Kurdish delegation in Baghdad to finalize oil, salary agreement with federal government

A Kurdish delegation from the federal Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) arrived in Baghdad on Monday, carrying final proposals to resolve outstanding issues between the two sides, most notably the crisis over employee salaries and oil revenues.

The visit follows mediation led by Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, described as "successful," following his meeting with senior officials in Hewler, including Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani.

Informed sources confirmed that the Kurdish delegation received a "positive response" from the regional government. The Iraqi Council of Ministers is expected to announce a final agreement during its meeting on Tuesday that will lead to the payment of salaries to Kurdistan employees, which have been suspended for more than two months.

Reports indicate that the mediation has received the support of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, in an effort to resolve the disputes impeding the approval of the oil and gas law and address constitutional issues, such as Article 140 regarding Kirkuk and the disputed areas.

In his statements, Al-Mashhadani stressed the need to keep the salary issue separate from political tensions, asserting that "the Kurdish citizen is an integral part of the Iraqi people."

He noted the government's readiness to seriously address the practical proposals presented by the Kurdish delegation, amid optimism about reaching a "roadmap" that will end the disputes and ensure financial and administrative stability between the central government and the region.

ANHA