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February 27, 2009
No. 14159

Iraqi Oil Ministry: Pres Talabani Has No Authority To Sign Economic Contracts

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani yesterday completed his four-day visit to South Korea, and departed for Tehran.

In an announcement, his office announced that Talabani had signed an economic-strategic memorandum of understanding with South Korea.

The Korean president's office said that he had signed $3.5 billion in oil contracts.

However, the Iraqi Oil Ministry clarified that Talabani's role is symbolic and that only the central government in Baghdad can sign economic contracts.

Source: Al-Hayat, London, February 27, 2009

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