Iraq
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani (left) and president of Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council Faiq Zidan (right) meeting in Baghdad on January 13, 2025. Photo: Kurdistan Region Presidency
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday continued his meetings with top Iraqi officials and politicians on the latest developments in the region and the cooperation between the federal and regional governments.
“It was a pleasure to meet with our brothers, leaders and officials in Baghdad. In this context, we renew our firm commitment to supporting a stable Iraq that guarantees justice and fulfills the state’s obligations towards all its components. We affirm our keenness to strengthen relations between Erbil and Baghdad, in a way that achieves the public interest and establishes a more prosperous and stable future,” President Barzani wrote on X.
President Barzani met Faiq Zidan, president of Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council, to discuss the importance of the judiciary role in resolving the problems between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
“The meeting exchanged views on the situation in Iraq in general and the importance of the role of the judiciary in resolving the country's problems, especially the problems between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, were discussed,” read a statement from the office of the president.
Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Muhsin al-Mandalawi also received President Barzani where they talked “stressed the importance of cooperation between the political parties to strengthen stability and achieve development in Iraq.”
He also visited Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law Coalition and a key member of the ruling State Administration Coalition, and prominent Shiite politician and head of Fatih Alliance, Hadi al-Amiri as well as another prominent Shiite cleric and politician, Ammar al-Hakim, to discuss increased cooperation between parties.
President Barzani was received by Jassim al-Umairi, head of Iraq's Supreme Federal Court.
“The meeting focused on the significance of the Federal Court's role in addressing the unresolved matters between Erbil and Baghdad. It outlined the need to adhere to the Iraqi constitution,” Kurdistan Region Presidency said in a separate statement.
President Barzani also met with Secretary General of the National Strategy Coalition Abdulsada al-Fariji where they stressed the importance of strengthening political cooperation to help achieve stability and progress in Iraq.
The two sides agreed on the need to promote cooperation between the political parties to address the challenges in the country, according to the Presidency.
Prior to the meetings mentioned, President Barzani held talks with Muthanna al-Samarrai head of the Azm Alliance, Iraqi prime minister Mohammad Shia’ al-Sudani, former prime minister Haider al-Abadi, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, President Abdul Latif Rashid.
The visit takes place at a time when the ongoing disputes between Erbil and Baghdad over the Kurdish region's share in the federal budget remain unresolved.
“Nechirvan Barzani's presence is very important, and as I said and repeat, he is a key member of the state administration coalition,” Ali al-Defai, the spokesperson of the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq told Rudaw on Sunday.
He added that Barzani’s participation in the coalition’s discussions provides a valuable opportunity to resolve pending problems, particularly those affecting the Kurdistan Region, such as budget disputes and strengthening Baghdad-Erbil ties.
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