Monitor

KRG PM, US national security advisor discuss cabinet formation, oil exports

ERBIL– Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani held a phone call with U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz on Friday. According to a statement from Barzani, the two officials “discussed ways to advance the relationship between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq with the United States.”

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Barzani said both sides agreed on “the need for a new KRG cabinet to be formed as soon as possible” and emphasized the importance of resuming oil exports from the Kurdistan Region.

The Kurdistan Region held parliamentary elections for its 100-seat legislative chamber on Oct. 20, 2024. Preliminary results were released the following day, and final results were officially announced on Oct. 30.

After review and validation by the judicial committee supervising the elections, the Kurdistan Democratic Party emerged as the largest party, winning 39 seats, followed by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan with 23 seats. Both the KDP and PUK are engaged in a series of meetings and discussions at multiple levels to finalize an agreement on forming the government and distributing positions. 

The budget amendments, passed by the Iraqi Parliament in earlier February this year, cleared the way for a potential resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region. Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region via Turkey’s Ceyhan port were halted on March 25, 2023, following an international arbitration ruling in Paris against Turkey in a case filed by Iraq.

Statement from PM Masrour Barzani:

I spoke with the U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz by phone today.

During the call, we discussed ways to advance the relationship between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq with the United States.

We agreed on the need for a new KRG cabinet to be formed as soon as possible and reaffirmed the need to resume oil exports from the Kurdistan Region as soon as possible.

We also discussed the rapid developments in the Middle East and the importance of maintaining stability in the region