SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Kurdistan Region Finance Minister Awat Sheikh Janab received U.S. Consul General Irvin Hicks Jr in the Region’s capital, Erbil, on Monday where the official revealed that they will go to Baghdad shortly for talks on the 2023 budget law.
“In the next few days we will head to Baghdad to secure the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) share in the Federal budget,” Sheikh Janab told Hicks Jr.
“We hope for a good beginning to understanding the negotiations so that the Kurdish people’s rights will be fulfilled safely,” he added.
Earlier, Esta Media Network learned that a delegation from KRG is expected to pay a visit to Baghdad this week for talks on financial issues with Iraqi officials.
The delegation will also hold talks, aiming to discuss and implement an agreement between the Kurdish, Sunni, and Shiite parties regarding the same matter.
The relations between the KRG and the Federal Government have been rocky since the Region developed its own oil and gas resources independently of the federal government.
The Region’s massive untapped oil reserves, lucrative production-sharing contracts and safe environment have prompted international oil companies over recent years to commit to investing billions of dollars there.
However, the Federal government has protested against that move by the KRG, showing tough stances several times by issuing decisions against the Region as well as cutting its monthly share in the country’s budget.
Kurdistan Region Finance Minister in the meeting with the U.S. Consul General has also underscored that their next visit to the Iraqi capital will touch up the oil and gas issue as well.
“Our aim is to discuss the 2023 budget law,” he said. “The oil and gas issue must be resolved in accordance with the constitution,” he added.
Apart from these talks, the Finance Minister affirmed support for the new Iraqi government from all aspects, further hoping to achieve the right of the Kurdish people in the framework of the constitution.
