Posted on 12/13/2001 5:27:03 PM PST by a_Turk
Turkey will drill for oil in northern Iraq, a mainly Kurdish region which has been outside Baghdad's control since the Gulf War.
The head of the state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) Kenan Veziroglu said on Tuesday the 10 wells were planned in areas held by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
Exploration work is expected to start in January in areas held by the KDP, a party led by Massoud Barzani, a close ally of Ankara.
Iraq, which runs oilfields near the town of Kirkuk just south of the Kurdish-held areas, has not made an official response to the plans.
But Baghdad has repeatedly condemned Turkey's military occupation of the Kurdish-controlled north and asked United Nations' secretary general Kofi Anan to press for a withdrawal.
Tension mounts
The news comes as speculation mounts that the US is preparing to intensify military strikes against Iraq, as part of its "war on terror", which would involve using Turkish bases that host US and British jets enforcing the no-fly zone.
Economically troubled Turkey has tried to boost ties with its embargo-hit southern neighbour which was once a major trading partner.
Approval to drill in northern Iraq was given by the UN sanctions committee in September under the "oil-for-food" program.
Similar contracts have been awarded to Russian oil firms Zarubezhneft and Tatneft.
TPAO, which produces 90% of Turkey's oil, has previously held talks with Iraqi on the exploitation and transportation of natural gas once US sanctions are lifted.
Turkish compensation
Turkey claims it has suffered losses of up to $40bn (£27.8bn) during the 10 years of UN sanctions imposed on Iraq.
In September, Turkey's BOTAS Petroleum Pipeline Corporation was awarded the largest compensation payment to date from the UN Compensation Commission for Iraq.
BOTAS had asked for $1.05bn (£730m) but only received $176.3m (£122.8m) for the shutdown of its oil pipeline from Iraq.
The UN Compensation Commission is due to announce its latest awards on Thursday.
I recall a recent article where a Kurdish Turkish politician stated fears and concerns about an American attack on Iraq, but finished with a comment that if it had to be done, perhaps the Kurdish brothers would be joined to Turkey (annexed). Any link???
Any link???Couldn't tell ya.. We could use the money though... It's a good move on part of the UN.
and I'll be able to afford to go to Bodrum and get a guletDude, now's the time!
Of course, it'd be better to spend about six months there shopping around for one, but that's impractical right now.
For a second there I thought we were talking about Turks drilling in mexico.
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