Kuwaiti Oil Minister: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia Have 'Exclusive Rights' in Durra Gas Field

The Durra gas field. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Durra gas field. Asharq Al-Awsat
TT

Kuwaiti Oil Minister: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia Have 'Exclusive Rights' in Durra Gas Field

The Durra gas field. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Durra gas field. Asharq Al-Awsat

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have "exclusive rights" in the Durra gas field in the Arabian Gulf, Kuwait Oil Minister Saad Al Barrak said on Sunday, and he called on Iran to validate its claim to the field by demarcating its own maritime borders first.

Iran has previously said it has a stake in the field and called a Saudi-Kuwaiti agreement signed last year to develop it "illegal".

"Until this moment, this is an exclusive right of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in the Durra field, and whoever has a claim must start demarcating the borders. And if it has a right, it will take it according to the rules of international law," Al Barrak said in an interview with Saudi state-run Al Ekhbariya television.

"The other side has claims that are not based on a clear demarcation of the maritime borders," he added, referring to Iran.

There is no room for negotiations with Iran over Durra until it demarcates its own maritime borders in accordance with international laws, the minister said.

The minister insisted Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are “one team” when it comes to the gas field, which will be developed “for the benefit of both countries.”



China Autos Group 'Strongly Dissatisfied' with EU Anti-subsidy Tariffs

Flags of European Union and China are pictured during the China-EU summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Jason Lee//File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Flags of European Union and China are pictured during the China-EU summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Jason Lee//File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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China Autos Group 'Strongly Dissatisfied' with EU Anti-subsidy Tariffs

Flags of European Union and China are pictured during the China-EU summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Jason Lee//File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Flags of European Union and China are pictured during the China-EU summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Jason Lee//File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) is "strongly dissatisfied" with anti-subsidy tariffs proposed by the European Union, the industry group said in a statement on Saturday.

Manufacturers had cooperated with the European Commission's investigation into Chinese subsidies, but the inquiry had ignored the facts and preselected results, CAAM said in a post on the Chinese messaging app WeChat, Reuters reported.

The EU imposed tariffs of up to 37.6% on imports of electric vehicles made in China from Friday, with a four-month window during which the tariffs are provisional with intensive talks expected between the two sides.

"CAAM deeply regrets this and holds it firmly unacceptable," it said.

The provisional duties of between 17.4% and 37.6% without backdating are designed to prevent what European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said is a threatened flood of cheap Chinese electric vehicles built with state subsidies.

The EU anti-subsidy investigation has nearly four months to run.