DOCSLIB.ORG

Irakien Ghazi Al-Yaouar En Visite En Turquie

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Irakien Ghazi Al-Yaouar En Visite En Turquie INSTITUT URD DE PARIS Bulletin de liaison et d'information I W233 I AOUT 2004 La publication de ce Bulletin bénéficie de subventions du Ministère français des Affaires étrangères (DCCID) et du Fonds d'action et de soutien pour l'intégration et la lutte contre les discriminations (FAS/W) Ce bulletin paraît en français et anglais Prix au numéro: France: 6 £ - Etranger: 7,5 £ Abonnement annuel (12 numéros) France: 60 £ - Etranger: 75 £ . Périodique mensuel Directeur de la publication: Mohamad HASSAN Numéro de la Commission Paritaire: 65913 A.S. ISBN 0761 1285 INSTITUT KURDE, 106, rue La Fayette - 75010 PARIS Tél. : 01- 48 24 64 64 - Fax: 01- 48 24 64 66 www.fikp.org E-mail: [email protected] 233 - Août 2004 • LA COMMUNAUTÉ CHRÉTIENNE CIBLE D'ATTENTATS MEURTRIERS À BAGDAD ET À MOSSOUL • LE PRÉSIDENT IRAKIEN GHAZI AL-YAOUAR EN VISITE EN TURQUIE • BARHAM SALEH, VICE-PREMIER MINISTRE IRAKIEN, EN VISITE À TÉHÉRAN POUR APAISER LES TENSIONS • LES AFFRONTEMENTS SE MULTIPLEMENT DANS LE KURDISTAN TURC • DAMAS CONTINUE SA POLITIQUE DE REPRESSION DES KURDES • HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH APPELLE LA COALITION EN IRAK À RÉGLER LE DROIT À LA TERRE ENTRE KURDES ET ARABES • AINSI QUE ... LA COMMUNAUTÉ CHRÉTIENNE CIBLE D'ATTENTATS l'explosion a été très fort et les MEURTRIERS À BAGDAD ET À MOSSOUL vitres de plusieurs bâtiments à proximité ont été soufflées. Deux ix églises chrétiennes coordonnés contre trois églises et autres explosions ont eu lieu à ont, le Fr août, été la un séminaire. La première proximité d'autres églises cible d'attentats en Irak, déflagration a eu lieu devant une chrétiennes de la capitale. dont quatre à Bagdad et église arménienne du quartier de ~ deux à Mossoul, faisant Karrada, un quartier très A Mossoul, une voiture piégée a 10 morts et 50 blessés. C'est la fréquenté de la capitale explosé près d'une église première fois que des églises irakienne où vivent de chaldéenne. L'attentat, qui a eu chrétiennes sont visées depuis nombreux chrétiens. Les vitres lieu dans une zone très peuplée l'intervention militaire de l'église ont été brisées et des du nord de la ville, a également américaine qui a entraîné la morceaux de métal ont été fait des dégâts importants et chute du régime de Saddam projetés à plusieurs centaines de plusieurs blessés. Hussein l'année dernière. mètres. La deuxième explosion a eu lieu une quinzaine de Par ailleurs, une importante A Bagdad, au moins neuf minutes plus tard devant une explosion s'est produite à personnes ont été tuées dans église assyrienne située dans le Kirkouk près de maisons quatre attentats consécutifs et même quartier. Le bruit de appartenant à des chrétiens, mais .2 • Billie/ill tie lil1isoll cl tI'ill!/l/IlIatioll nO 233 • août 2004 il n'y a eu ni mort, ni blessé, la Le Conseil mondial des églises attentats portent la marque plupart des gens se trouvant à (WWC), qui représente les d'Abou Moussab Zarkaoui, l'église pour les vêpres. principales confessions réputé proche du réseau Le patriarche chaldéen, chef de chrétiennes à l'exception de islamiste Al Qaïda. "Zarkaoui et la plus importante communauté l'Eglise catholique, a aussi ses extrémistes essaient, en fait, de chrétienne du pays, a appelé les fermement condamné "toutes les creuser un fossé entre les - I . I chrétiens et musulmans d'Irak à formes de violence qui visent des musulmans et les chrétiens en Irak", l'union, au lendemain des communàutés religieuses ou tout a-t-il ajouté. Un site internet I attentats. "Nous devons collaborer, groupe de personnes et qùi islamiste a attribué à un groupe '" I chrétiens et musulmans, pour le cherchent à introduire une hostilité jusque-là inconnu, le "comité de bien de l'Irak car nous sommes une entre religions dans le conflit". planification et de suivi en Irak", un seule famille", a déclaré Mgr La figure emblématique des .communiqué revendiquant les Emmanuel Delly, précisant que chiites irakiens, le grand attentats. cet appel serait contenu dans un ayatollah Ali Sistimi, a, de son message qu'il prépare à l'adresse côté, appelé à "travailler tous Les minorités religieuses en Irak, du gouvernement intérimaire ensemble, le gouvernement et le notamment les. chrétiens, irakien. peuple, afin de mettre un terme aux représentent environ 3% de la Ces attentats ont été condamnés attaques contre les Irakiens". Le population, soit quelque 700.000 sans réserves par toutes les chef radical chiite Moqtada Sadr personnes sur un total de 24 autorités politiques et religieuses a également condamné ces actes. millions d'Irakiens, du pays, ainsi que par le Pape De son côté, le comité des majoritairement musulmans Jean Paul Il, qui les a qualifié oulémas sunnites irakiens a chiites et sunnites. La récente . d'" agression injuste contre ceux accusé "des parties étrangères" série d'attaques contre des ..dont le seul but est de collaborer d'être à l'origine de ces attentats vendeurs d'alcool, la plupart pour la paix et la réconciliation dans "qui visent à diviser le peuple chrétiens, avaient éveillé les le pays". Le pape a exprimé sa irakien et veulent que le chaos craintes de la communauté, condamnation dans un message perdure dans l'intérêt des même si, contrairement aux adressé au patriarche chaldéen occupants" de l'Irak. mosquées déjà frappées par des d'Irak, Emmanuel III, chef de la Sur le plan politique, le président attentats ces dernières années, plus grande communauté irakien Ghazi al-Yaouar a les églises avaient jusqu'alors été chrétienne du pays. Le pape Jean qualifié ces attentats d' "actes épargnées. Les chrétiens d'Irak Paul II a écrit et signé de sa main terroristes", également considérés constituent l'une des plus - ce qui est assez rare - un comme "un crime énorme et anciennes communautés message à Mgr Delly, dans abominable" par le Premier chrétiennes du Moyen-Orient lequel il demande "à tous les ministre Iyad Allaoui. puisqu'ils sont arrivés au 1er croyants en un seul Dieu clément et Mouaffak al-Roubaïe, le siècle après Jésus-Christ en Irak miséricordieux" de s'unir "pour conseiller irakien à la Sécurité alors que l'Islam n'y a fait son déplorer toute forme de violence", nationale, a estimé que les apparition qu'au VIle siècle. LE PRÉSIDENT IRAKIEN question de la sécurité des GHAZI AL-YAOUAR EN VISITE EN TURQUIE camionneurs turcs, dont plusieurs sont actuellement e président irakien M. al-Yaouar,accompagné de son détenus aux mains de groupes Ghazi al- Yaouar est ministre des Affaires étrangères armés en Irak, a été évoquée, arrivé le 16 août en Hoshyar Zebari, a rencontré le selon des sources diplomatiques [ITurquie pour une visite président turc Ahmet Necdet turques. Le 2 aol1t, des sites de deux jours, au cours Sezer, le Premier ministre Recep internet islamistes avaient de laquelle il a notamment Tayyip Erdogan et le ministre diffusé une vidéo montrant évoqué avec les autorités turques des Affaires étrangères Abdullah l'assassina t par un groupe les préoccupations sécuritaires GuI. islamiste d'un otage turc, Murat en Irak. Parmi les sujets bilatéraux la Yuce, employé par une société n° 233 • août 2004 BIII/C/ill rfc liaisoll ct rf'i11formathm .3. turque et travaillant en Irak pour KONGRA-GEL), réfugiés à la voisins", lui a répondu M. al- les Américains. Il s'agissait du frontière. Yaouar. premier otage turc tué en Irak. En octobre 2003,la Turquie et les Mais il a ajouté que Bagdad Les autorités turques ont déjà Etats-Unis s'étaient mis d'accord souhaitait développer ses liens ., fait savoir qu'elles réfléchissaient sur un "plan d'action", incluant avec la Turquie dans le cadre de à une série de mesures pour des mesures militaires, contre le "bonnes relations de voisinage, sans sécuriser les conditions de PKK, que les deux pays ingérence dans les affaires travail en Irak, qui était le considèrent comme une intérieures". principal partenaire commercial organisation "terroriste". Mais Par ailleurs, le président turc a de la Turquie avant la guerre du depuis Ankara s'est indirectement réitéré les craintes Golfe de 1991. Elles envisagent régulièrement plaint de d'Ankara de voir les Kurdes notamment de transporter les l'inaction de Washington. irakiens prendre le contrôle de la marchandises entre les villes de ville pétrolière de Kirkouk, Zakho et Mossoul, dans le Tout en assurant vouloir chasser située à 255 km au nord de Kurdistan irakien, puis de laisser d'Irak les militants du Parti des Bagdad. "J'ai dit au président les Irakiens les acheminer travailleurs du Kurdistan, M. al- Yaouar que les tentatives de jusqu'à leur destination finale. Yaouar a répondu qu'il ne n'importe quel groupe ethnique souhaitait pas qu'Ankara vivant à Kirkouk - turkmène, La délégation irakienne a s'ingère dans les affaires arabe, kurde, assyrien ou autre - de également discuté avec les intérieures de son pays. "J'ai dit revendiquer la ville mettrait en responsables turcs de l'avenir au président Yaouar que nous danger la stabilité et l'ordre à politique du pays. La Turquie attendions (des autorités irakiennes) Kirkouk et en Irak", a déclaré M. surveille particulièrement la qu'elles metten t un terme à la Sezer. situation des Kurdes irakiens présence du PKK/KONGRA-GEL Kirkouk est le théâtre de troubles craignant un phénomène de en Irak et qu'elles fassent en sorte fréquents entre Kurdes, Arabes contagion qui relancerait les que le nouvel Irak ne soit pas un et Turcomans depuis la fin du revendications des 15 à 20 abri pour des organisations régime de Saddam Hussein en millions de Kurdes en Turquie. terroristes", a déclaré le président avril 2003. Les Kurdes Les autorités turques ont aussi turc Ahmet Necdet Sezer au revendiquent son contrôle, demandé aux Irakiens de cours d'une conférence de soulignant que la ville était collaborer pour chasser les presse, après des entretiens avec majoritairement kurde jusqu'aux mili tants du Parti des son homologue.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Can Iraqi Oil Production Surprise Again on the Upside?
    October 2016 Can Iraqi oil production surprise again on the upside? OXFORD ENERGY COMMENT Richard Mallinson, OIES Research Associate & Energy Aspects I. Introduction Iraqi oil production outperformed expectations in 2015, after multiple years of disappointing growth. Iraqi production, including output from the semi-autonomous Kurdish region, rose by 0.62 mb/d to above 3.9 mb/d in 2015, the fastest growth since 2004 when Iraq’s oil sector was recovering after the US invasion (see Figure 1). The growth was even more impressive at points during 2015 – up by almost 1 mb/d year-on-year (y/y) across July and August 2015. Production controlled by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) also grew strongly in 2015, as independent exports via the Kurdish- controlled pipeline to Turkey ramped up, compensating for the permanent closure of the older Kirkuk– Ceyhan pipeline (see Figure 2). Across the second half of 2015, Iraqi production was higher y/y by an average 0.85 mb/d; that pace of growth has broadly continued into 2016, with January–June y/y growth averaging almost 0.6 mb/d. This performance was all the more surprising given that upstream spending was lower by around one-third – to $13–14 billion in 20151 – and that other political and security issues have been plaguing Iraq. Figure 1: Iraq oil production, mb/d Figure 2: Exports from northern Iraq, mb/d 4.5 0.8 4.0 0.6 3.5 0.4 3.0 0.2 2.5 0.0 12 13 14 15 16 Jun 13 Jun 14 Jun 15 Jun 16 Source: Energy Aspects Source: KRG Ministry of Natural Resources Given that Iraq was one of the main contributors to oil output growth in 2015, the dynamics within the Iraqi oil sector are key to understanding the global oil market rebalancing process.
    [Show full text]
  • The Kurdish Nationalist Movement and External Influences
    Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive Theses and Dissertations Thesis Collection 1980-12 The Kurdish nationalist movement and external influences Disney, Donald Bruce, Jr. Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School http://hdl.handle.net/10945/17624 '";. Vi , *V ^y NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL Monterey, California THESIS THE KURDISH NATIONALIST MOVEMENT AND EXTERNAL INFLUENCES by Donald Bruce Disney, Jr. December 1980 The sis Advisor: J. W. Amos, II Approved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited T19 «—,rob J Unclassified "wi.fy * N°* StCUHlTY CLASSIFICATION r>* THIS »>GI '•*>•« D«t Knlmrmd) READ INSTRUCTIONS REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE BEFORE COMPLETING FORM •f*OAT NUMlf* 2. OOVT ACCCUION MO. J MKCl»lCNT'S CATALOG NUMBER. 4 TiTlE ,«.*Ju »mH) s. TY*e of neponT * rewoo covcncd The Kurdish Nationalist Movement Master's Thesis; and External Influences December 1980 * »I»ro»l»INQ owe. «I»OKT NUMIIR 7. AuTmO*><*> • contract o« chant HumUtnf) Donald Bruce Disney, Jr., LCDR, USN * RfBFORMINO OWOANI2ATION NAME AND >QD*tii tO. *«OG*AM CLEMENT. RBOjECT. T as* AREA * «OMK UNIT NUDUM Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, California 93940 M CONTROLLING OFFICE NAME ANO ADDRESS 12. MFOUT DATE Naval Postgraduate School December, 1980 Monterey, California 93940 II. MUMBER O' WAGES 238 TT MONITORING AGENCY NAME A AOORESSfll if>'M*ml Ifmm Controlling Ottlc*) It- SICURITY CLASS. <al Iftlm report) Naval Postgraduate School Unclassified Monterey, California 93940 Im DECLASSIFICATION/ DOWNGRADING SCHEDULE l«. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT (of Ihlt *•»•»!) Approved for public release; distribution unlimited 17 DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT at (»• •*•„•«( rnrnfm** In #I»c* 20, // dittfmt rrmm Mf rt) IE. SUFFLCMCNTARY NOTES '» KEY *O*0l (Continue em remem »!<*• It r\eceeeiy em* itemttty m, ilect IHMHMMP Kurds, Kurdish Nationalism, Kurdish Revolts, Kurdish Political Parties, Mullah Mustafa Barzani, Sheikh Ezzedin, Abdul Rahman Qassemlu, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, UK, U.S., U.S.S.R., Israel, PLO, Armenians 20.
    [Show full text]
  • Under the Mountains: Kurdish Oil and Regional Politics
    January 2016 Under the Mountains: Kurdish Oil and Regional Politics OIES PAPER: WPM 63 Robin Mills* The contents of this paper are the authors’ sole responsibility. They do not necessarily represent the views of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies or any of its members. Copyright © 2016 Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (Registered Charity, No. 286084) This publication may be reproduced in part for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgment of the source is made. No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. ISBN 978-1-78467-049-8 *Non-Resident Fellow for Energy at the Brookings Doha Center, CEO of Qamar Energy (Dubai) and Research Associate, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies Under the Mountains: Kurdish Oil and Regional Politics i Contents Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................. iii 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Background: a Brief History of Oil and Gas in the Kurdish Region of Iraq ................................ 2 2.1. Political history ........................................................................................................................ 2 2.2. Petroleum history ...................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Iraqi Kurdistan Oil and Gas Outlook
    Atlantic Council Atlantic Council GLOBAL ENERGY CENTER and DINU PATRICIU EURASIA CENTER IRAQI KURDISTAN OIL AND GAS OUTLOOK John Roberts IRAQI KURDISTAN OIL AND GAS OUTLOOK John Roberts Eurasian Energy Futures Initiative As a joint initiative of the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center and Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center, the Eurasian Energy Futures Initiative covers critical energy issues in the wider Eurasian space. ISBN: 978-1-61977-462-9 Cover photo credit: REUTERS/Azad Lashkari. A flame rises from a chimney at Taq Taq oil field in Arbil, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, August 16, 2014. This report is written and published in accordance with the Atlantic Council Policy on Intellectual Independence. The author is solely responsible for its analysis and recommendations. The Atlantic Council and its donors do not determine, nor do they necessarily endorse or advocate for, any of this report’s conclusions. September 2016 Table of contents Executive Summary 1 Introduction 2 Looking for a Bailout: The Immediate Situation as of August 1, 2016 3 The Reliance of the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Regional Economy on Oil and Gas 8 The Core Issue: Turkish Transit 11 The Current State of Oil Production Plans in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq 15 The Current State of Gas Production Plans in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq 20 Alternative Options: Iraq 23 Alternative Options: Iran 25 Conclusions 26 About the Author 29 IRAQI KURDISTAN OIL AND GAS OUTLOOK Executive Summary The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is facing a series of revenues overwhelmingly depend on export-oriented almost unprecedented challenges.
    [Show full text]
  • Iraq;S Oil Sector: Issues and Opportunities
    THE JAMES A. BAKER III INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY RICE UNIVERSITY IRAQ’S OIL SECTOR: ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES By AMY MYERS JAFFE WALLACE S. WILSON FELLOW IN ENERGY STUDIES MEMBER, IRAQ STUDY GROUP ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION WORKING GROUP DECEMBER 2006 Iraq’s Oil Sector: Issues and Opportunities THESE PAPERS WERE WRITTEN BY A RESEARCHER (OR RESEARCHERS) WHO PARTICIPATED IN A BAKER INSTITUTE RESEARCH PROJECT. WHEREVER FEASIBLE, THESE PAPERS ARE REVIEWED BY OUTSIDE EXPERTS BEFORE THEY ARE RELEASED. HOWEVER, THE RESEARCH AND VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THESE PAPERS ARE THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUAL RESEARCHER(S), AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE JAMES A. BAKER III INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY. © 2006 BY THE JAMES A. BAKER III INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY OF RICE UNIVERSITY THIS MATERIAL MAY BE QUOTED OR REPRODUCED WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION, PROVIDED APPROPRIATE CREDIT IS GIVEN TO THE AUTHOR AND THE JAMES A. BAKER III INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY. 2 Iraq’s Oil Sector: Issues and Opportunities Iraq holds an important place in the political development and economic trend of the international oil market both historically and at the present time. Iraq’s stated proven oil reserves of 115 billion barrels -while perhaps somewhat overestimated during the rule of Saddam Hussein- are among the largest in the world. The country’s resource base is considered the second largest in the world, second to Saudi Arabia, and its oil export policy has been a critical element in setting international oil supply and pricing for over 30 years. Iraq was a founding member of the cartel of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and was among the first oil producing countries to nationalize some of its oil fields in 1961.
    [Show full text]
  • Northern Iraq's Oil Chessboard: Energy, Politics and Power
    COMMENTARY NORTHERN IRAQ’S OIL CHESSBOARD: ENERGY, POLITICS AND POWER Northern Iraq’s Oil Chessboard: Energy, Politics and Power Robin M. Mills* ABSTRACT The autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq has emerged in recent years as a potentially significant supplier of oil and gas. This makes it of economic and strategic interest to Turkey in particu- lar. However, its geography and a continuing dispute between the Kurdish region and the central government in Baghdad have so far prevented the construction of oil and gas export pipelines. This leads to a complicated three-way balancing act between Turkey, Iraq’s Kurdish region, and Baghdad. anding in Erbil (Hewler), cap- Kurdish and Turkish politicians, ital of the Kurdistan region of western oil companies, and ordinary LIraq, one of the first things that Iraqis—have their own agendas. Out- strikes the visitor is the role of Tur- side powers such as Iran and the US key. Western oil executives and Irani- are also watching the game carefully, an traders are prominent, but Turkish perhaps even moving pieces of their businesses, visitors, engineering and own. Turkey has a lot to gain from construction companies, restaurants engaging with the Kurdistan region, and products are ubiquitous. Kurdis- and can improve its own energy se- tan’s energy resources make it an im- curity, particularly in the area of gas. portant economic and strategic part- Nevertheless, it also has major long- ner for Turkey in the region, but also term interests in the rest of Iraq, and involve Ankara in the complexities of has to play carefully to avoid compro- * Head of intra-Iraq politics.
    [Show full text]
  • Shaping Iraq's Oil and Gas Future
    Atlantic Council GLOBAL ENERGY CENTER SHAPING IRAQ’S OIL AND GAS FUTURE Ellen Scholl SHAPING IRAQ’S OIL AND GAS FUTURE Ellen Scholl ISBN: 978-1-61977-482-7. Cover photo: Oil tankers load crude from the port of Basra in Iraq, one of the most import oil export points in the country, in 2012. Essam Al-Sudani ([email protected]). This report is written and published in accordance with the Atlantic Council Policy on Intellectual Independence. The authors are solely responsible for its analysis and recommendations. The Atlantic Council and its donors do not determine, nor do they necessarily endorse or advocate for, any of this report’s conclusions. January 2018 CONTENTS Executive Summary 1 Introduction 2 The Politics of Energy in Iraq 4 All Politics Are Regional 10 Oil Development and Importance in Iraq 14 Energy Landscape: Oil Markets in Transition 16 Challenges and Recommendations 18 Gas Development Key to Iraq’s Future 22 State of Play: Iraq as a Nascent Gas Producer 25 Challenges and Recommendations 28 Conclusion 30 About the Author 31 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY nergy has and will continue to be an integral In addition to removing obstacles to increased part of the Iraqi economy for years to production and export growth, perhaps the biggest come. Oil revenue provides the bulk of the challenge for Iraq is sustainably managing the Iraqi national budget, as well as the budget resulting resource revenue in a way that serves Ein the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), providing a the country’s long-term development interests key source of revenue and funds for recovery and and improves the living conditions for all Iraqis.
    [Show full text]
  • Kirkuk in Transition Confidence Building in Northern Iraq
    Kirkuk in Transition Confidence Building in Northern Iraq Michael Knights with Ahmed Ali Policy Focus #102 | April 2010 Kirkuk in Transition Confidence Building in Northern Iraq Michael Knights with Ahmed Ali Policy Focus #102 | April 2010 All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. © 2010 by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy Published in 2010 in the United States of America by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 1828 L Street NW, Suite 1050, Washington, DC 20036. Design by Daniel Kohan, Sensical Design and Communication Front cover: Brig. Gen. Abdul Amir Hassan, division deputy commander of the Iraqi army; Maj. Gen. Thaker Bakr, provin- cial director of police; Maj. Gen. Anthony A. Cucolo III, commanding general, U.S. 3rd Infantry Division; and Brig. Gen. Shirko Fatih Schiwani, representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government, cut a cake during the Combined Security Force (CSF) graduation ceremony at Kirkuk Training Center, Feb. 15, 2010. The CSF is a unit comprising U.S., Kurdish, and Iraqi personnel and created specifically to enhance security during Iraqi elections. (DVIDS/Matthew Lestikow) Contents About the Authors. v Acknowledgments. vii Preface. ix Executive Summary . xi Maps . xiii 1. Background . 1 2. Strategic Geography . 8 3. Demography and Property Issues . 14 4. Governance and Administration . 20 5. Security Issues and U.S. Mediation . 27 6. Implications for U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Kirkuk's Oil Chessboard
    Kirkuk’s Oil Chessboard Control of Kirkuk’s Oil Is Still Undecided and the Struggle to Rule this Commodity Has Become a Chess Match of Epic Proportions Stretching across Northern Iraq and Beyond By Ellen R. Wald t was late at night in November 2017 when Sweden-based oil trader Samir Madani noticed something strange about the oil tanker he was tracking. Madani is a co- Ifounder of TankerTrackers.com, a website that provides data on the movement and storage of oil around the world. The tanker he was following, named VALTA- MED, had loaded oil at a port in Ceyhan, Turkey. The VALTAMED sailed south toward the Suez Canal. Unexpectedly, it stopped in international waters off the coast of Tel Aviv, where it turned off its AIS transponder. The lines of ownership of oil are almost always clear today. With very few excep- tions—the occasional contraband shipment to North Korea, the Niger Delta Avengers militant group sabotaging oil supplies in Nigeria, and a power vacuum in Libya—the ownership of a barrel of oil can be tracked from its time in the ground to the well, to the pipeline, to the tanker, and all the way to the refinery. Madani had stumbled on a mystery. Madani observed a change in the VALTAMED’s draught, or the distance between the waterline and the bottom of the tanker’s hull, and concluded that the VALTA- MED, which was carrying nearly 1 million barrels of oil from the Kurdistan region of Iraq, was clandestinely transferring oil to Israel. The delivery was not logged.
    [Show full text]
  • Turkey and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Strained Energy Relations
    TURKEY AND THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ: STRAINED ENERGY RELATIONS Since the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) referendum on independence in 2017, relations between Erbil and Ankara have soured; this poses a challenge to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) which remains extremely dependent on oil and gas exports to Turkey. The aftermath of the referendum caused a major collapse of both KRI oil exports and revenues, and, although there has been some recovery since then, output remains far short of the KRG’s pre-referendum aspirations. Meanwhile, the role of Turkish investment in the KRI is diminishing as Russia’s Rosneft assumes an increasingly important role, not least in terms of developing a major new gas pipeline to Turkey. At the same time, the power of the federal government in Baghdad has grown. This was demonstrated by the government wresting control of major oil-producing areas in Kirkuk from the KRG in 2017 and this will no doubt play a significant role in whether Baghdad might seek to use KRI infrastructure for its own resumption of exports from Kirkuk to Ceyhan. John M. Roberts* Fall 2018 * John M. Roberts is a UK-based Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center and Global Energy Center. He is also a Senior Partner with Methinks Ltd, a consultancy specializing in the interrelationship between energy, economic development, and politics, and a member of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Group of Experts on Gas. 99 VOLUME 17 NUMBER 3 JOHN M. ROBERTS urkey has a complex set of energy relations with Iraq.
    [Show full text]
  • History of Hydrocarbon Exploration in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
    GeoArabia, 2015, v. 20, no. 2, p. 181-220 Gulf PetroLink, Bahrain History of hydrocarbon exploration in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq David S. Mackertich and Adnan I. Samarrai ABSTRACT The Kurdistan Region of Iraq has witnessed extraordinary levels of exploration activity since the fi rst exploration well to be drilled in over two decades was spudded in 2005. Since then almost 200 wells have been drilled encountering recoverable reserves estimated to be in excess of 15 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Whilst the region is in close proximity to many of the giant and supergiant fi elds of Iran and Iraq, the reservoirs in which discoveries have been made are largely different. In Iraq a large percentage of discovered reserves reside in Cenozoic and Cretaceous sediments capped by Cenozoic evaporite sequences. Over much of Kurdistan, particularly the north and northeastern parts of the region, Cenozoic strata are absent. A decade ago many were doubtful that signifi cant quantities of hydrocarbons could be trapped in the absence of the Cenozoic evaporite sequences. Furthermore, whilst the presence of large surface structures and signifi cant oil seeps were encouraging to some, to others it fueled concerns about trap leakage. Today the majority of the surface anticlinal features in Kurdistan have been drilled, but remain to be fully evaluated. Almost all of the exploration activity in Kurdistan has taken place on 2-D seismic with vertical exploration wells. In the last few years, a number of 3-D seismic surveys have been acquired and these will undoubtedly lead to production and reserve enhancements in parallel with increased subsurface complexity.
    [Show full text]
  • Iraq – Kirkuk – Communal Violence – Security Situation – Insurgents
    Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE Research Response Number: IRQ35259 Country: Iraq Date: 11 August 2009 Keywords: Iraq – Kirkuk – Communal violence – Security situation – Insurgents This response was prepared by the Research & Information Services Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. This research response may not, under any circumstance, be cited in a decision or any other document. Anyone wishing to use this information may only cite the primary source material contained herein. Question 1. Please provide a brief update on the situation since 2005 in Kirkuk addressing ethnic tensions, with a focus on what groups in Kirkuk are anti-US and whether they are launching attacks from there. RESPONSE 1. Please provide a brief update on the situation since 2005 in Kirkuk addressing ethnic tensions, with a focus on what groups in Kirkuk are anti-US and whether they are launching attacks from there. Introduction On 30 June 2009 the United States withdrew its military forces from the city of Kirkuk as part of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The withdrawal would not appear to be total. Reporting on the various withdrawals which occurred at this time the American Forces Press Service reported that: “The departing American brigades and battalions leave behind a significantly smaller contingent of US trainers and advisors in the cities, where Iraqi forces now have primary authority”.
    [Show full text]