ERBIL - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has welcomed a call by his Iraqi counterpart Mustafa al-Kadhimi for a 'national dialogue' between the sides in the efforts to resolve the remaining disputes between Erbil and Baghdad.
The Iraqi prime minister made the call during a speech on Monday to highlight the importance of Pope Francis's historic visit to Iraq, in which he called for a "deep national dialogue" to resolve ongoing issues, including the disputes between Erbil and Baghdad on the budget bill.
PM Barzani welcomed Kadhimi's call in a Twitter statement and expressed his support to it.
"On behalf of the Kurdistan Regional Government, I welcome and support the invitation of Federal Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi for Iraqi parties to hold a national dialogue," he wrote on Twitter.
Barzani, meanwhile, reaffirmed that the KRG is ready "to reach a comprehensive and final" agreement to solve all remaining disputes between the regional and federal governments in accordance with the Iraqi constitution.
Erbil and Baghdad are yet to reach a final agreement on the budget bill for the year of 2021. However, both indicated that the ongoing negotiations are positive and close enough to reach a deal.