Prime Minister Barzani Heads to Baghdad for Talks With Iraqi PM

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani is visiting Baghdad on Monday for a series of meetings with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi and leaders of political parties, alliances, and other political figures to discuss the Kurdistan Region's budget entitlements and outstanding issues between Erbil and Baghdad.

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) spokesperson Peshawa Hawramani told Kurdistan24 that Barzani would hold talks with al-Zaidi as well as leaders of Iraqi political parties and alliances during his visit.

Hawramani said the discussions would focus on the draft federal budget law and securing the Kurdistan Region's financial entitlements.

The meetings will also address mechanisms for resolving outstanding issues between the federal government and the KRG, alongside efforts to intensify dialogue over disputed matters based on the Iraqi Constitution, existing agreements, and political understandings.

According to Hawramani, the objective is to reach common and equitable solutions to the outstanding issues between Erbil and Baghdad.

Barzani's visit marks his second trip to Baghdad this year. During his previous visit in May, he held discussions with Iraqi officials on strengthening political relations and addressing shared issues, including the federal budget and the Kurdistan Region's financial entitlements.

The latest visit also comes amid longstanding disagreements between Erbil and Baghdad over the Kurdistan Region's share of the federal budget, the payment of public-sector salaries, oil revenues, and the implementation of constitutional provisions governing relations between the two governments.

These issues have repeatedly strained relations, with successive rounds of negotiations seeking to establish sustainable financial and administrative arrangements and resolve outstanding disputes.