Iraq warns Turkey over Kurdistan pipeline project

The Iraqi government has warned Turkey over the opening of a new oil export pipeline from the autonomous Kurdish region.

“The Iraqi government informed the Turkish ambassador in Baghdad of its strong opposition to signing the pipeline deal with Kurdistan,” said Ali Mussawi, spokesman for Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad on Wednesday.

The government “threatens in case this signature happens, bilateral relations between Baghdad and Ankara will be damaged severely,” the spokesman added.

Mussawi’s comments followed Tuesday’s remarks by Nechirvan Idris Barzani, the prime minister of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, saying the pipeline could open as early as next month.

Barzani said at a press conference in the Turkish capital that the autonomous region could start carrying oil “before Christmas.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the Kurdish prime minister held a three-hour meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Energy Minister Taner Yildiz to discuss energy deals between Ankara and Arbil.

The pipeline is said to be projected to carry up to 300,000 barrels to Turkey per day (bpd).