President Masoud Barzani Receives High-Level Iraqi Government Delegation in Salahaddin

On Monday, September 9, 2024, President Masoud Barzani welcomed a high-level delegation from the Iraqi government at the Salahaddin Resort. The delegation included:

Mr. Fuad Hussein – Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq and Chairman of the Ministerial Council for the Economy, Mr. Mohammed Ali Tamim – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning, Ms. Taif Sami – Minister of Finance, Mr. Hamid Naeem Al-Ghazi – Secretary-General of the Iraqi Council of Ministers, Mr. Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq – Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq

Additionally, several senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Planning, Finance, Oil, Trade, Industry, Minerals, Agriculture, Labor and Social Affairs, as well as representatives from the Central Bank and the Iraqi Securities Commission, were in attendance.

Discussions and Praise for President Barzani's Role

During the meeting, the delegation expressed their appreciation for visiting the Kurdistan Region and commended President Barzani's historic role in the formation of a new Iraq and his leadership in the struggle against dictatorship. They discussed the objectives of their visit and shared insights into their productive meetings with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The delegation emphasized the importance of fostering mutual understanding, trust, and transparency in addressing unresolved issues and overcoming obstacles between Baghdad and Erbil.

President Barzani's Vision for Coexistence and Partnership

President Barzani warmly welcomed the Iraqi federal delegation, expressing his hopes for fruitful outcomes that would benefit both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. He highlighted the Kurdish people’s long-standing struggle and sacrifices throughout the 20th century and reiterated the aspirations held after 2003 to create a new Iraq—one built on coexistence, partnership, democracy, and pluralism.

President Barzani stressed that the Kurdish struggle is fundamentally about securing partnership and rights. He firmly rejected any attempts to reduce the broader historical cause of Kurdistan to merely financial issues or to promote division within the Kurdistan Region. He also emphasized the need for respect for the demands of the Kurdish people, as well as compensation for the atrocities they suffered during the Anfal campaign and chemical attacks.

A Path Toward Dialogue and Constitutional Solutions

President Barzani reaffirmed that the best way to resolve differences is through dialogue and understanding between the Iraqi federal government and the KRG. He emphasized the need to adhere to the Iraqi constitution and honor political agreements made by the ruling coalition to address outstanding issues. He commended the efforts of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in working to overcome obstacles and resolve disputes, but underscored that success in this dialogue requires genuine goodwill, sincere commitment, and a respect for both the constitution and political agreements.

Kurdistan Regional Government Delegation

The meeting was also attended by a high-level delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government, which included:

Minister of Interior, Minister of Finance, Chief of Staff of the Council of Ministers and several other KRG officials were also present, contributing to the discussions and efforts to strengthen relations between the federal and regional governments.