ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) ministerial and parliamentary representatives described Iraq’s draft 2018 budget as “unclear and unconstitutional” after a meeting on Tuesday.
“The government has numerous notes on the draft and has prepared its own report on this matter. An expert legal and economic committee will accompany the delegation that will go to Baghdad to hold talks,” read a statement released by the parliament after the meeting.
The parliament’s deputy speaker Jaafar Imniki, secretary of the parliament Begard Talabani, the parliament’s economic, finance and investment committees met to discuss the budget law with the secretary of the KRG’s Council of Ministers Dr. Amanj Rahim and deputy finance minister Rabar Sidiq.
Describing the draft budget bill as “unclear and unconstitutional,” the statement highlighted concerns over Baghdad’s decision to slash the Kurdistan Region share by a quarter, allocating just 12.6 percent, down from 17 percent.
The statement did not detail plans for a visit to Baghdad, but it hints that the KRG is making preparations for talks with the central government. If and when such a trip takes place, it will be the first public talks on a political level between the two capitals since Kurdistan’s independence vote.
Military talks have been held between the Peshmerga and Iraqi armed forces.
“The government has numerous notes on the draft and has prepared its own report on this matter. An expert legal and economic committee will accompany the delegation that will go to Baghdad to hold talks,” read a statement released by the parliament after the meeting.
The parliament’s deputy speaker Jaafar Imniki, secretary of the parliament Begard Talabani, the parliament’s economic, finance and investment committees met to discuss the budget law with the secretary of the KRG’s Council of Ministers Dr. Amanj Rahim and deputy finance minister Rabar Sidiq.
Describing the draft budget bill as “unclear and unconstitutional,” the statement highlighted concerns over Baghdad’s decision to slash the Kurdistan Region share by a quarter, allocating just 12.6 percent, down from 17 percent.
The statement did not detail plans for a visit to Baghdad, but it hints that the KRG is making preparations for talks with the central government. If and when such a trip takes place, it will be the first public talks on a political level between the two capitals since Kurdistan’s independence vote.
Military talks have been held between the Peshmerga and Iraqi armed forces.
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment