Iraqi president discusses outstanding issues with Kurdistan President
The Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and President of Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani. Photo: Iraqi Presidency
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi President, Abdul Latif Rashid, met on Tuesday with the President of Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, in Erbil to discuss the general situations in Iraq, according to a press statement issued by the Iraqi Presidency.
The statement mentioned that the meeting addressed the relations between Baghdad and Erbil where Rashid and Barzani highlighted the importance of a constructive dialogue to resolve the outstanding issues between the federal government and Kurdistan government in accordance with the constitution, and in a manner that guarantees the rights of all citizens and secures their needs.
Barzani expressed his confidence in Rashid to play an important role in resolving the outstanding issues, stressing Kurdistan’s desire to enhance dialogue and reach solutions based on the stipulations of the Iraqi constitution to guarantee common interests, according to the statement.
Baghdad and Erbil are disagreeing on issues related to oil exports, the country’s budget, and the Peshmerga deployment in the disputed areas.
The Prime Minister of Kurdistan, Masrour Barzani, directed last week to form a ministerial delegation to start discussions with the central government in Baghdad.
During the period of the government of former Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi that ended in 2020, both sides concluded an agreement that requires Baghdad to pay all the salaries of Kurdistan region for the first time since 2014. In return, Erbil would deliver the revenue of 250,000 barrels of oil out of nearly 500,000 barrels that Kurdistan exports independently, according to Shafaq News.
Baghdad said Erbil did not adhere to this agreement and the Kurdish government confirmed it fulfilled its promises, Shafaq News mentioned.
In May 2020, former Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi decided to stop paying the salaries of the employees in Kurdistan government, reaching nearly 500 million USD per month, due to the financial crisis.
The meeting between the two leaders took place a day after the Iranian Revolutionary Guards launched a missile attack targeting the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) in Koysanjak district in Koya town of Erbil governorate.