An informed government source reported today that the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government have reached a preliminary agreement that paves the way for resuming crude oil exports through the pipeline leading to the Turkish port of Ceyhan. The source said that the agreement stipulates the formation of a joint technical committee to supervise export operations and determine daily quantities in a manner that ensures the rights of both parties. He added that the agreement includes a new mechanism for depositing oil revenues in an account subject to the supervision of the Central Bank of Iraq, with financial percentages to be distributed according to the applicable federal budget. Kurdish oil exports had been halted for several months due to legal and financial disputes between the two sides, leading to accumulated financial losses for the region. Observers see this agreement as an important economic and political breakthrough that may contribute to easing tensions between Baghdad and Erbil. A technical delegation from the federal Ministry of Oil is scheduled to visit Erbil next week to begin implementing the agreement on the ground. The President of the Kurdistan Region welcomed the agreement and described it as a step towards enhancing the strategic partnership between the two sides.