Iraq says no special deals for Russia

Iraq’s national oil company will develop the country’s giant West Qurna field and decide which foreign companies to work with, the country’s oil minister said today, after meeting with the top executive from the Russian oil giant seeking to resume its work at the field.

Husayn al-Shahristani told reporters in Moscow that OAO Lukoil’s previous experience in Iraq gives it a competitive advantage in gaining new contracts there, but the company will get no special treatment from the government.