Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (gov.krd) – A Kurdistan Regional Government senior delegation, headed by Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani was received in Baghdad yesterday by Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and a number of Iraq’s federal government officials. The two sides held two meetings during this one day visit of the Kurdistan Region delegation to Baghdad.

The main objective of the meetings was to discuss the implementation of the agreement reached last December between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Federal Government of Iraq on oil export and budgetary issues.

During the meeting, it became apparent that due to the financial crisis in Iraq and the lack of liquidity, the Iraqi government is unable to pay the Kurdistan Region’s share of January and February from the federal budget.

The two sides agreed to continue holding further talks in order to find an appropriate solution to the situation.

Regarding the implementation of the December agreement, the Kurdistan Regional Government delegation presented a timetable for the export of oil from the Kurdistan Region, which was accepted by the Federal Government of Iraq. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the agreement, while working to settle the immediate problem facing the agreement due to the financial crisis that affects whole of Iraq.

The two sides also discussed the latest developments in Iraq, the war against the Islamic State terrorist organization, ISIS, and the importance of coordination between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi Army in the fight against terrorism.

In his visit to Baghdad, Prime Minister Barzani was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, the Chief of Staff to President of the Kurdistan Region, Dr. Fuad Hussein, Minister of Natural Resources, Ashti Hawrami, Minister of Planning, Ali Sindi, Minister of Finance and Economy, Rebaz Muhammad and KRG spokesperson, Minister Safeen Dizayee.