Baghdad, Iraq – Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani arrived in Erbil on Saturday for a round of high-level discussions with officials from the Kurdistan Region. The visit aims to address ongoing disputes and strengthen relations between the federal government and the regional administration.
He was welcomed upon arrival at the airport by the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, as confirmed by a statement from the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office.
According to a spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the meetings will concentrate on long-standing disagreements that have yet to be fully resolved.
“The focus will be on the broader relationship and the unresolved issues between Erbil and Baghdad,” the spokesperson said. “While progress has been made on some fronts, further dialogue is still needed on others.”
One of the main topics expected to be discussed is the potential restart of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region through a northern pipeline, which has been inactive since March 2023 due to an international legal decision.
Even though a recent amendment to the federal budget law set a fixed rate per barrel for production and transportation, key disputes remain over financial guarantees, outstanding debts, and the involvement of foreign oil companies.
The KRG is pushing for clear commitments on pending payments and contract terms, while the federal government insists on compliance with national regulations and legal oversight. The ongoing impasse has led to substantial financial losses and continues to pose challenges to cooperation between both sides.
