Kurdistan
British Ambassador to Iraq Stephen Hickey speaks with Rudaw on June 15, 2021. Photo: Rudaw
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Britain’s ambassador to Iraq expressed optimism regarding future relations between Baghdad and Erbil in an exclusive interview with Rudaw on Tuesday, as the two governments came to an agreement over the allocation of federal funds after months of discussions.
“I think there is a growing recognition amongst the political class here in Baghdad that it’s important to have a stable and prosperous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and that if you have stability and prosperity in the KRI then this only helps there to be the same levels of prosperity and stability in the rest of Iraq,” Ambassador Stephen Hickey told Rudaw’s Shaho Amin on Tuesday.
Baghdad-Erbil relations have been strained because of disagreements over the Kurdistan Region’s share of federal funds and obligations under the budget. Because of the budget dispute and financial woes, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has been unable to pay its civil servants in full or on time.
On Tuesday, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani announced they had reached an agreement.
“I spoke with Mustafa Al-Kadhimi today as part of our ongoing talks and shared commitment to bring certainty to the Erbil-Baghdad relationship. I’m pleased to announce we’ve reached a deal that will see federal budgetary payments restored to the KRI and backdated to Jan 2021,” he tweeted.
While Erbil welcomed the news, the Iraqi parliament’s integrity committee said retroactive payments are illegal.
The 2021 budget was passed by the Iraqi parliament in late March after intense debate and over three months after it was approved by the cabinet. One contentious point was Erbil’s share and requirements for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to hand over oil.
Hickey also discussed relations between Erbil and London, describing them as “excellent” and hinted at a future visit of President Nechirvan Barzani to the United Kingdom’s capital.
“I know that President Nechirvan has had many strong connections with British politicians and British leaders over the last two decades. He is a strong friend of the UK and we really look forward to welcoming him in London very soon,” he said.
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