Prime Minister Masrour Barzani of the Kurdistan Region presided over a significant cabinet meeting in Erbil today to discuss the recent decision by the Iraqi government to release payments to the Kurdish region. The meeting, which was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, focused on the aftermath of a high-level delegation's visit to Baghdad last week, resulting in an agreement to allocate 700 billion dinars ($534.1 million) monthly to the Kurdistan Region until November.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his warm appreciation for this development and extended his gratitude to the Iraqi Prime Minister and all the Kurdish and Iraqi parties that played a pivotal role in securing these funds for the Kurdistan Region.

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is now set to initiate the salary payment process to its civil servants beginning next week, according to sources within the region.

Barzani had presented two proposals to Iraqi leaders as part of efforts to resolve the budgetary dispute between the two governments. The long-term plan involves amending the country's three-year budget law, which was adopted in June. Simultaneously, the short-term solution focuses on ensuring the reimbursement of funds to Kurdish public employees.

Despite meeting their commitments as outlined in previous agreements, officials in Erbil assert that the federal government has not disbursed salaries to Kurdish civil servants as agreed upon.

The national budget, described as one of the largest in the country's history, amounted to 198.91 trillion Iraqi dinars ($153 billion), with a deficit exceeding 64 trillion dinars (over $48 billion). The Kurdistan Region's share in the federal budget is set at 12.67 percent, which translates to more than $12 billion annually.

Prime Minister Barzani reaffirmed the Kurdistan Regional Government's commitment to serving its citizens and safeguarding the stability of the Kurdistan Region, stating, "We will continue to serve our beloved citizens and prevent any targeted efforts to undermine the stability of the Kurdistan Region."

The developments surrounding the release of funds and the ongoing negotiations between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the federal government in Baghdad continue to be closely monitored, with many hoping for a lasting resolution to the budgetary dispute.