ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The KRG warned Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi against depending on “false information” when it comes to the Regional government’s finances and said it is time for “serious talks,” in the latest round of back-and-forth in the media between the two governments.
Abadi’s figures are based on “completely false information,” said KRG spokesperson Safeen Dizayee on Wednesday, responding to statements Abadi made in a press conference on Tuesday.
The Iraqi prime minister will realize he has depended on false information when the KRG publishes an audit by Deloitte, Dizayee added.
Abadi had challenged the Kurdish record on transparency over oil exports and revenues.
“Publish the figures about how much you exported, at which price, and where the money went. It does not exist in the Kurdistan Region at all. It did not enter bank accounts of the Region. In which bank account is there the money? Where did it go, and how have the funds been used?” Abadi said on Tuesday.
He also raised the issue of the KRG state salaries, claiming Baghdad has not received the Region’s employee list despite claims from Erbil to the contrary.
Dizayee said they have sent the employee lists of the education and health ministries, but “nothing practical” has resulted.
A delegation from the two KRG ministries traveled to Baghdad last week to hand over the information and meet with Iraqi officials.
Abadi has said his government is “committed” to paying the salaries of the Kurdistan Region, but “in our own way, not their way.”
He has also claimed that the KRG exports enough oil to pay its salaries itself.
Relations between Erbil and Baghdad reached an all-time low in mid-October when Iraqi forces took control of the disputed areas following Kurdistan’s independence vote in September.
The two sides have yet to commit to political dialogue despite repeated calls from international allies. Abadi on Tuesday ordered resumption of security talks between the two sides and announced a delegation will discuss international borders with the KRG, another contentious issue.
Abadi’s figures are based on “completely false information,” said KRG spokesperson Safeen Dizayee on Wednesday, responding to statements Abadi made in a press conference on Tuesday.
The Iraqi prime minister will realize he has depended on false information when the KRG publishes an audit by Deloitte, Dizayee added.
Abadi had challenged the Kurdish record on transparency over oil exports and revenues.
“Publish the figures about how much you exported, at which price, and where the money went. It does not exist in the Kurdistan Region at all. It did not enter bank accounts of the Region. In which bank account is there the money? Where did it go, and how have the funds been used?” Abadi said on Tuesday.
He also raised the issue of the KRG state salaries, claiming Baghdad has not received the Region’s employee list despite claims from Erbil to the contrary.
Dizayee said they have sent the employee lists of the education and health ministries, but “nothing practical” has resulted.
A delegation from the two KRG ministries traveled to Baghdad last week to hand over the information and meet with Iraqi officials.
Abadi has said his government is “committed” to paying the salaries of the Kurdistan Region, but “in our own way, not their way.”
He has also claimed that the KRG exports enough oil to pay its salaries itself.
Relations between Erbil and Baghdad reached an all-time low in mid-October when Iraqi forces took control of the disputed areas following Kurdistan’s independence vote in September.
The two sides have yet to commit to political dialogue despite repeated calls from international allies. Abadi on Tuesday ordered resumption of security talks between the two sides and announced a delegation will discuss international borders with the KRG, another contentious issue.
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