SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraq’s federal government has filed lawsuits in French courts against Ankara over Kurdistan Region’s oil exports through Turkey, an Iraqi diplomat said.
Iraqi Ambassador to Turkey Hassan Janabi told state news agency INA that there were dossiers between Iraq and Turkey which should be resolved by both sides, including freezing of Iraqi funds in Turkish banks related to oil exports of the Region.
“There are several complaints filed by Iraq in the French courts against Turkey regarding the Region’s oil exports,” INA quoted Janabi as saying.
The Kurdistan Region exports its crude oil by pipeline through Turkey’s Ceyhan Port. Oil exports have deteriorated issues between Erbil and Baghdad over the past few years, with the federal government demanding the Region to export 250,000 barrels of its oil through Baghdad.
S&P Global reported in October 2019 that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) pipeline is owned 60% by Russia’s Rosneft and 40% by Kurdish private firm KRG Group.
Janabi further said Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi would discuss dossiers including economy with Turkey during his visit to Ankara on Thursday.
“The upcoming visit of the Iraqi delegation led by the prime minister to Turkey is extremely important and carries important files, including economy,” he told INA.
Trade exchange between Iraq and Turkey has approached $16 billion, he added, noting that it could reach $20 billion.
