Kurdistan
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani (left) met Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani in Baghdad on April 6, 2024. Photo: Office of President Barzani
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani in Baghdad on Saturday, as Erbil is worried that recent federal court decisions are trying to weaken the Kurdistan Region’s autonomy.
After the meeting, the offices of both men issued statements that touched on the topics they discussed, but made no announcements.
"Both parties emphasized the Federal Government’s dedication to delivering essential services and addressing the needs of citizens nationwide, including in the Kurdistan Region. They also agreed on the necessity of providing support to federal institutions as well as institutions in Kurdistan Region,” read a statement from Barzani’s office.
“The significance of unified support from all Iraqi political entities and groups for the Federal Government’s reform initiatives was underscored during the meeting. This collective effort is deemed crucial for advancing comprehensive development in the country and overcoming challenges in governance and public services,” it added.
Paying Kurdistan Region’s civil servant salaries and restarting oil exports are among the main issues currently occupying Erbil and Baghdad.
Sudani’s office said the two “shared visions on a wide range of national files and issues, as well as the progress in implementing the government's program across various sectors.”
“Prime Minister Al-Sudani expressed the government's commitment to providing services and meeting the aspirations of citizens throughout Iraq, achieving performance integration between the federal authorities and the authorities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,” the statement continued.
On Wednesday, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani announced that Baghdad and Erbil had found an “appropriate” solution for the salary payments. Baghdad has been sending funds to Erbil to cover salaries, but the KRG has said the amount is not enough to meet its full payroll.
Following the meeting with Sudani, President Barzani met with the leaders of the pro-Iran Shiite Coordination Framework.
President Barzani will also meet with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and will attend a meeting of members of the Shiite-led State Administration Coalition that backs the current government.
Dilshad Shahab, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region Presidency, told Rudaw on Thursday that the discussions will primarily focus on key issues such as the Region's allocation in the federal budget, the disbursement of salaries for KRG employees, and the resumption of Kurdish oil exports that were suspended a year ago, as well as touching on “broken promises” by the State Administration Coalition.
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