Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basin Özeti
"Iraq will not back down on its demand, that is the complete lifting of the embargo," Ramadan said. He said Iraq
would cooperate with the world body on inspections, but only after it lifted the sanctio~. Iraq has repeatedly said
it:willn01Jlc;:ceptél new lJl'Il" a.mu; insE~(:tioI!JeéU!l,ar8UÏ!!gthéit it ~as~~~ciy destr~yed all its weapons of mass destruction.
UN inspectors have been barred since the last team left in December 1998. Washir\gton and London promptly
launched a four- day air campaign against Iraq after accusing it of hindering the work of the inspectors.
Routine Syrian Jan oil exports cloud Iraq pipeline issue
January 10, 2001 Reuters By Jonathan Leff
LONDON, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Syria's crude oil export plans are back to normallevels in January after a surge in
December sales raised speculation of unauthorised pipeline imports from Iraq.
But market sources say extra barrels could still surface, either through additions to the programme later in the month
or by Syria quietly slipping extra cargoes to discreet parties. Oil companies that buy Syrian crude said the country's
Syrian 19ht programme for this month calls for some 14 to 15 standard cargoes, four lower than December when
exports were some 25 to 40 percentabove the monthly average. The schedule for Syria's heavy.Souedie crude counts
six lifters, although only one is taking a full80,OOO tonne stem with the remainder top-ups. Souedie plans comprise
the equivalent of about three to three and a half cargoes. A normal monthly programme is about four cargoes while
December's rose to almost double that. "On the surface it alllooks quite average," said one long-time lifter of Syrian
oiL "But I suspect the pipeline is still flowing and extra sales are going on the quiet."
IRAQ PIPELINE
The additional exports last month followed the reopening of a pipeline from Iraq in November, which industry
sources said Syria was using to import about 150,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Iraqi crud,e for use in their domestic
refineries. This freed up the additional volumes of Syria's own crude for export, as the country is unable to increase
production without diverting supplies from its plants. Other traders say the lack of extra exports means the pipeline
is off line, at least for the moment.
"This (cutback) would imply that the pipeline isn't flowing," said a trader with an oil major. "I think that's the case,
as we asked for extra barrels and were told no." Another trader added,: "They were testing it before, but now I think
they want official approval before they do more."
The United Nations, which regulates Iraq's oil exports as part of sanctions imposed after the Gulf War, has not formally
approved any pipeline exports to Syria although diplomats have said they would do so if Damascus asked
for permission. Syrian officials have told the United Nations that the pipeline is not in operation, most recently in
December when the world body pressed the issue amid reports that the country had raised its export volumes.
Analysts say the United States may have ignored the exports to avoid antagonising Arab public opinion as it
attempts to mediate Middle East peace talks. Meanwhile, Syria could be using a discreet intermediary to move additional
cargoes. A Syrian oil industry source told Reuters that a European trading house who has been a term lifter for
several years was taking on four Syrian Light cargoes in January. But in the official monthly programme circulated
to lifters, the trader has only a single stem and has not offered any additional stems into the market. "Syria is eager
to avoid a repeat of December, when the jump in exports caused all sorts of uncomfortable questions from the United ~,
Nations," said one market source.
January
Iraq resumes normal exports from Gulf port: Press
10, 2001 Agence France Presse
BAGHDAD: Iraq has resumed normal oil exports from its Gulf port of Mina al-Bakr following a month-long interruption
due to a dispute with the UN over prices, an official daily AI-Qadissaya reported Tuesday. Seven oil tankers
have been loaded over the past 10 days, "loading operations are now continuing normally and other tankers are
expected at the (Mina al-Bakr) terminal in the coming days", the newspaper said. The paper added that exports were
going ahead "despite the refusal of the UN sanctions committee to approve contracts for spare parts to rehabilitate
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