WASHINGTON
Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz said that 19 countries and 39 companies cooperate with the regional administration in northern Iraq and added, "how could it be that the Iraqi constitution is not violated by those countries but by Turkey?"
Yildiz accompanied Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at his visit in Washington and had talks with some interlocutors.
Yildiz told journalists that he held a 3-hour-long meeting with his American counterpart Daniel Poneman yesterday and that he come together with Carlos Pascual, the State Department's Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs and a delegation.
Minister Yildiz said the talks were extremely efficient and that they evaluated the bilateral projects with the Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq and many other countries.
Upon the question of "Are there any countries which have similar agreements with the administration of northern Iraq?" Yildiz said:
"There are 19 countries and 39 companies, so has the Constitution of Iraq been violated by only Turkey's job but not the other's? This is not a right approach. These are trade agreements. I'm repeating, it doesn't matter whether public or private company, they see no harm if the trade contracts are signed. The oil is being produced right now. The central Iraqi government transfers money, these are experienced there. This is not a new issue."
Yildiz continued his words by saying:
"We have begun this oil project in north of Iraq because we believe it is true, and we continue for the same reason. We don't have any hesitation and we haven't come here with a blurred mind. We have discussed the decisions elaborately as a state of law and then, evaluated the issues related to private companies standing there. The Republic of Turkey is a state of law here and never stands in an illegal process."
