This morning, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani received Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani upon his arrival at Erbil International Airport. The visit marked an important step in ongoing dialogue between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Federal Government of Iraq.

In an initial meeting, PM Al-Sudani congratulated Barzani on the successful completion of the recent Kurdistan parliamentary elections, underscoring that political stability in the Kurdistan Region is key to the stability of Iraq as a whole. He emphasized the significance of forming a new government in the Kurdistan Region to strengthen current cooperation between Erbil and Baghdad.

The leaders discussed a range of shared concerns, with a focus on contentious issues that have strained relations between the two governments. Topics included salary payments for the Kurdistan Region, its share in the federal budget, the resumption of oil exports, and preparations for a nationwide population census.

PM Barzani highlighted the necessity of keeping the region’s salary disbursements free from political disputes, referencing a Federal Supreme Court decision that mandates salary parity for recipients in the Kurdistan Region and other parts of Iraq. Both leaders also agreed on the need to expedite the resumption of oil exports from the region, emphasizing that removing obstacles to this process will benefit citizens across Iraq.

On the topic of Iraq's upcoming general population census, both sides acknowledged its critical role in supporting development and planning nationwide. The KRG urged that the Kurdistan Region’s perspectives and recommendations be fully considered to ensure fair and accurate representation in the census.

This high-level meeting is expected to pave the way for continued collaboration between the Kurdistan Region and the Federal Government, particularly on issues impacting both entities and their citizens.