Britain steps into row over oil contracts in Kurdistan

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/nov/13/exxon-mobil-kurdistan-exploration

Britain has waded into a growing row between the Iraqi and Kurdish governments over the award of controversial contracts to ExxonMobil which could undermine Vallares, the new oil venture of ex-BP boss Tony Hayward.

Michael Aron, the UK ambassador to Iraq, said the two warring parties should end the heightened uncertainty for those signing contracts in the semi-autonomous northern region.

"We urge the government in Baghdad with the KRG to resolve their differences and reach agreements over hydrocarbon and revenue sharing," he said.

Aron's intervention came in front of the Kurdish prime minister, Barham Salih, during the first ever oil and gas conference to be held in Erbil, Kurdistan where the huge opportunities – but also risks – of operating in this politically volatile part of the world were laid bare.