Published: Wednesday, April 19, 2006
zaman.com
The Kurdish Regional Government in Northern Iraq established the Ministry of Oil in the cabinet to solidify its semi-independent status in the region.
Seperyas Hurani has been appointed to head this newly formed ministry on the eve of the declaration of the federal government by two distinct Kurdish administrations in Erbil (Arbil) and Sulaymaniya, officials informed Tuesday.
Al-Zaman daily reported on the reactions of the Iraqi government to the appointment approved by the President of Regional Kurdish Government, Najirvan Barzani.
Iraq Ministry of Oil officials qualified that the establishment of a distinct Oil Ministry as a “political” decision.
The National Oil Ministry noted that their authority was limited on oil projects in Arbil, Sulaymaniya, and Dohuk.
Some political commentators interpreted the establishment of the Ministry of Oil as the Kurdish government’s political step towards assuming power in Kerkuk (Kirkuk).
British newspaper, The Times, wrote that the Kurdish government had signed an agreement with Norwegian company DNO relating to oil research and drilling activities in the region, acting independent of Bagdat (Baghdad).