Kurdistan Region Calls for U.S. Support Amid Baghdad’s Constitutional Violations

Feb. 1, 2025

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a bid to safeguard the Kurdistan Region’s democratic integrity and economic stability, KRG Minister of Transportation and Communications Ano Jawhar met with researchers and leaders from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) in the United States on Friday.

The discussions underlined Baghdad’s retreat from constitutional commitments, the economic challenges facing the region, and the pressing need for international diplomatic support.

Baghdad’s Non-Implementation of Constitutional Commitments

During the meeting, Minister Jawhar underlined mounting concerns over Baghdad’s failure to uphold 52 key articles of the Iraqi Constitution, many of which directly affect the Kurdistan Region’s autonomy and financial entitlements.

These constitutional breaches, he warned, challenge the democratic framework that has made Kurdistan a model of stability and ethnic-religious coexistence in the Middle East.

The failure to implement these provisions has corroded trust between Erbil and Baghdad, especially in matters related to resource management and financial agreements.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has long advocated for a constitutional resolution that guarantees the region’s rightful share of Iraq’s federal budget, yet these commitments remain largely unfulfilled.

Economic Hardships: Oil Exports and Salary Withholding

Another crucial point of the discussions was the suspension of Kurdistan’s oil exports and Baghdad’s withholding of public sector salaries for Kurdistan Region employees.

Minister Jawhar highlighted that these actions have put immense strain on the region’s economic stability, worsening financial hardships for thousands of government workers and further endangering development initiatives.

The oil dispute has been a longstanding point of controversy between Erbil and Baghdad.

Following international arbitration rulings and Baghdad’s push for centralized control over oil revenues, the KRG has faced increasing pressure to comply with federal directives, often at the expense of its own economic sovereignty.

The meeting with FDD underlined the necessity for U.S. and international intervention to ensure that Baghdad adheres to its fiscal commitments to the Kurdistan Region.

KRG’s Commitment to Democracy, Religious Tolerance, and Coexistence

Minister Jawhar reiterated the Kurdistan Region’s steadfast commitment to democracy, pluralism, and the protection of religious and ethnic minorities.

Unlike many parts of the Middle East, Kurdistan has been generally recognized as a safe haven for diverse communities, including Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Turkmen, Yezidis, and Christians.

The KRG remains dedicated to upholding these values both in policy and practice, ensuring that tolerance and coexistence remain at the core of its governance model.

By engaging with institutions such as the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, the KRG is seeking greater international recognition of its efforts to maintain regional stability and defend democratic values in Iraq.

The Role of the United States in Exerting Diplomatic Pressure

The meeting concluded with an urgent call for the U.S. and its allies to exert diplomatic pressure on Baghdad to honor its constitutional obligations toward the Kurdistan Region.

The KRG has long maintained that the U.S. plays a central role in ensuring stability and protecting democratic governance in Iraq, especially as regional power struggles threaten to undermine Iraq’s federal system.

Minister Jawhar underlined that American diplomatic engagement is crucial to resolving outstanding disputes, particularly in securing the release of Kurdistan’s budgetary allocations and preventing further economic destabilization.

Kurdistan’s Diplomatic Push for Stability

This meeting with FDD signals the Kurdistan Region’s ongoing efforts to amplify its concerns on the international stage.

As Baghdad continues to evade constitutional commitments, Erbil is bolstering its outreach to Western policymakers in hopes of securing stronger diplomatic backing and ensuring the region’s long-term stability.

With economic pressures mounting and constitutional violations persisting, the KRG remains steadfast in its push for accountability, seeking both regional and international support to uphold the democratic values that have defined the Kurdistan Region’s governance.