KRG Council of Ministers discuss Erbil-Baghdad deal and domestic policies

The Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister Masrour Barzani chaired a Council of Ministers meeting in Erbil on Wednesday.

The PM began by summarising Tuesday’s deal on the resumption of Kurdistan’s oil exports, describing it as a significant step towards improved relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Federal Government. He thanked the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for his work in resolving tensions between Erbil and Baghdad.

Prime Minister Barzani also expressed his appreciation for the KRG delegation’s efforts in reaching the deal without giving up any of the Kurdistan Region’s legal and constitutional rights. He clarified that over the previous few years, after Baghdad’s failure to provide the KRG’s share of budget and financial entitlements, the Kurdistan government had begun exporting its own oil within the framework of the law and constitution. The KRG Prime Minister emphasised that the new deal should be implemented as soon as possible, creating a basis for renewed mutual trust between Erbil and Baghdad.

Later in the meeting, Minister of State Vala Fareed and Minister of Health Saman Barznji briefed the Council of Ministers on the strategy and objectives of a new initiative titled “The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Health”. This ambitious project aims to improve services and protect patients’ rights by restructuring the public and private health sectors in Kurdistan. The law resolution will be further developed before being approved by the Council of Ministers.

The final part of Wednesday’s meeting was dedicated to the challenge of inflation. The Minister of Interior Rebar Ahmad and President of the Diwan of Council of Ministers Umed Sabah presented their recommendations aimed at controlling the prices of goods and services in order to make them more affordable for consumers in Kurdistan.