BAGHDAD, Iraq — Muthana Amin, the head of the KIU bloc, expressed that the Kurdish parties are concerned that Iraq’s current budget bill only nets about 6-7 percent for the KRG, as the MPs are again to meet with Iraqi President Fuad Masum on Saturday.
“The Kurdish share is unjust and does not meet the Region’s needs,” Amin told Rudaw late on Friday night from Baghdad.
The Kurdish MPs met with fellow Kurd, Masum, at his residence on Friday.
Amin of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) confirmed that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi wants to increase the KRG's share of the budget by 1 trillion dinars (about $850 million), but the MPs are unclear how the funds will be allocated.
Other additional deductions would result in an actual share of 6-7 percent, the Kurdish MPs understand, according to Amin.
The MPs are also concerned about the bill's writ, obliging Erbil to send 250,000 bpd of oil to Baghdad.
“Abadi wants to become an oil trader with us by giving us money in return for oil," claimed Amin.
From the Kurdish perspective, in return, Abadi shall send all KRG’s entitled payments including salaries and farmers' money.
The Kurdish MPs plan to communicate with the KRG and then bring the demands to the meetings in Baghdad.
Amin said that the issue is between “executing parties” referring to the Government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government, calling for them to reach an agreement.
Iraqi President Masum played a significant role in Thursday's closed-door meeting with Abadi and Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri, and Amin said the Kurdish MPs hope he will continue to do so.
Amin recommended for Kurdish people to make their voices heard by the UN, because he claimed that Abadi wants to show his supporters that he is acting against Kurds.
“The Kurdish share is unjust and does not meet the Region’s needs,” Amin told Rudaw late on Friday night from Baghdad.
The Kurdish MPs met with fellow Kurd, Masum, at his residence on Friday.
Amin of the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) confirmed that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi wants to increase the KRG's share of the budget by 1 trillion dinars (about $850 million), but the MPs are unclear how the funds will be allocated.
For example, if the sovereignty budget is reduced from Abadi's proposed 12.67 percent share, only 9-10 percent is really remains, explained Amin. PM Abadi has insisted that the KRG's share should be less, in proportion to the Kurdish population, estimated by Baghdad to be 12.67 percent. There has not been a census in Iraq since 1987.
Sovereign funds cover expenses such as the defense budget, the Iraqi Council of Ministers, the Iraqi parliament, the Iraqi president, and border guards.
Other additional deductions would result in an actual share of 6-7 percent, the Kurdish MPs understand, according to Amin.
Kurdish MPs have not been willing to accept anything less than a 17-percent share.
The MPs are also concerned about the bill's writ, obliging Erbil to send 250,000 bpd of oil to Baghdad.
“Abadi wants to become an oil trader with us by giving us money in return for oil," claimed Amin.
From the Kurdish perspective, in return, Abadi shall send all KRG’s entitled payments including salaries and farmers' money.
The Kurdish MPs plan to communicate with the KRG and then bring the demands to the meetings in Baghdad.
Amin said that the issue is between “executing parties” referring to the Government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government, calling for them to reach an agreement.
Iraqi President Masum played a significant role in Thursday's closed-door meeting with Abadi and Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri, and Amin said the Kurdish MPs hope he will continue to do so.
Amin recommended for Kurdish people to make their voices heard by the UN, because he claimed that Abadi wants to show his supporters that he is acting against Kurds.
Masoud Haider told Rudaw that the Kurdish MPs have not yet decided whether they will attend sessions.
Haider, a Gorran MP, claimed that the 3 trillion dinars is supported by the International Monetary Fund.
Haider expressed that Kurdish factions remain united on the budget subject.
The Kurdish MPs also have demanded funds Halabja, according to Haider.
Renas Jano of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) told Rudaw on Saturday that they, as Kurdish MPs, “insist on boycotting,” the budget sessions since “no agreement have been made to this date” to meet the Kurdish demands.
One area of disagreement, Jano said, is about a budget for the Kurdish Peshmerga.
The bill includes a section about allocating a budget for the salaries of the Peshmerga as part of the defense budget. But the Kurdish MPs want the bill to drop the word salary so that the Iraqi government will be tasked to pay the salaries plus a budget for arming and training the Peshmerga.
Iraqi elections are set for May 12. Abadi's list faces stiff competition against other Shiite politicians, including former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who heads the National Alliance and the Dawa Party, of which Abadi is a member.
Last updated at 2:20 p.m.
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