Barzani in Baghdad: Kurdish public wants budget reassurances
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Members of the Kurdish public told Rudaw on Sunday of their hope for reassurances on Erbil’s federal budget share as President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani meets with Iraqi leaders and officials in Baghdad.
In Halabja, shopkeeper Aland Dilshad described President Barzani’s visit to Baghdad as “very important”, especially when it comes to the federal budget.
“We see that people’s situation and their livelihood is not very good. The budget is the most important matter to be talked about,” Dilshad said.
Barzani should also seek resolution for “the disputed territories of the Kurdistan Region like Shingal [Sinjar] and other places.”
Yadgar Jabbar, a butcher in the city, said he hoped that the president’s visit would mean that the budget is “distributed every month and on time to the Kurdistan Region’s civil servants.”
Barzani arrived in Baghdad on Saturday to meet with Iraqi leaders including Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Barzani’s visit comes less than two weeks after Iraqi parliament approved the 2021 budget which has brought hope of smoother relations between Erbil and Baghdad. During his meeting with Kadhimi, the Kurdistan Region president said that “solving the problems between Erbil and Baghdad will pave the way for the stability and development of Iraq.”
The two also discussed Barzani's latest visit to France, the COVID-19 pandemic, security and terrorism, and Iraq’s upcoming elections.
On Sunday, Barzani met with Nouri al-Maliki, former Iraqi prime minister and head of the State of Law bloc in the Iraqi parliament. They discussed “the need to strengthen cooperation to reach radical solutions to the problems existing between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government," read a statement from the bloc published by state media. President Barzani also met with Ammar al-Hakim, Shiite cleric and the head of Iraq's Hikma (Wisdom) Movement political bloc.
Barzani spoke to reporters on Sunday evening about the reasons for his trip to the Iraqi capital.
“After the budget approval, we felt it was necessary to make this visit to Baghdad and thank the blocs in person,” Barzani told reporters on Sunday. “The problem with the region with Baghdad is not just the budget. It has to do with Article 140 – Kirkuk, Shingal and other places.”
“What is important is that we should find a solution together for all problems that are between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq today… any development in that case is in Kurdistan and Iraq’s benefit.”
Wary of budget disagreements seen in previous years, Erbil shopkeeper Renwar Fuad said he hoped Baghdad would keep to its word, “not like we have seen before, where agreements are made but there are no commitments.”
For Hussein Hadi, a Duhok businessman, Erbil and Baghdad need a contract created “with United Nations supervision” to ensure that they follow up on their agreements.
In Halabja, shopkeeper Aland Dilshad described President Barzani’s visit to Baghdad as “very important”, especially when it comes to the federal budget.
“We see that people’s situation and their livelihood is not very good. The budget is the most important matter to be talked about,” Dilshad said.
Barzani should also seek resolution for “the disputed territories of the Kurdistan Region like Shingal [Sinjar] and other places.”
Yadgar Jabbar, a butcher in the city, said he hoped that the president’s visit would mean that the budget is “distributed every month and on time to the Kurdistan Region’s civil servants.”
Barzani arrived in Baghdad on Saturday to meet with Iraqi leaders including Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Barzani’s visit comes less than two weeks after Iraqi parliament approved the 2021 budget which has brought hope of smoother relations between Erbil and Baghdad. During his meeting with Kadhimi, the Kurdistan Region president said that “solving the problems between Erbil and Baghdad will pave the way for the stability and development of Iraq.”
The two also discussed Barzani's latest visit to France, the COVID-19 pandemic, security and terrorism, and Iraq’s upcoming elections.
On Sunday, Barzani met with Nouri al-Maliki, former Iraqi prime minister and head of the State of Law bloc in the Iraqi parliament. They discussed “the need to strengthen cooperation to reach radical solutions to the problems existing between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government," read a statement from the bloc published by state media. President Barzani also met with Ammar al-Hakim, Shiite cleric and the head of Iraq's Hikma (Wisdom) Movement political bloc.
Barzani spoke to reporters on Sunday evening about the reasons for his trip to the Iraqi capital.
“After the budget approval, we felt it was necessary to make this visit to Baghdad and thank the blocs in person,” Barzani told reporters on Sunday. “The problem with the region with Baghdad is not just the budget. It has to do with Article 140 – Kirkuk, Shingal and other places.”
“What is important is that we should find a solution together for all problems that are between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq today… any development in that case is in Kurdistan and Iraq’s benefit.”
Wary of budget disagreements seen in previous years, Erbil shopkeeper Renwar Fuad said he hoped Baghdad would keep to its word, “not like we have seen before, where agreements are made but there are no commitments.”
For Hussein Hadi, a Duhok businessman, Erbil and Baghdad need a contract created “with United Nations supervision” to ensure that they follow up on their agreements.