PM Barzani Meets KRG Negotiating Delegation on Talks with Baghdad
The delegation presented an update on their talks in Baghdad, which focused on technical and legal matters between the two sides.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met on Sunday with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) negotiating delegation to review the latest round of discussions with the Iraqi federal government, the KRG Department of Media and Information announced.
The delegation presented an update on their talks in Baghdad, which focused on technical and legal matters between the two sides.
The meeting highlighted the importance of continuing the negotiation process and accelerating efforts to secure a comprehensive agreement that guarantees the Kurdistan Region’s constitutional and legal rights, including the salaries and financial entitlements of its citizens.
The salary dispute has been one of the most contentious issues in relations between Baghdad and Erbil. For years, delays and disagreements over budget transfers and oil revenues have led to recurring crises, leaving hundreds of thousands of public employees in the Kurdistan Region without regular salaries.
Oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline have been suspended since March 2023 following a ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) that halted independent Kurdish oil sales. Oil exports have long been a contentious issue between the KRG and the federal government, impacting the region's economic stability and development.
The suspension has significantly affected the KRG's revenue, which heavily depends on oil exports. This has led to financial challenges for the region. Efforts to resolve the issue through negotiations between the KRG and the federal government are ongoing.
Additionally, the Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Shakhawan Abdullah, launched a scathing critique of the federal government on Sunday, accusing it of intentionally delaying salary payments to the Kurdistan Region’s public sector employees and taking pleasure in their hardships.
His remarks came as the first installment of the long-overdue June salaries was finally transferred, highlighting a persistent and deeply damaging issue that Kurdish leaders have repeatedly condemned as a tool of political pressure and a violation of constitutional rights.
Read More: Iraqi Government 'Enjoys Tormenting' KRG Employees, Says Shakhawan Abdullah
The delayed salary payments have caused significant hardship for public sector employees in the Kurdistan Region, exacerbating financial instability and deepening mistrust between the KRG and the federal government. This ongoing dispute underscores the urgent need for a sustainable resolution to ensure economic stability and uphold constitutional obligations.
