SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region — Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister Masrour Barzani visited Baghdad on Thursday for talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and other Iraqi officials, signaling a key step in improving cooperation between the regional and central governments.
During the meeting with PM Sudani, they discussed the enhancement of bilateral relations across various sectors such as the economy and sustainable development. Emphasis was placed on the importance of ongoing dialogue to address issues within legal and constitutional frameworks, as stated by the Iraqi Prime Minister’s media office.
“We must resolve our differences through dialogue and understanding to prioritize cooperation and economic growth,” said PM Barzani on X.
I’m in Baghdad to bring renewed certainty to this important relationship.
We must resolve our differences through dialogue and understanding to prioritize cooperation and economic growth.
Our peoples deserve stability -mb.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) May 30, 2024
Prime Minister Barzani’s visit coincides with the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga and security forces experiencing nearly two months of unpaid salaries.
Peshawa Hawramani, the spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), revealed in a statement that during Prime Minister Barzani’s visit to Baghdad, several critical issues would be addressed.
These include the payment of the Region’s civil servants’ salaries, the outstanding salaries of security forces, the resumption of oil exports, and the discussion of wheat products from the Kurdistan Region.
“The Kurdistan Region is earnestly committed to resolving all issues with the federal government in accordance with the constitution, while safeguarding the rights of its people,” said Hawramani.
The visit also aligns with the recent announcement from the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources, stating on Wednesday their readiness to enter discussions with Iraq and international oil companies regarding the resumption of oil exports.
