Salaries of KRG employees on top of the agenda
Barzani meets with Al-Sudani in Baghdad to address outstanding issues
BAGHDAD — Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani arrived in Baghdad on Thursday to discuss outstanding issues between the KRG and the federal government, including disputes over salaries and security matters, with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and other officials.
A KRG statement conveyed Barzani’s message: “We are in Baghdad to emphasize securing the rights of the people of Kurdistan and resolving disputes through dialogue based on the constitution. Priority should be given to achieving strong security and a robust economy.”
A statement from Al-Sudani’s office said the two leaders “examined common issues and emphasized the continuation of constructive meetings and dialogue to address these issues in accordance with the law and constitutional provisions, with the aim of serving the country’s supreme interest.”
Barzani’s visit to Baghdad came amid disputes between Baghdad and Erbil over the salaries of KRG civil servants. Although the federal Ministry of Finance had sent the funds to Kurdistan to cover the April salaries, it withheld salaries of the KRG security forces on the ground that the exact names of members of those forces have not been dispatched to Baghdad. KRG has refused to share exact names due to the sensitive nature of the matter, instead sending the codes of those forces.
Kurdistan Region’s leaders have made several trips to Baghdad in recent months to hash out agreements with federal authorities over questions of budget, salaries, parliamentary elections, and security in Kurdistan.
Barzani also held an “amicable” meeting with Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim Al-Araji, with both sides stressing the need to resolve pending disputes between the two governments.
KRG to transfer non-oil revenue to federal Finance Ministry
