Articles

Kurdish President visits Baghdad, meets officials

Amr Al Housni

May. 15, 2024 • 2 min read
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Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani's recent visit to Baghdad emphasized dialogue, economic development, and cooperation between the KRG and Iraqi federal authorities.

The President of the Kurdistan Region travelled to Baghdad on Tuesday and met with Iraqi Prime Minister and other officials from the federal government.

A statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency stated that the meeting between Nechirvan Barzani and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani “addressed various shared concerns and focused on the work program of the Federal Iraqi Government, as well as plans and strategies for promoting economic development in Iraq.”

The meeting also highlighted the importance of ongoing dialogue between the Iraqi Federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

“Both sides emphasized the need for continuous communication across all sectors to find sustainable solutions based on the principles outlined in the Constitution and the law,” the statement concluded.

The Iraqi PM’s media office said that both sides “reviewed the government's actions in implementing its strategic plans aimed at strengthening the Iraqi economy and achieving development and prosperity for all the Iraqi people."

The meeting also included discussions on several shared issues, with an emphasis on maintaining dialogue and meetings between both sides at various levels, in order to reach sustainable solutions.

Barzani later met with Fayeq Zedan, Head of the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council, in Baghdad, where he praised Zedan for his efforts in tackling the country's challenges.

They also discussed Barzani's recent visit to Tehran and his discussions with Iranian leaders.

Barzani also met Jassim Muhammad Abboud, head of the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq, during his visit.

“They discussed constitutional matters, peace, stability, and the country's overall well-being, addressing various issues concerning Iraq's current state of affairs,” according to a statement from the President’s office.

Barzani’s visit happened as a delegation from the KRG, led by Minister of Finance and Economy Awat Sheikh Janab, arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday evening.

The goal of the visit was to discuss amendments to the budget law and address any issues or obstacles that may arise during the process of amending the law pertaining to the Kurdistan Region's share of the budget.

This marks the third visit of Barzani to Baghdad since April, and the first following the Iraqi High Electoral Commission's (IHEC) decision to halt preparations for the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections.

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Author Amr Al Housni

Amr Al Housni is a Syrian news reporter based in Erbil, specializing in coverage of local and international events.

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