BAGHDAD, Iraq – The common threat posed by the Islamic State (ISIS) is encouraging Baghdad to resolve all outstanding disputes with the Kurdistan Region, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said on Saturday.
"The interests of Iraq are above all interests,” he said in a meeting in Baghdad with the Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.
This “encourages us to solve all outstanding problems, as we do not think there are any issues that cannot be resolved in accordance with the Constitution and the principles of justice and fairness,” he was quoted as saying.
Barzani said that Iraq was facing “a battle for all Iraqis.”
“The steps made by your government are encouraging for all Iraqis and we aspire to turn over a new leaf for the interests of Iraq, not just for the interests of the Kurdistan Region,” Barzani told Abadi.
“We support the development of a clear strategy to solve the problems through ongoing meetings,” he said, noting that “Iraq is facing a terrorist threat and an economic challenge and that is a battle for all Iraqis.”
Earlier this month, Erbil and Baghdad signed an agreement by which the Kurdish region would allow Baghdad to export 150,000 barrels of oil per day from Kirkuk in return for a $500 million cash installment from the central government.
Kurdish officials say they have received the first installment and that they hope they will reach a substantial agreement with the central government on all standing disputes relating to the budget.
