Iraqi Kurds Urge US Neutrality In Oil Dispute

WASHINGTON (AP) – Iraq’s northern Kurdish region is pressing the Obama administration to remain neutral in a sensitive dispute with the Iraqi central government over whether it can export oil and gas without Baghdad’s approval.

The Kurdish Regional Government’s Energy Minister Ashti Hawrami was meeting with Obama administration officials Friday following recent talks with Turkey about completing pipelines over Baghdad’s objections that could vastly expand the regional government’s ability to directly sell its oil and gas.

The U.S. opposition to the Kurds’ energy deals has put it at odds with its NATO ally Turkey amid concerns that the dispute over dividing Iraq’s immense energy wealth could threaten Iraq’s stability.

Turkey backs the Kurds’ position that the Iraqi constitution gives its regions some power to sign oil and gas deals independently.