Baghdad and Erbil are preparing for the first round of negotiations in 2023

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[size=52]Baghdad and Erbil are preparing for the first round of negotiations in 2023[/size]

[size=45]Baghdad / Hussein Hatem[/size]
[size=45]The federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government are seeking to hold a new round of negotiations, the first of its kind in the year 2023, to resolve outstanding issues between the center and the region, and to focus on the draft budget for the year 2023.[/size]
[size=45]No official date has been set yet for these negotiations, but the odds go to Baghdad and Erbil sitting at one table during the current week.[/size]
[size=45]Despite the previous negotiations that took place between the central and regional governments, the differences are limited to a number of complex issues, including the general budget, the oil and gas law, the activation of Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution in relation to the disputed areas, and the port file.[/size]
[size=45]A member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Ahmed Al-Harki, said in an interview with (Al-Mada), that "there is a new round of negotiations between the Baghdad government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, which may take place during this week."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Harki added, "The two sides will discuss the budget file, oil and gas, in addition to files of a national dimension related to Iraq."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out, "There is a government program and a road map to resolve the outstanding issues between the center and the region," noting that "the coalition of state administration needs intensive meetings to study what has been achieved in the previous months and what will be achieved in the coming days."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Herki explained, "The most important event currently is the 2023 budget, and the delegation of the Kurdistan region will focus on the draft budget more than other files," noting that "there are specialized technical committees that will discuss the file with the Ministry of Finance. As for the oil and gas law and other laws, this is a political decision that was discussed." With the beginning of the formation of the state administration coalition.[/size]
[size=45]For his part, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Wafaa Muhammad, says, "There is almost an agreement between the Kurdistan region and the central government regarding the region's share of the financial budget law for the year 2023."[/size]
[size=45]He added, "The region's share will be 14%, and it was almost certainly agreed upon during the last Kurdish delegation's visit to the capital, Baghdad."[/size]
[size=45]Muhammad explained, "The differences between the Union and the Democratic Party are within the Kurdistan region and will not affect the understandings and negotiations with Baghdad."[/size]
[size=45]Oil Minister Hayan Abdul-Ghani discussed with the negotiating delegation of the Kurdistan Region, in Baghdad last month, “ways to activate the joint committees, linked to the main negotiating committee that was formed by the Council of Ministers, to find realistic solutions to the outstanding issues between the center and the region, especially with regard to the management file.” Oil wealth,” according to a statement by the Ministry of Oil.[/size]
[size=45]In turn, Ali Al-Fatlawi, a member of the Al-Fateh Alliance, which is part of the Coordinating Framework forces, said in an interview with Al-Mada that “negotiations between the center and the region are still proceeding according to what was planned, and according to the agreed legal and constitutional system.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Fatlawi added, "All political forces are committed to the constitutional and legal contexts, and proceed in accordance with the government approach of Prime Minister Muhammad Shia'a al-Sudani."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out, "The round of negotiations between Baghdad and Erbil will be repeated, and the political forces cannot agree during one or two sessions."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Fatlawi went on to say, “One of the most prominent files that impede the completion of negotiations between the center and the region is Article 140, related to the disputed areas between the federal governments and the Kurdistan region, and the file of ports in addition to the oil and gas law.”[/size]
[size=45]And the Kurdistan Regional Government, through its delegation, resumed negotiations with the federal government to resolve the outstanding issues between them, after the President of the region, Nechirvan Barzani, created the atmosphere through two visits he made to the capital, Baghdad, during the past year.[/size]
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