ERBIL — The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) negotiating team will return to Baghdad next week to continue the dialogue over a fair budget deal with the federal government, said Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Wednesday.
“Our goal is to secure a fair budget deal in the interest of the peoples of Kurdistan, Iraq, and our public servants, and our delegation will return to Baghdad next week for more talks,” PM Barzani briefed foreign diplomats based in Kurdistan.
The Kurdish leader wrote on Twitter following the meeting that the KRG supports the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections, and it wants to see a fair and transparent process with international observers and monitors, including from the UN.
On the progress made in KRG’s reform agenda, PM Barzani said his administration has been “building new and stronger partnerships with the private sector to ensure wour diversification program keeps growing. These public-private partnerships will create more infrastructure projects, better services and new jobs.”
“Our plans to increase internal non-oil and gas revenue include organizing and enforcing the existing tax laws. We are also digitalizing important parts of the government to provide scrutiny of our public expenditure, eliminate unnecessary spending, and modernize the public sector.”
During the meeting, PM Barzani encouraged the foreign diplomats to explore Kurdistan’s promising potential in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure, finance, and energy and help attract more inward investments.
Concerning the security situation in the region, KRG prime minister reminded that the Islamic State (IS) remains a serious threat which requires all the sides to continue their efforts and cooperation in countering extremist ideologies.
“Our brave Peshmerga continue to fight alongside the global coalition to keep us all safe,” he emphasized.
PM Barzani also highlighted the importance of full implementation of the Sinjar Agreement, saying the parties must live up to their commitments to facilitate the dignified return of displaced families to their ancestral homeland.