Chaired by PM Barzani, top Kurdistan Region officials hold emergency meeting to address key issues
Prime Minister Barzani emphasized that the primary objective of the meeting was to safeguard the interests of the Kurdish people, a responsibility he described as “historical and national.”
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – On Saturday, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani along with top KRG officials convened an urgent meeting in Baghdad to discuss critical issues related to the Kurdish people’s rights and the Kurdistan Region’s financial standing, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Prime Minister Barzani emphasized that the primary objective of the meeting was to safeguard the interests of the Kurdish people, a responsibility he described as “historical and national.” He reiterated that KRG representatives must protect Kurdish financial rights, stressing the importance of addressing multiple national issues beyond the recurring salary disputes. These included the implementation of Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution, the fate of disputed territories, compensation for the destruction of 4,500 Kurdish villages, and the rights of Peshmerga forces.
“We cannot allow our problems to be reduced to the issue of salaries,” Barzani remarked, expressing concern that Baghdad has increasingly focused the discourse on the Kurdish people's salary payments, overshadowing broader issues that impact the region’s autonomy and rights.
The Prime Minister also pointed out the discrepancy in how Baghdad treats the Kurdistan Region, which he claimed is not in line with the federal principles outlined in Iraq’s Constitution. He criticized the federal government for disregarding Kurdish rights.
In a detailed presentation, KRG ministers including those from Finance and Economy, Natural Resources, and Peshmerga Affairs provided reports documenting violations of constitutional rights and the unfair treatment of the Kurdish people. They called for coordinated efforts among Kurdish political parties and KRG representatives in Baghdad to ensure timely salary payments and recognition of the Kurdistan Region as a federal entity.
The meeting concluded with a set of decisions aimed at addressing the financial and constitutional challenges facing the region:
1. KRG representatives in Baghdad will work to secure full salaries for the Kurdistan Region for all twelve months, emphasizing the region's right to be treated as a federal entity.
2. The Ministry of Finance and Economy will collaborate on reviewing the budget, ensuring the Kurdistan Region’s fair share based on constitutional principles and federal decisions.
3. Efforts will be made to ensure the Kurdistan Region’s share of the federal budget is based on the most recent census and is in line with the principles of justice, ensuring equitable distribution of resources.
Prior to the statement, Prime Minister Barzani described Iraqi government actions as "oppressive and unjust."
Read More: PM Masrour Barzani Denounces Baghdad's 'Unjust Treatment,' Calls for Constitutional Reset
