Peshmerga Ministry prepares package of demands for talks between Erbil, Baghdad

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Peshmerga forces have prepared an ample report which they will submit to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) ahead of its negotiations with the new Iraqi government, a senior Peshmerga official said on Saturday.

“We have prepared a comprehensive report on all the Peshmerga’s entitlements, and we will submit it to the new Kurdistan government, which in turn will negotiate with the Iraqi government,” Peshmerga Secretary-General Jabbar Yawar told Kurdistan 24.

Final results of the Kurdistan Region’s Sept. 30 parliamentary elections were revealed last week as a new government is expected to be formed soon.

Ongoing disputes between Baghdad and Erbil include a share of the national budget, oil and gas revenues, salary payment for Peshmerga forces, and the status of disputed areas among other issues.

According to KRG spokesperson Safeen Dizayee, the Kurdish government has accepted the Ministry of Peshmerga’s package of demands and will bring them forward during negotiations between the new KRG administration and the new Iraqi government.

“We will discuss payment of salaries and benefits from the Federal Government of Iraq for the Peshmerga forces during our talks with officials in Baghdad,” Dizayee told Kurdistan 24.

Senior Kurdistan Region officials have long accused Iraq of neglecting the rights of the people of Kurdistan, particularly the marginalization of Peshmerga despite it being considered part of the Iraqi defense forces.

On Saturday, Iraq’s new President Barham Salih said the formation of a new government in Baghdad could resolve outstanding issues between Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

“The differences are major and not easy to solve,” he noted, “so, they require a political will and a real desire to resolve the outstanding tensions.”