a third term in power after April 30 elections in which his bloc emerged with by far the most seats in parliament, though well short of a majority.
Maliki is likely to need some Kurdish support if he is to secure the seats necessary to win re-election, but the latest row threatens to further complicate any potential talks for government formation.