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The Energy Intelligence Group reported on 2 May "the Pentagon considers Iraqi oil sales part of its domain -- not the State Department's -- and Pentagon lawyers are investigating ways to restart Iraqi oil exports outside international control. UN resolutions still authorize Iraq's state oil marketing organization Somo to sell oil. Somo will have to be legally replaced to restart Iraqi oil exports. Oil companies say they want a solid legal regime in place before they load Iraqi crude." (1) In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Total (a French company) chief executive Thierry Desmarest stated "[Our stance] is hardly any different in form or content from what has been said by Shell and BP...If a legitimate Iraqi authority is put in place and wants to launch the development of these fields then there should be an international auction, which is transparent, giving everyone their chance and allowing the best offer to win...On the side of the US groups, we've seen positions taken, even with Exxon Mobil and ChevronTexaco, saying they would only consider undertaking that kind of investment if it was organised by a legal regime with clearly defined legitimacy." (2) 1. John van Schaik, "UN Members Push Iraqi Rebuilding Fund To Lure US", Energy Intelligence Group, 2 May 2003, http://www.energyintel.com/DocumentDetail.asp?document_id=93657 2. Martin Arnold, "France's Total confident of Iraq oil chances", Financial Times, 6 May 2003, http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1051389796545&p=1045511315869 Nathaniel Hurd Consultant on United Nations Iraq policy Tel. (Mobile): 917-407-3389 Fax: 718-504-4224 E-mail: nathaniel_hurd@hotmail.com 777 United Nations Plaza Suite 7A New York, NY 10017 _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk