KRG cabinet reviews economy, reiterates call to solve Baghdad disputes
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Prime Minister of the autonomous Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani on Wednesday restated his autonomous government’s call to resolve longstanding disputes with Baghdad “in accordance with the constitution of Iraq,” as Kurdish politicians often say.
His comment came during Wednesday’s meeting of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Council of Ministers, where he also wished success to the new federal government of Iraq headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, according to the KRG press office.
The cabinet discussed proposed draft bills regulating the selling and renting of public properties, investment, and patients' rights. Relevant departments in the KRG were assigned to prepare final drafts for parliament to eventually vote on.
During the meeting, ministers also reviewed the faltering economy, affected deeply by the various far-reaching ramifications of COVID-19 outbreaks across the globe.
“The Kurdistan Region is going through difficult economic times due to falling oil prices and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and must make adjustments due to limited financial resources,” Barzani said.
He called for a review of the economy in light of the regional financial downturn and underlined the importance of continuing to implement his cabinet’s key Reform Law, passed in January, that was the centerpiece of his administration before the pandemic took over the world's headlines.
Read More: Kurdistan PM calls on ministers to implement key reform package
Underlining the current economic crisis, Prime Minister Barzani said the KRG will do its best to pay public sector salaries and reiterated his commitment to continue providing public services and strengthening the region's infrastructure.
Last week, a KRG delegation traveled to the Iraqi capital to continue Erbil–Baghdad talks about oil disputes and the federal government's resulting decision in April to suspend payments of the Kurdistan Region's share of the national budget.
Read More: KRG delegation heads back to Baghdad for talks on oil, budget freeze
The team, led by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, returned to Baghdad for the second time in as many weeks for high-level discussions with top officials following the Iraqi Council of Ministers' abrupt order to the federal finance ministry to immediately freeze funds already allocated to the autonomous region.
In another part of Wednesday's cabinet meeting, Talabani provided an update on recent discussions with federal authorities on budgetary issues and oil exports, saying that his dialogue with Baghdad will continue to find common ground to reach a deal on the issues that have plagued each successive administration since 2003 in both Erbil and Baghdad.
Editing by John J. Catherine