SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani said on Wednesday the way the Iraqi government deals with the Kurdistan Region is “unhealthy” and is not a behavior of federal system.
Barzani said in a press conference in Paris that there was a “fundamental” issue in the relationship between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad.
“The problem is that the way Baghdad deals with the Region is not a federal system behavior,” Barzani said. “How Baghdad deals with the Region is unhealthy regarding the budget.”
“It was always attempted to show that the issue was the Kurdistan Region for not passing budget, but it is clear now that the Region is not responsible for the delay,” he added.
The Iraqi Council of Representatives is scheduled to hold a session on Wednesday to vote on the draft federal budget law for 2021.
On Sunday, the parliament once again failed to vote on the budget bill due to disputes between parties over several issues including loans and dinar exchange rate in the bill.
A lawmaker told Al Forat News that articles related to contracts, dinar exchange rate, internally displaced persons and the reconstructions of devastated areas were reasons why the parliament failed to hold its session on Sunday.
The 150-trillion-dinar budget bill was approved and sent to the parliament in December, with an estimate of 58-trillion-dinar deficit.
The draft law gives an anticipated exchange rate of 1,450 Iraqi dinars for the dollar.
The Region’s president also said French President Emmanuel Macron had a “fundamental role” in resolving differences between Erbil and Baghdad.
“If it was not for him, our job would have been very difficult. We have expressed our gratitude to France in particular to President Macron,” he added.
Barzani arrived in Paris on Monday night and met with Macron at the Elysee Palace on Tuesday.
Barzani said in a tweet that they had discussed bilateral relations and the latest developments in Iraq and the region.
“I am delighted to have met my friend President @EmmanuelMacron today in Paris. I reiterated my appreciation for France’s continued support to the Kurdistan Region. We discussed bilateral ties, pressing Iraqi and regional issues, as well as opportunities and challenges ahead.”
