Iraq’s Budget Approach Aims to Economically Undermine Kurdistan, Says KRG Minister
“The current situation cannot continue. Neither the international community nor the Iraqi framework will accept it. We trust the capacity of the KRG and the leadership of the PM to find a solution,” said Sadiq.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The Kurdistan Region’s Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs on Thursday accused the Iraqi government of deliberately creating economic hardships for the Kurdish people by withholding salaries and budget allocations since 2014.
Speaking at a press conference, Minister Pishtiwan Sadiq stated that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) holds constitutional rights that guarantee the full entitlements of the Kurdish population. However, he emphasized that Baghdad continues to violate these rights, intentionally causing difficulties for the people of the Kurdistan Region.
“We have a constitution that clearly outlines the rights of the Kurdish people,” said Sadiq. “Yet, Iraqi authorities persistently stand against the Kurds, creating crises through mechanisms like salary cuts and budget withholding.”
The minister argued that the financial crisis is part of a broader set of disputes with Baghdad, including territorial disagreements. “If a people lose their land, they lose everything. The issue of land is vital for us,” he stressed.
Despite his criticism, Sadiq also expressed optimism, stating that the salary issue must be resolved. “The current situation cannot continue. Neither the international community nor the Iraqi framework will accept it. We trust the capacity of the Kurdistan government and the leadership of the Prime Minister to find a solution,” he said.
“There is no real problem between Erbil and Baghdad,” Sadiq continued. “The issue lies in Baghdad’s deliberate attempt to weaken the Kurdistan Region economically, not due to any administrative or legal dispute.”
The remarks come amid ongoing tensions between Erbil and Baghdad over financial entitlements, with repeated delays in the transfer of salaries and federal budget shares to the Kurdistan Region.
