Deputy Prime Minister Talabani meets with foreign missions on federal budget issues

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (GOV.KRD) – Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani today met with foreign missions and the United Nations Representation in Erbil via video conference to discuss the severe implications of the Iraqi parliament’s recent passage of the budget bill.

Joined by the Head of the Department of Foreign Relations and the Spokesperson of the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the timing of the bill and the manner in which it was passed will create issues and affect the provisional agreement between Erbil and Baghdad on federal budget allocations to the Kurdistan Regional Government until the end of 2020.

The Deputy Prime Minister added that Erbil has yet to receive its share of the federal budget from the federal government for the months of May, June and July, and previous shares sent to cover public sector salaries were partial amounts.

The Deputy Prime Minister warned against such unilateral actions for the next federal budget bill, condemning the disregard for constitutional guarantees and inclusiveness in the decision-making process, and urged for greater cooperation in the distribution of federal revenues.

He also criticised the reaction of some ruling Iraqi political parties toward the Kurdistan Region following the passage of the budget bill, stating that depriving Erbil of its financial entitlements will only threaten the stability of the country and weaken the peace between its different communities.

Following an exchange of views with foreign dignitaries, the Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed the Kurdistan Regional Government’s commitment to reaching a fair and peaceful resolution to ongoing issues.