US ‘encouraged’ by intra-Kurdish, Iraqi efforts to resolve disputes
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The US State Department told Rudaw on Sunday that it is “encouraged” by efforts taken by Erbil and Baghdad to resolve outstanding disputes and continues to support dialogue between the Kurdistan Region’s ruling parties amid high intra-Kurdish tensions.
“We are encouraged by ongoing negotiations between the GOI [Government of Iraq] and the KRG [Kurdistan Regional Government] to find an equitable resolution to longstanding disputes, including hydrocarbon and budget laws,” a spokesperson for the US State Department told Rudaw’s Dilzar Zubair.
Erbil and Baghdad have seen tensions rise recently following an Iraqi top court ruling against the payment of the Kurdistan Region’s financial entitlements, claiming it violates the 2021 Iraqi Budget Law. The ruling followed another major blow to the Region in a similar verdict against its ability to administer its oil and gas, with the top court finding the Region’s gas law to be “unconstitutional.”
Both decisions have been vehemently condemned by Kurdish authorities, with Prime Minister Masrour Barzani labeling the court itself “unconstitutional.”
In early February, Barzani placed the ball in Baghdad’s court for resolving disputes with Erbil, saying that the KRG has performed its part in reaching an agreement and that they await Baghdad’s implementation of the agreed solutions to the longstanding issues.
“The Administration remains committed to helping the GOI and the KRG build a strong relationship in accordance with Iraq’s constitution. We urge the parties to reach a resolution as soon as possible,” the statement added.
The budget has been a point of contention between Erbil and Baghdad for several years, especially after the Kurdistan Region's decision to sell its oil through Turkey, and the emergence of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq in 2014.
Almost two years after Iraq passed its last budget law, Erbil and Baghdad remain in disagreement over several different issues.
Kurdish government delegations have traveled to Baghdad on several occasions - most recently on Sunday - to reach a common ground with the Iraqi government, however none of the visits have had a solid outcome.
KDP-PUK disputes
A major point of concern in the Kurdistan Region is the rising disputes between the ruling parties - the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) - who have lashed out against each other through several statements in recent months, each accusing the other of disrupting the political process in the region.
Both parties have been at loggerheads in recent months over the Region’s parliamentary elections, the transparency of the oil and local income of the provinces under their influence, and the October assassination of a former PUK colonel in a car bomb in Erbil.
The US has repeatedly called on the parties to present a united force while dealing with Baghdad to ensure greater representation in Iraq.
“We have consistently encouraged our Kurdish friends to resolve their disagreements in order to deliver for their constituents and engage as a united front in their relationship with Baghdad,” the State Department spokesperson said.
Despite working together in the KRG, the two parties have established control over different parts of the Region, often being referred to as the “Yellow Zone” and “Green Zone.“ The KDP is dominant in Erbil and Duhok provinces, while the PUK rules Sulaimani and Halabja.
“We are encouraged by ongoing negotiations between the GOI [Government of Iraq] and the KRG [Kurdistan Regional Government] to find an equitable resolution to longstanding disputes, including hydrocarbon and budget laws,” a spokesperson for the US State Department told Rudaw’s Dilzar Zubair.
Erbil and Baghdad have seen tensions rise recently following an Iraqi top court ruling against the payment of the Kurdistan Region’s financial entitlements, claiming it violates the 2021 Iraqi Budget Law. The ruling followed another major blow to the Region in a similar verdict against its ability to administer its oil and gas, with the top court finding the Region’s gas law to be “unconstitutional.”
Both decisions have been vehemently condemned by Kurdish authorities, with Prime Minister Masrour Barzani labeling the court itself “unconstitutional.”
In early February, Barzani placed the ball in Baghdad’s court for resolving disputes with Erbil, saying that the KRG has performed its part in reaching an agreement and that they await Baghdad’s implementation of the agreed solutions to the longstanding issues.
“The Administration remains committed to helping the GOI and the KRG build a strong relationship in accordance with Iraq’s constitution. We urge the parties to reach a resolution as soon as possible,” the statement added.
The budget has been a point of contention between Erbil and Baghdad for several years, especially after the Kurdistan Region's decision to sell its oil through Turkey, and the emergence of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq in 2014.
Almost two years after Iraq passed its last budget law, Erbil and Baghdad remain in disagreement over several different issues.
Kurdish government delegations have traveled to Baghdad on several occasions - most recently on Sunday - to reach a common ground with the Iraqi government, however none of the visits have had a solid outcome.
KDP-PUK disputes
A major point of concern in the Kurdistan Region is the rising disputes between the ruling parties - the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) - who have lashed out against each other through several statements in recent months, each accusing the other of disrupting the political process in the region.
Both parties have been at loggerheads in recent months over the Region’s parliamentary elections, the transparency of the oil and local income of the provinces under their influence, and the October assassination of a former PUK colonel in a car bomb in Erbil.
The US has repeatedly called on the parties to present a united force while dealing with Baghdad to ensure greater representation in Iraq.
“We have consistently encouraged our Kurdish friends to resolve their disagreements in order to deliver for their constituents and engage as a united front in their relationship with Baghdad,” the State Department spokesperson said.
Despite working together in the KRG, the two parties have established control over different parts of the Region, often being referred to as the “Yellow Zone” and “Green Zone.“ The KDP is dominant in Erbil and Duhok provinces, while the PUK rules Sulaimani and Halabja.