KRG delegation in Baghdad to discuss financial disputes
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A high-level delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) arrived in Baghdad on Monday as the regional and federal governments near a final agreement to end their financial disputes, a well-informed source told Rudaw.
The delegation includes Kamal Mohammed, KRG's acting minister of natural resources and KRG Cabinet Secretary Amanj Rahim, the source told Rudaw, on the condition of anonymity.
This delegation's visit comes as Baghdad has prepared a draft agreement on oil exports and is awaiting Erbil's response, expected later on Monday.
The KRG delegation had begun its meetings with the federal authorities by the time of reporting.
A source close to the KRG, speaking to Rudaw on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions on Sunday, confirmed that the proposed arrangement is "in its final stages."
Under the deal, the "KRG will hand over all crude oil produced to Baghdad. In return, the Iraqi federal government will be responsible for supplying the Kurdistan Region with its domestic needs for refined petroleum products,' the source added.
Oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline have been suspended since March 2023, following an arbitration ruling in Paris that found Turkey had violated a 1973 pipeline agreement by enabling Erbil to independently export oil in 2014.
Last week, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani stated that the halt has resulted in more than $25 billion in lost revenues for the KRG.
Sangar Abdulrahman contributed to this article.
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