Iraqi FM: "Regional tensions high, salary issues extend beyond Kurdistan Region"
"We are making every effort to keep Iraq away from conflict. We have been in continuous dialogue with regional officials toward this end," the Iraqi FM underscored.
Nov. 22, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein addressed regional tensions and internal financial challenges during the fifth MEPS24 forum in Dohuk on Friday emphasizing Iraq's efforts to avoid being drawn into regional conflicts.
Speaking to Kurdistan24 reporter Nawras Abdullah, Hussein highlighted the forum's timely importance: "This conference comes at a crucial moment as the Middle East navigates through complex circumstances. All participants here are experts in their fields."
"The region is going through a sensitive and complicated period, and Iraq is part of this region," Hussein stated. "We are making every effort to keep Iraq away from conflict. We have been in continuous dialogue with regional officials toward this end."
Addressing the delayed salary payments from Baghdad, the Foreign Minister offered a broader perspective: "This issue is not exclusive to the Kurdistan Region. It's connected to the overall financial situation in Iraq, and we hope to find a solution."
The Foreign Minister's comments come amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing financial challenges in Iraq.
The salary payment delays have been a persistent source of concern in the Kurdistan Region, where public sector employees have frequently faced delayed payments.
Hussein's remarks suggest the issue is part of a larger financial management challenge facing the entire country, rather than a Kurdistan-specific problem.
The statement about keeping Iraq out of regional conflicts reflects Baghdad's delicate diplomatic balancing act in an increasingly volatile Middle East, where various powers vie for influence and multiple conflicts threaten regional stability.