Bagdad sees no problems with Russian oil companies working i

[Aslan]

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said that Iraq intended to settle the problems Russian oil company Gazprom Neft was facing in the country.

"We'll address this issue," Zebari said in an interview with the Voice of Russia radio station in response to a report saying that Gazprom Neft's wish to work in both Iraq and Kurdistan was opposed by the Iraqi federal center due to its discontent with direct contacts with Kurds.

"The Iraqi delegation headed by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki discussed possible cooperation during the visit to Moscow in autumn 2012. The Russian side has given assurances that your companies would cooperate with all Iraqi regions on the basis of our country's laws and constitution," Zebari said.

"Kurdistan is an Iraqi region. Natural resources of this region, as well as other regions in Iraq, are to serve the people's interests. If this company doesn't violate the Iraqi constitution, and I stress if it doesn't violate, then it can work. And I repeat that the Russian side has promised us it will not violate the constitution," the Iraqi foreign minister said.

"Both sides [regional authorities and federal government] proceed from the constitution text but everyone has their own interpretation of some regulations. In any case, the main thing is that any activities in Iraq are transparent and the central government is aware of them," Zebari said.

In response to an opinion that the working environment for foreign companies is much better in Kurdistan than in other Iraqi regions, Zebari said: "This is indeed an issue. While the north has production-sharing agreements on dividing production with foreign companies, the rest of Iraq has simple service agreements."

"Many foreign businessmen say that the investment climate in Iraq leaves much to be desired. We are working to improve it, special working groups are operating. But we've received a difficult legacy from the previous regime. It's hard to get rid of it," the Iraqi minister said.

[Piling]

Ha ha ! I wonder if Hussein Sharistani agrees that !

[Anthea]

Definitely time for Kurdistan to have complete control of KURDISH oil

[Aslan]

i think bagdad sees no problem with the russian oil companies because in the summer iraq will buy russian weapons so maybe thats why iraq doesnt care for russian oil companies in sk (below article)

Russian arms supplies to Iraq to begin by summer - Iraqi Foreign Minister
Mr. Zebari, the relations between Iraq and Russia are actively developing. That can be proved by the upcoming meeting of the bi-lateral commission on cooperation, which on the Iraqi side is headed by you. There is information that the meeting may take place in March. Can you give details on when and where it will take place?

The upcoming meeting of the Russian-Iraqi commission on cooperation is to take place in Baghdad. It is planed for the first quarter of this year. It was actually planned to take place at the end of last year, but was postponed.

Previous meetings proved the usefulness of that commission. Let me remind you that on the Russian side, the energy minister will head the commission. The meeting will help to expand cooperation between Russia and Iraq. It includes oil, arms, as well as other spheres. At the upcoming meeting we will talk about how we can stimulate the business activities of more Russian companies and the inflow of investment from Russia to Iraq. Prior to this one there have been three meetings in Moscow. We have achieved good results. But time has come to get together in Baghdad as well.

Talking about the results, are you talking about the fact that Russia just forgave Iraq its multi-billion dollar debt?

Not just that. Currently, Russian companies, such as Lukoil, Bashneft and others, are working at the large Iraqi deposits. They work professionally and enthusiastically.

Some Russian companies sign contracts not only with the central government of Iraq, but also with the regional government of Kurdistan (an autonomous region in the North of the country). However, Gazprom Neft Company’s desire to work both in the North and in the other parts of the country was met with the resistance from the federal government, which is unhappy with its direct contact with Iraqi Kurdistan. What is the main issue of that problem and how can it be resolved?

We will deal with that issue. In any case, the Iraqi delegation headed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki discussed the future of our cooperation during their visit to Moscow in the fall of 2012. Other ministers and I were assured by the Russian side that your companies would work with all Iraqi regions on the basis of the laws and the constitution of our country.

Mr. Zebari, Massoud Barzani, President of Iraqi Kurdistan, has recently visited Moscow. In his interview to the Voice of Russia he mentioned that the anticipated large deal of arms supply from Russia to Iraq had reportedly fallen through. It appears that the Kurds don't like that deal that much. Has it really been cancelled? Are there no more arms supplies from Russia to Iraq planned for the near term?

Naturally, Iraq needs to acquire weapons and modernize its army and military equipment. Such are the main tasks for the country's security - it is our lawful right. It is clear why in pursuing that goal Iraq has turned to Russia among other countries. The Iraqi army has in its arsenal a lot of arms produced in Russia. From that point of view, Russia is closest to us. We have been talking to the Russian side about our needs for a long time. But by the way, during the visit of our Prime Minister to Moscow last fall that I mentioned (I was a part of that delegation), the press gave figures of the volume of the contracts that had little to do with reality. Yes, there was an exchange of opinions. We presented our requirements; the Russian side described its proposals. We discussed the timing. But the press also talked about the contracts, which had not been signed at that point. In many cases it was only our intensions that back then were at the negotiations stage.

As far as the signed contracts go that deal with the acquisition of weapons in Russia, they have not been cancelled. However, we have not started executing them yet.

When will the first supply commence?

As soon as the financial issue is resolved. I believe that the first shipments of weapons from Russia to Iraq will start before the summer, as the latest term.

What kind of equipment will it be? Military aircraft were discussed.

No, we are not talking about aircraft so far. It will be helicopters of a specific kind and missile defense batteries.

And what is the state of your plans to purchase F-16 fighter planes from the USA? There have been talks. Are there any problems with that as well?

No, we have no problems with the Americans on that deal. The supplies are to commence in 2014. Getting back to the topic of cooperation with Russia, it is developing. And evidence of that is the increasing number of official visits - this is an important factor.

[Shirko]

I will bet Baghdad sees not problem with it..
Pres. Barzani goes to Russia, after Russia signed a deal with Iraq to sell a bunch weapons that could be used against Kurds in the future, just to give them a bargain on oil and gas contracts to accomplish exactly what? To get a phony promiss that they will not let Iraq use the weapons against the Kurds, or to also sell the Kurds weapons they can use to defend against the Russian weapons that Iraq is buying? I say Russia can not be trusted either way, they do not care about anyone and just looks at their track record. They are supporting Assad and the Mullahs of Iran, and lets not forget Al-Malikis Baghdad. Its better to give US companies more deals, atleast the US can be trusted.

[Feyli_kord]

I don't know how to feel about this. I can't possibly support Russians making money in Kurdistan considering Chechen. But then again Chechens never supported us either.

[Shirko]

Chechneans and Kurds have cooperated, worked and lived together in many places during the Ottoman Empire, but Ive read that some Checnneans and Ingush in northern Syria and WK are siding against the Kurds with the Turks, they are less pro Arab but more pro Turkish I would say.
http://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc20 ... urd754.htm

Regarding the Russians, they cant be trusted, but I understand Barzanis strategy of giving them a stake in Kurdistan to keep the neutral.