Biden reached out to Iraqi, Kurdish leaders to discuss oil export management

On Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Kurdistan Regional Government President Masoud Barzani regarding the management of Iraq's hydrocarbon sector.

In the separate phone calls, Biden conveyed America's commitment to helping Baghdad and Erbil come to a permanent agreement regarding the export of Iraqi oil.

With Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki, Biden expressed support and encouragement for an interim agreement between the Iraqi central government and the Kurdish semi-autonomous government concerning oil exports and budgetary matters. The U.S., Biden told Maliki, remains committed to facilitating a more permanent oil export framework agreement.

During the phone call to KRG President Barzani, Biden acknowledged the Kurdish goverment's decision to begin exporting oil through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, as agreed to by the Iraqi central government. Nevertheless, Biden noted that such an agreement needs "a more permanent resolution of these difficult issues," and that the U.S. "will continue to serve as a neutral broker with all sides as the talks accelerate in the coming weeks."

[White House]