“The central Iraqi government will restart its oil shipment with 150,000 barrels per day,” the minister said, answering reporters’ questions at the Building a Euro-Mediterranean Energy Bridge conference in the Italian capital.
When asked about the timing of the restart, the minister replied, “We will begin any day.”
Baghdad’s oil shipments to Turkey were suspended in March due to several technical setbacks amid a heated dispute between the central and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Baghdad had been opposing the Kurds’ plan to export oil via an independent pipeline, which would link up with an Iraqi pipeline at the Turkish border and terminate at the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan.
Iraq and the KRG came to an agreement to resolve the long-standing conflict of oil exports and re-establish trust on Nov. 14.
“Income from oil contributes toward the stability of Iraq, and we [Turkey] argued from the beginning that it belongs to all of Iraq, both north and south. Turkey has done its share of work to form and protect such a system,” Yıldız said.
Need for cooperation in Cyprus
- On the separate issue regarding the island of Cyprus, Yıldız said energy resources around Cyprus belong to both Greek and Turkish Cypriot authorities.
Yıldız stressed the need for cooperation and a political structure in the eastern Mediterranean that could ensure economic feasibility.
Greek Cyprus suspended talks over the divided island on Oct. 7.
Negotiations between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots resumed after a two-year pause in February 2013. The previous round of talks had collapsed, partly because of the impact of the eurozone debt crisis on the government in Nicosia.
According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu will visit Athens on Dec. 5 and 6 to attend a bilateral cooperation meeting.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/bagdad-to-restart-oil-flow-to-turkey-after-arbil-deal.aspx?pageID=238&nID=74537&NewsCatID=348
19/11/14
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Related:
Turkey Faces Pressure Over Alleged Oil Smuggling With ISIS Group (VOA News)
Kurdish oil sales via Turkey reach 6.5 million barrels, Turkish energy minister says
Al-Maliki rules out poll on Kurdish independence (Iraq's Kurds rule out retreating from Kirkuk)
Related Cyprus:
Deputy PΜ and FΜ Venizelos’ statement regarding the violation of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus
MEPs call on Turkey to stop provocations in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone. Turkish maritime surveys “must be seen as both illegal and provocative”
Turkish Navy authorized over oil crisis with Cyprus (Cypriot EEZ)
Cyprus accuses Turkey of 'provocative actions' in Mediterranean (Summit in Cairo - joint news conference)
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Speech on Building a Euro Mediterranean Energy Bridge, High Level Conference, Rome...
ReplyDeleteMaroš Šefčovič - Vice-president for Energy Union
Rome, High Level Conference "Building a Euro‑Mediterranean bridge: the strategic importance of gas and electricity networks in the context of energy security"
Ladies and gentlemen,
We live at a time of remarkable changes and shifts to the international energy landscape. These changes oblige us to respond to a number of major challenges. I thank the Italian Presidency of the EU for taking the initiative, jointly with the European Commission for hosting tonight's dinner and co-organising tomorrow's conference.
Secure, sustainable and affordable energy is a priority for the EU. Securing reliable and affordable energy supplies for European citizens and the economy has been a long-standing goal of the EU's energy policy. Energy security, based on solidarity and trust is also the first pillar of the genuine Energy Union. The recent events in Ukraine have brought energy security to the top of the political agenda in Europe and the diversification of supplies is a must in this context.
Secure, sustainable and affordable energy is also a key priority for the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries. Energy cooperation is a key priority for the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, and I am delighted to see here tonight many ministers from both rims of the Mediterranean Sea.
The EU and the countries of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean now have a unique opportunity to work together towards developing new sources of energy, new gas and electricity networks, integrating our markets, and cutting demand through improved energy efficiency.......................http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-1902_en.htm?locale=en
19/11/14