ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Iraqi parliament First Deputy Speaker Mohsen al-Mandalawi on Monday emphasized the importance of resolving Erbil-Baghdad disputes through constitutional mechanisms, as the Region inches closer to resuming its long-stalled oil exports.
According to a statement from President Barzani’s office, the two top officials discussed the overall situation in Iraq, the upcoming federal elections slated for November 11 and the strained Erbil-Baghdad ties.
“Both sides emphasized the necessity of addressing issues in Iraq - particularly between Erbil and Baghdad - on the basis of the constitution and agreements that promote peace and stability in the country,” the statement said.
Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline have been suspended since March 2023, following a ruling by a Paris-based arbitration court. The court sided with Baghdad, finding that Ankara violated a 1973 pipeline agreement by allowing Erbil to independently export oil starting in 2014.
The Monday meeting followed the signing of a tripartite agreement between the Iraqi government, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), and oil companies to resume Kurdish oil exports.
An informed source told Rudaw English on Monday that under the new agreement, oil companies operating in the Kurdistan Region will receive crude oil in lieu of cash as part of their entitlements. Exports are expected to resume within days.
President Barzani on Monday expressed gratitude “to all those involved in working to resolve the [longstanding] issues” in the oil and other issues, reaffirming “his support for continued understanding and cooperation” between Erbil and Baghdad.
A separate statement from Mandalawi’s office highlighted that “the current phase requires a high-level coordination between Baghdad and Erbil to address economic and security challenges, especially in relation to the budget dossier.”
Later in the day, Mandalawi also held talks with President Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), and Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. The meetings focused on resolving thorny issues between Erbil and Baghdad, based on respect for the federal system, constitutional frameworks and the Region’s financial rights.