Iraq nullifies Kurdish oil deals

[donsu]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071124/wl_mideast_afp/iraqoilkurds_071124105749


Iraq's oil ministry has declared all crude contracts signed by the Kurdish regional authorities with foreign companies null and void, a government official said on Saturday.

"The ministry has nullified all contracts signed by the Kurdistan Regional Government," the official told AFP, asking not to be named. "They will not be recognised."

The government in Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region has signed 15 exploration and exportation contracts with 20 international companies since it passed its own oil law in August, infuriating the Baghdad government.

-snip-

"Minister Shahristani had warned companies who sign contracts without taking the advice of the oil ministry that the ministry would ... blacklist them from any future deals with Iraq," the government official said.

-snip-

"The Iraqi government had warned these companies of the consequences of entering into these contracts," the minister added. "And the consequence is that Iraq will not allow these companies to extract the oil."

The Kurdish authorities reacted sharply on Saturday, saying Shahristani should take the matter to the federal tribunal which deals with disputes between the provinces and the central government.
-snip-
-------------------------------


hope Minister Shahristani has many, devoted body guards.

does Turkey have a finger in this?

[90-percent]

1. Prediction

The decision will be reversed within 24 hours. The Hunt Brothers are calling GWB as I post. How dare Iraq make false claim to the Hunt Brothers rightful ownership of their oil?

Nice try, Iraq! As soon as you realize your oil is not your property and you have no rights to it, the more energy you can devote to your core pursuits of terrorizing all Americans.


-85% Jimmy