PM Barzani meets with Iraqi Parliament's Finance Committee
He hoped the discussions would lead to a clearer understanding of the outstanding financial issues between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government and help fairly resolve them.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani held a meeting on Wednesday with the head and members of the Finance Committee of the Iraqi Parliament. The meeting focused on key issues related to the financial entitlements and rights of the Kurdistan Region.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Barzani welcomed the delegation, emphasizing the significance of their visit. He hoped the discussions would lead to a clearer understanding of the outstanding financial issues between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government and help fairly resolve them.
Barzani reiterated the Kurdistan Region's commitment to fulfilling its constitutional duties but underscored the importance of protecting the region's rights. He called for the full implementation of the Iraqi constitution, stressing that all its articles should be applied as a unified package.
“If there is goodwill, mutual respect, and recognition of the federal system, the problems can be easily resolved,” Barzani said. “We seek the best relationship with the federal government.”
The Prime Minister also highlighted that the salaries and entitlements of the Kurdistan Region should not be politicized. He called for fair treatment, noting that the Kurdistan Region should be treated like any other part of Iraq, including the right to hire new employees in accordance with the federal budget law.
On the topic of oil exports, Barzani pointed out that the suspension of oil production in the Kurdistan Region had led to a loss of over $19 billion, affecting both the KRG and Iraq’s federal budget. He emphasized the need to resume oil exports and urged the swift passage of a federal oil and gas law to regulate the sector.
Atwan al-Atwani, head of the Finance Committee, expressed gratitude for the warm reception and commended the coordination efforts of the KRG. He affirmed the Finance Committee’s commitment to addressing these issues seriously, noting that meetings with relevant KRG officials in Erbil would continue for two days to discuss financial matters in depth.
The meeting marks a crucial step toward resolving longstanding financial disputes between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government of Iraq.
