Turkey: Reconciliation Process Helps Oil Operations in Northern Iraq

Mar 27, 2015 | Daily Sabah
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The reconciliation process is permitting Turkey to explore for oil in northern Iraq, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız said yesterday. Turkey's reconciliation process is a government effort launched two years ago to bring an end to the decades-long conflict with the PKK. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., EU and NATO. The PKK has fought for an independent Kurdish state since 1984 and its terrorist attacks have claimed around 36,000 lives in Turkey. Turkey could not work previously in northern Iraq because of the terrorist actions of the PKK. "Now, if the Qandil Mountains [where PKK headquarters is located] in northern Iraq are clear of the conflict, we will explore for oil there," Yıldız said.