Kurdistan Region-Iraq Brief – News (19. – 20. Sept)

Sulaimaniyah, Erbil-Hewler, Duhok, Kirkuk, Kurdistan Region ‘Iraq’

Talabani to start talks on political crisis Wednesday

Sulemani: Close source to President Jalal Talabani is expecting that he will start his political work in Sulaimaniyah to discuss relations with the Kurdish Democratic Party, in addition to separate meetings with other Iraqi components till a common vision is reached to solve the present crisis. The source told Aswat al-Iraq that the departure of Kurdish region president Massoud Barzani to Europe “did not astonish Talabani and will not affect his contacts plan”. He added that “continued contacts between the two leaders on the future plans took place”. Despite the optimistic atmospheres, the source did not expect quick and prompt solution to the present crisis due to the lack of confidence among all parties. “Talabani will make separate contacts with all parties till having a joint vision that will satisfy all”, the source added. aswataliraq.info

Baghdad –Erbil agreement not on national accounts – MP

Baghdad: State of Law MP Shakir al-Daraji denied any political agreement between Baghdad and Arbil governments. In a statement by his office, he added that the aim of the agreements is to enhance national interests, based on the constitution. He confirmed that his bloc works according to the constitution “not political agreements.” The Sadrist Trend warned, earlier, that the Baghdad-Arbil agreement is “a political deal on the account of national issues.” aswataliraq.info

Kurdistan could further ramp up oil exports in 2013

Erbil: Iraqi autonomous region of Kurdistan could ramp up oil exports to 250,000 barrels per day or even more next year, its energy minister Ashti Hawrami said on Tuesday after reaching a deal with central government in Baghdad on payments last week. In April, Kurdistan halted shipments of its oil in protest over what it said were payments due from Baghdad to companies. It restarted shipments in August and last week it said it would keep its oil production for export at 140,000 barrels per day this month before raising it to 200,000 bpd for the rest of this year, as part of a deal with Baghdad to end a dispute over oil payments. The deal will resolve only part of a broader feud between Baghdad and Kurdistan over oil and territory that has involved major companies including Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Total. Reuters

Police foils child kidnapping plot in Erbil

Erbil: After a few days of watching, on Tuesday police arrested two people in central Erbil before they could implement their plan for kidnapping a five-year-old child. Police in uniform of municipal services workers watched the two people who intended to abduct Hoshmand Manaf in front of his house in Gulan 23 neighborhood (eastern Erbil), Erbil police chief, Brig. Talaat Khaleq, told a press conference Tuesday. Khaleq continued the arrested people, one of them the cousin of the child, intended to abduct the child as hostage and then free him in exchange for $750,000. Manaf Qader, the child of the father, said his family knew about the plot just after police arrested the people. He added the arrested people are his relatives and stressed his family does not have any issues with them. aknews.com