http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=205716&Sn=BUSI&IssueID=30300BAGHDAD: Iraq's self-governing northern Kurdish region is negotiating with two Canadian firms on a joint venture to construct an oil refinery and continue work on a second one to boost its fledgling oil industry, its spokesman said yesterday.
But Kurdish officials are facing opposition from the central government in Baghdad, and a group of about 145 Sunni and Shi'ite legislators in parliament expressed their deep concerns against "any individual act" in Iraq's natural resources.
The Kurdish spokesman, Jamal Abdullah, said the contracts are legal and that no one has the authority to annul them.
"We are going forward to develop this sector to serve our people, and anyone who has any complaint should file it to the federal court," he said.