KRG delegation convenes with US, UK envoys amid stalemate between regional, federal government

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani convened in Baghdad with the British and American ambassadors to Iraq on Thursday to discuss the latest round of talks between the regional and federal government on the pending issues.

The two ambassadors threw their support behind reaching an agreement between the KRG and federal government, a statement from the KRG read, so the two governments can dedicate their efforts to tackle other issues, particularly the coronavirus and the resurgence of the so-called Islamic State in the disputed territories.

A high-level delegation from the KRG headed by Talabani and relevant ministers arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday to start a new round of talks in an effort to solve the outstanding problems between Erbil and Baghdad.

The KRG delegation is expected to have its last meeting with the federal delegation on Thursday to reach a “comprehensive” agreement on the pending issues between the two governments, according to the KRG statement.

On June 20, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani held a series of meetings with senior officials from the federal government as well as political bloc leaders, focusing on the financial crisis and the consequences of the pandemic on Iraq.

They also discussed the outstanding issues between the regional and federal governments, and highlighted economy and security among other things.

Oil and budget have been the major source of dispute between the central government in Baghdad and the KRG since the region began to export its oil independently.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany