KRG challenges Abadi

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi voiced readiness to send the salaries of Kurdistan Region's employees, including that of Peshmerga forces.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) stated they are ready to accept the PM’s offer, albeit with conditions.

Abadi, in an interview on state-owned television, stated that “The Iraqi government will pay the salaries of government employees in Kurdistan Region if the KRG delivers oil revenues to Baghdad.”

In a statement released on the KRG website on Tuesday responding to Abadi’s offer it read, “The [Kurdistan] Region would accept Haider Abadi’s offer on delivery of the Kurdish oil exports to the Iraqi Federal Government in exchange for sending the salaries of 1.4 million employees.” 

The statement added, “The Region needs 890 billion IQD [Iraqi Dinar] per month to pay salaries, including 336 billion IQD for the Peshmerga forces.”

The KRG criticized the Iraqi PM for proposing solutions to the current outstanding issues between Erbil and Baghdad in a TV interview. “...as a statesman he [Abadi] could have raised the matters through formal channels and meetings, particularly since a high-level KRG delegation recently visited Baghdad and met with Abadi.”

The statement added that Abadi has made unfounded allegations against Peshmerga forces who have been sacrificing their lives on a daily basis. His comments regarding Peshmerga were both unconscionable and irresponsible.

In response to Abadi’s offer, KRG Deputy PM Qubad Talabani said on his official Facebook page that "If Baghdad pays the full salaries of Kurdistan Region's employees, including the Peshmerga, we can naturally and easily agree with it.”

Reporting by Baxtiyar Goran

Editing by Ava Homa and Benjamin Kweskin