and the mechanism of exchange revenue.

Kurdistan began last month to sell exported oil shipments via a new pipeline that extends to the Turkish port of Ceyhan on the Mediterranean.

About 125 thousand barrels per day of oil is being pumped across the pipeline and plans to increase exports of Kurdistan to 250 thousand barrels per day in the near term to reach up to 400 thousand barrels per day by the end of the year.

The spokesman of KRG, Safeen Dazia said in a statement reported for "Shafaq News", that “ a delegation from KRG included Vice President , Qobad Talabani , Minister of Natural Resources , Ashti Hawrami, Minister of Finance and Economy , Rebaz Mohammed and government spokesman Safeen Dszia who visited Ankara on Monday, and held a series of meetings with officials on the framework agreement on cooperation in the energy field between Kurdistan Region and Turkey.

Dazia explained that KRG delegation discussed with the Turkish side, the issue of increasing oil exports from the region to Turkey, pointing out that the Turkish side reiterated its commitment to the terms and clauses of the Joint Convention.

Kurdistan and Turkey have concluded last year agreements in the energy field including oil exports from Kurdistan region to Turkey directly via the new pipeline.

The agreement raised the anger of officials in Baghdad, who assert that the federal government has the only right to manage energy resources. It considered the exported quantities without its consent as "smuggling operation."

However, Kurdish officials assert their right to export oil under the Constitution and went ahead in the export process.