Iraq: Changes in the Oil Ministry expected in two monthsnote

Iraqi Finance Minister Bayan Baqer Solag, widely known as Bayan Jabr, is expressing reticence about how the Iraqi Oil Ministry is managing the contracts and deals with the foreign companies. A source close to the Iraqi Oil Ministry says that Finance Minister can oppose the contracts, but this gives him no right to interfere in the Oil Ministry’s internal affairs. The following 304-word newswire focuses on the issue as well as on the extent of possible changes in the Oil Ministry, state-owned South Oil Company (SOC) and North Oil Company (NOC).