Erbil, Kurdistan Region, February 1, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani received today in Erbil the US Consul General to the Kurdistan Region, Mr. Irvin Hicks Jr.

Discussions focused on the latest political developments in the Kurdistan Region and the meetings between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. In this regard, the US Consul General welcomed the dialogue and efforts to resolve the issues of both sides and stressed that the United States attaches great importance to the relations of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region with the US.

The reform process and reorganization of the Peshmerga was also discussed at the meeting. President Nechirvan Barzani stressed the importance of the continuity and success of the process and thanked the United States for its cooperation and support. For his part, the US Consul General expressed the importance that his country attaches to the reform and the efforts to speed up the process.

The meeting also discussed the issues between Erbil and Baghdad, preparing the visit of a US business delegation to the Kurdistan Region in the near future, human rights issues, freedom of press, freedom of expression and other issues of mutual interest.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, February 1, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani received United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Mike Bryson-Richardson in Erbil on Wednesday.

The two sides discussed the latest political developments in Iraq, relations between Erbil and Baghdad and the developments in the wider region.

Regarding the situation in the Kurdistan Region, the UK Ambassador welcomed the meeting between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, expressing his country’s support for the ongoing dialogue between the two sides and the resolution of the problems through negotiations.

They also discussed the issue of oil and gas laws, the Iraqi budget and the decisions of the Federal Supreme Court and their negative impact on the political climate in the country. In this regard, Ambassador Bryson-Richardson stressed that his country encourages Erbil and Baghdad to resolve their issues through talks.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-uk-ambassador-2/

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, January 25, 2023

The decision of the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court, which was issued today and ruled that the payment of financial entitlements and salaries of Kurdistan Region employees by the Iraqi Federal Government in the years 2021 and 2022 is not valid, is a completely unfair and abusive decision. The ruling targets not only the public employees and the people of Kurdistan who are Iraqi citizens, but also the entire political process and stability and the agreement on which the new Iraqi Federal Government is founded.

Iraq went through a long and complicated political process of instability until a government was finally formed in Baghdad which the Iraqi people pinned their hope on for a stable and better future. Every expectation from the Iraqi Supreme Court was that by protecting the interests of all Iraqi communities and by taking into account the political situation, it would avoid distorting the existing opportunity and the current positive atmosphere to resolve the country’s problems, especially the problems between Erbil and Baghdad, and also avoid endangering the political stability of Iraq.

The decision of the Iraqi Supreme Federal Court at this time raises doubts and leaves many question marks. It also raises the issue of urgency in ratifying a new law to reconfigure the Court, which is an important and main part of the agreement among the political parties to form the new Iraqi federal government.

Nechirvan Barzani
The President of the Kurdistan Region

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/a-statement-from-president-nechirvan-barzani-on-the-decision-of-the-federal-supreme-court-of-iraq/

Erbil, Kurdistan Region (GOV.KRD) - Prime Minister Masrour Barzani spoke by phone tonight with White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk.

During the call, the MENA Coordinator reflected on his recent visit to Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region, where he met with a number of officials about the next steps to resolve Baghdad-Erbil issues on the budget and other issues. He also stressed the importance of Kurdish unity and improving relations between the KDP and the PUK.

The recent decision by the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court to deny the payment of the Kurdistan Region’s share of the budget for the last two months of 2022 was also discussed. PM expressed his disappointment with the Court’s ruling in light of the “positive atmosphere” and improving relations between Erbil and Baghdad. He described the ruling as “politically motivated” and an overreach of the Court’s authority. At the end of last year. Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani made the executive decision to send $260 million owed to the Kurdistan Regional Government.

The US envoy confirmed his country’s support for Peshmerga reforms, developments in the energy sector, infrastructure improvements. and combating climate change.

They both agreed on the need to remove all obstacles to the development of the energy sector, and greater U.S. investment in the Kurdistan region. They concluded the call by agreeing to stay in close contact.