New oil agreement with Iraq: Yavuzyılmaz criticizes AKP over 'arbitration' and transparency

Negotiations have begun between Turkey and the Iraqi Central Government for a new oil agreement concerning the future of the Iraq-Turkey Crude Oil Pipeline. The long-awaited negotiations in the energy sector are being conducted with the aim of reorganizing oil flow between the two countries and establishing a new framework following legal disputes.

The discussions in question are among the topics closely followed by the public due to the international arbitration process that took place in previous years.

Yavuzyılmaz: "The Consequences of the Arbitration Penalty Do Not Disappear"

YENİ Party's Deniz Yavuzyılmaz criticized the AKP government over the oil policies pursued with Iraq in a post on his social media account.

Yavuzyılmaz argued that Turkey should have established a basis for agreement with the Iraqi Central Government from the very beginning, claiming that the country faced billions of dollars in international arbitration sanctions due to the policies followed in the past period.

Yavuzyılmaz stated that the new negotiations being conducted today would not eliminate the legal consequences of the past arbitration rulings, noting that international processes regarding oil transportation via the Iraq-Turkey Crude Oil Pipeline are still ongoing.

How Did the Paris Arbitration Process Begin?

The Iraqi Central Government had filed a lawsuit against Turkey at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Arbitration Court due to oil exports that Turkey allegedly carried out via the Kurdistan Regional Government in Northern Iraq without the central government's approval.

In its ruling announced in 2023, the arbitration panel evaluated the various demands of the parties and ruled that Turkey had obligations due to oil shipments carried out without Iraq's approval during certain periods. Following the decision, the parties continued their negotiations regarding compensation and the new operational procedure, and the oil flow in the pipeline had been halted for a long time.

"The Content of the Agreement Is Not Being Disclosed to the Public"

Deniz Yavuzyılmaz also directed criticisms regarding the content of the new agreement in his post. The YENİ Party politician alleged that fundamental clauses such as oil transportation fees, payment methods, and which legal authorities would be competent in the event of potential disputes have not been shared with the public.

Yavuzyılmaz argued that such an agreement, which is of strategic importance for Turkey in the energy sector, should be explained in full detail and transparently, and called for the public to be informed.

Whether the details of the new agreement will be disclosed by official authorities in the coming period remains a matter of curiosity.

News Source: 12punto