Kurdistan President calls for UN mediation to resolve Baghdad-Erbil budget dispute
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani called on the United Nation's envoy to Iraq to mediate between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal Iraqi government to resolve renewed budget disputes.
President Barzani's call came during a meeting he had with United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq Jeanine Hennis- Plasschaert. He described Baghdad's recent decision to suspend sending KRG its share of the national budget as "unconstitutional" and "unlawful."
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"The KRG budget and salaries must not be politicized," read a statement from the Kurdistan Region's Presidency office. It added that Barzani had asked the UN Special Representative "to mediate in resolving the ongoing dispute."
On Monday, Plasschaert held a meeting with Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, during which the premier stated the federal government's move was "political pressure against the people of the Kurdistan Region," an English statement on the KRG website read.
Baghdad "should not use Erbil’s budget share as a bargaining ploy," the prime minister affirmed.
Read More: Iraq cutting KRG share of budget 'illegal,' PM Barzani says
These developments come amid ongoing efforts by Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi to form a cabinet that would be accepted by the country's political elite, most notable among them leading Shia parties.
Both the Kurdistan Region president and prime minister reiterated their support for Kadhimi during their meetings with the UN envoy. President Barzani also "appreciated" the UN's role in "alleviating tensions" in Iraq as government formation negotiations continue.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Iraq, Dr. Adham Ismail, also attended the meeting alongside the UN envoy, commending KRG's successful response to COVID-19 and praising the ongoing preventive measures imposed in the region.
Editing by Kosar Nawzad