Turkish Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz said that the authorities of Iraqi Kurdistan will start exploitation of an oil pipeline running to Europe through Turkey, RIA Novosti reports.
Yildiz noted that agreements with Baghdad and Erbil had been reached, forming a trilateral mechanism for exports of Iraqi oil through Turkey.
The Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan Nechirvan, Idris Barzani, said in Turkey in mid-November that agreements on gas projects had been reached.
Baghdad is opposed to independent decisions on exploitation of resources made by the autonomous government. Iraq insists that it is in control of any oil shipments on its territory, including territory of Iraqi Kurdistan. The sides agreed in early December that they will form a trilateral committee for the issue.
