ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid arrived in Erbil on Saturday where he met Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani ahead of attending an environmental conference.
The two leaders “Discussed the general situation in Iraq and the region and stressed the importance of maintaining security and stability and continuing efforts to resolve the issues between Erbil and Baghdad,” according to a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.
Paying Kurdistan Region’s civil servant salaries, restarting oil exports, and the Federal Supreme Court’s rulings regarding minority quota seats in the regional parliament are among the main issues currently occupying Erbil and Baghdad.
Rashid said that “he will help strengthen relations between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government and resolve issues,” according to the Kurdish statement.
President Barzani “stressed the importance of efforts to maintain peace and stability and overcome the problems between Erbil and Baghdad.”
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid in Erbil. Rashid is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.
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On Sunday, Rashid will attend an environmental conference and give a speech on the challenges Iraq is facing, according to Hawre Tofiq, head of public relations and international organizations at the Iraqi Presidency.
While in Erbil, Rashid is also scheduled to meet with Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and other officials.
"His Excellency will meet with a number of party and government officials to discuss the political situation and developments on the local and regional arena, as well as the relationship between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government," the Iraqi presidency said on X.
Last month, President Barzani visited Baghdad twice where he met with Iraqi government officials and political leaders. Dilshad Shahab, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region Presidency, said at the time that the priorities for Barzani’s visit were budget issues and the Region’s financial entitlements. He described the trip as a “success.”
