Panorama of Mr. Masrour Barzani's visit to Baghdad

The Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, has met with the four Iraqi presidencies to discuss the relations between Erbil and Baghdad and common issues between the two governments. Prime Minister, Mr. Masrour Barzani arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, and was welcomed by the four Iraqi presidencies.

The visit is considered the first visit to Baghdad and meetings with the presidencies, after the formation of the cabinet of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in October 2022.

In the first stop of his visit, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, Mr. Masrour Barzani tweeted after his arrival in Baghdad, said: "We have returned to Baghdad and are ready to work with the new Iraqi government to build a better and brighter future for our people. According to a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government, the meeting between Mr. Masrour Barzani and Mohammed Shia al-Sudani stressed the importance of resolving the issues between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government on the basis of the constitution and the ministerial agenda approved by the Iraqi House of Representatives.

At the second stop of his visit, Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, Mr. Masrour Barzani has met with Republic President of Iraq, Abdul Latif Rashid in Baghdad. The Kurdistan Regional Government said in a statement that the meeting was held between Masrour Barzani and Abdul Latif Rashid, “The meeting discussed the general situation in Iraq and the importance of resolving the issues between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government in a fundamental manner and in accordance with the constitution, they emphasized the need to protect the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region”.

During his visit to Baghdad, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq met with the President of the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq. According to a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government, the meeting between Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister and Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zedan, both sides agreed on the importance of resolving the issues between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government on the basis of the constitution, in a way that is in the interest of all Iraqi citizens.

In another stop of his visit to Baghdad, Mr. Masrour Barzani met with Mohammed al-Halbous, speaker of the Iraqi Parliament. In the meeting, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of resolving the outstanding issues, especially the constitutional rights and financial entitlements of the Kurdistan Region in the federal budget and preparing the Federal Oil and Gas, implementing Article 140, the constitutional rights of the Peshmerga and the implementation of the Sinjar agreement.

During his visit to Baghdad, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani, met with Ahmad Safadi, Speaker of the Jordanian House of Representatives, in a meeting to discuss the development of relations between the Kurdistan Region and Jordan.

For his part, the Speaker of the Jordanian House of Representatives conveyed the greetings of King Abdullah of Jordan to the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government and reaffirmed his country's desire to develop comprehensive relations with the Kurdistan Region.

During the visit of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government to Baghdad, Mr. Masrour Barzani was accompanied by a delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government, according to Kurdistan Regional Government statements.

The meetings focused on the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region and the fundamental resolution of the outstanding issues between Erbil and Baghdad, was the main purpose of the visit of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government to Baghdad.