ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Prime Minister Masrour Barzani told local media on Tuesday that oil exports from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) would resume “soon” after months of suspension and growing repercussions on the local economy and population.

Barzani had met with Iraqi oil minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani in Erbil on Sunday.

Following the meeting, Abdel Ghani said that he expected an agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and foreign oil companies to resume oil production within three days, Reuters reported on November 13. 

The Prime Minister of the autonomous region stressed on November 14 that the KRG had fulfilled its technical and legal obligations and had “clearly presented” evidence of this to the Abdel-Ghani and the delegation accompanying him.

State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) director Ammar al-Anbagi was among those in the delegation. 

Barzani went on to note that discussion had focused on the need for the central government in Baghdad to respect the rights of the Kurdistan Region as enshrined in the constitution.

He stated that the reason behind a delay of several months in the disbursement of public sector employees’ salaries was due to the central government not abiding by its obligations.

Several strikes have been held in recent months in different parts of the KRI by teachers, who have not been paid for months.

Economic difficulties in the KRI were compounded after Turkey suspended the flow of oil from the region through a pipeline between the two countries after a ruling by a Paris arbitration court.