ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani met on Saturday to discuss the escalating Erbil-Baghdad financial tensions.
Both leaders “emphasized the need to establish comprehensive solutions-within the framework of the Constitution and the law-for addressing financial obligations between the Federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government,” read a statement from Sudani’s official.
Iraqi presidency had an almost identical statement.
Iraqi government’s recent decision to stop payment of Kurdistan Region’s financial entitlements, especially the salaries of the Kurdish government’s civil servants, has upset the Kurdish leadership.
Kurdistan Region’s main ruling party, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), on Saturday hosted a meeting with several Kurdish political parties to join forces against Baghdad’s move. Most of the main opposition parties did not attend the meeting despite being invited.
“After necessary discussion and deliberation on this matter, all parties agreed that this decision is a political decision against the will of the people of Kurdistan and the political and legal framework of the Kurdistan Region,” read a joint statement by the parties.
The KDP said on Thursday that it would take a “serious stance” if Baghdad fails to pay the May salaries by June 6, which coincides with the Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha.
A delegation from Baghdad is expected to visit Erbil and meet with top Kurdish officials and politicians to resolve the financial issues.
Rahim Aboudi, a member of the General Body of the Wisdom (al-Hikma) Movement and part of the Coordination Framework, told Rudaw on Saturday that a delegation from Baghdad will arrive in Erbil within two days.
“Within 48 hours, Hadi al-Amiri, leading a delegation representing the Coordination Framework, will arrive in the Kurdistan Region,” he said.
He added that Sudani has “pledged that if the meetings [in Erbil] are successful and the Kurdistan Regional Government clearly commits to handing over its oil and non-oil revenues and resolving audit-related matters, then the salaries of public sector employees in the Kurdistan Region will be sent as a loan before Eid.”