The coordination framework retracts its previous positions on Erbil and makes 6 pledges under pressu

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[size=52]The coordination framework retracts its previous positions on Erbil and makes 6 pledges under pressure from Washington[/size]

[size=45]Baghdad / Tamim Al-Hassan[/size]
[size=45]The government in Baghdad, and perhaps with the support of the coordination framework, made 6 pledges to the Kurdistan region in a plan known as “zeroing differences” or “comprehensive agreement.”[/size]
[size=45]Most of these pledges relate to financial obligations towards Erbil, but so far without guarantees, which may bring the crisis back again between the two parties, as happened in previous times.[/size]
[size=45]The new commitments, which are expected to be in agreement with the Shiite alliance, are a significant regression in the previous hostile attitudes of some of the “framework” parties towards Kurdistan.[/size]
[size=45]The danger lies in torpedoing the agreement, according to what insiders see, if these pledges were only on the part of the government, and the coordination framework may retract them at any moment.[/size]
[size=45]So far, according to the statements of the governments of Baghdad and the region, the atmosphere seems positive. Both parties praised the developments achieved, the latest of which was the visit of Prime Minister Muhammad al-Sudani to the region.[/size]
[size=45]Al-Sudani said yesterday from Sulaymaniyah, where he arrived from Erbil, that “financial and political stability paves the way for an optimal investment of our country’s primary wealth, the legislation of the oil and gas law, and an understanding with the Kurdistan region of Iraq in this regard.”[/size]
[size=45]The prime minister stressed "the need to leave the term (unresolved problems), and replace it with terms of sustainable projects and joint economic opportunities, for the sake of sustainable and just well-being for all Iraqis."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Sudani pointed out that "the painful memory of the heinous crime committed by the dictatorial regime against our Kurdish people in the city of Halabja is a sad occasion, and we voted in the Council of Ministers two days ago on the project to convert it into a governorate, which is the least we can offer in return for their huge sacrifices."[/size]
[size=45]He stressed, "Our meetings in Erbil were fruitful, and I met a group of party heads and representatives of the components, and we talked without restrictions, because we are - in word and deed - people of one country and one destiny," praising "the efforts made to reconcile the Kurdish political leaders to unite the ranks, and we are supportive." for these efforts.”[/size]
[size=45]And he continued, saying: “The strife that distorts the unity of Iraq, which sees that the strength of one of its parts is to weaken the federal government or to weaken the other components in the country, was an entry point for ISIS terrorist gangs to pounce on the heart of the state, threatening all components without exception.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Sudani had arrived in the capital of the region for the first time since he assumed power 4 months ago, last Tuesday, and met with the head of the Democratic Party, Massoud Barzani, and the presidents of the region and the government there, Nechirvan and Masrour Barzani.[/size]
[size=45]Vian Sabri, head of the Democratic Party in Parliament, said in an interview with (Al-Mada) that "the visit is important for the Iraqi issue as a whole, as it discussed matters related to all issues of concern to the country."[/size]
[size=45]Sabri explained that Al-Sudani's visit discussed "foreign relations, the budget, the oil and gas law, and the conditions of the displaced."[/size]
[size=45]She indicated that the visit came in response to a previous visit made by the Prime Minister of Erbil, Masrour Barzani, to Baghdad earlier.[/size]
[size=45]Sabri indicated that a government delegation attended with Al-Sudani, including the ministers of foreign affairs, interior, planning, immigration and the displaced, and the head of the border crossings authority.[/size]
[size=45]On the other hand, the President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, praised yesterday the agreement reached between Baghdad and Erbil on the 2023 budget law, while calling for allocating a budget for Halabja, and accelerating the legislation of the oil and gas law.[/size]
[size=45]Barzani said, in his speech during the Sulaymaniyah Governorate Forum, that "the agreement that took place within the framework of the draft general budget law is a good work for all of Iraq," stressing "the aspiration to continue this trend and issue the oil and gas law in the same spirit of cooperation between the two sides."[/size]
[size=45]He added, "If federalism was applied as stated in the constitution, the people of Kurdistan and all of Iraq would now feel equality and true partnership."[/size]
[size=45]And he continued: “We in the region support the Sudanese government, and we call on it to expedite the legislation of the oil and gas law.” Nechirvan Barzani also called on the federal government to “allocate a special budget for Halabja.”[/size]
[size=45]The President of the Kurdistan Region said: "We are ready to do everything that would put the constitution on the right track," noting that "the people of Kurdistan feel that the federal system has not been implemented."[/size]
[size=45]The frame is under pressure[/size]
[size=45]Baghdad had announced earlier that it had reached a "comprehensive agreement" with Kurdistan regarding the financial budget.[/size]
[size=45]According to political sources from Baghdad who spoke to (Al-Mada) that “the agreement will stipulate that the salaries of the Kurdistan region will not be cut again, guaranteeing Kurdistan’s share in the budget, enacting the oil and gas law, and the salaries of the Peshmerga, in addition to Article 140, and transforming Halabja into a governorate.”[/size]
[size=45]And the sources, who asked not to be identified, add that "the new commitments so far are without guarantees, and the relationship between the region and Baghdad may become complicated again, as was the case in previous times between the previous Shiite alliances and Kurdistan."[/size]
[size=45]However, the sources suggest that “the new pledges that took place may be under pressure from the United States, which has spoken on more than one occasion about the need to solve the outstanding problems between Baghdad and Erbil.”[/size]
[size=45]The US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who visited Baghdad last week, went on the same day to Kurdistan and met the Kurdish leaders.[/size]
[size=45]The final statement of the meetings held by the government delegation last month in Washington referred to the same issue, as well as the statements of the US ambassador in Baghdad, Elena Romanowski, who always urged an end to the problems between the two sides.[/size]
[size=45]And the sources add: “These pledges are supposed to be in agreement with the coordination framework with the Sudanese, and if they are otherwise, the Shiite alliance can back down from its pledges, especially if we take the latter’s position on Kurdistan during the Democratic Party’s alliance with the Sadrist movement last year.”[/size]
[size=45]Organized campaigns were launched by the coordination framework last year for what observers described as “demonizing Kurdistan” and accusing it of stealing the south’s money before Muqtada al-Sadr, the leader of the Sadrist movement, withdrew from the political scene and all the winning forces, including the “democratic”, formed what became known as the State Administration Coalition.[/size]
[size=45]On the eve of Al-Sudani's visit to Kurdistan, the Baghdad government had announced the approval of the draft general budget for the year 2023, and the share of the Kurdistan region amounted to 12.6% of the total of about 200 trillion dinars, which is the total budget size. On the other hand, the Ministry of Finance and Economy of the Kurdistan Regional Government announced that it had received 400 billion Iraqi dinars in the framework of the agreement with the federal government to finance the salaries of the region's employees.[/size]
[size=45]The head of the Kurdistan government representative in Baghdad, Faris Issa, stated, “The percentage of citizens of the region, according to the data of the Ministry of Planning, is 13.95% of the population of Iraq, but dialogues are taking place regarding the allocation of 12.67% for the region, and we have called for an increase.”[/size]
[size=45]And starting from last January 25, the Federal Court stopped the decision to send the federal government the monthly salaries of employees and workers in the government sector in the region, “because it is unconstitutional.”[/size]
[size=45]According to Al-Sudani, “For the first time, the total revenues of the oil produced in the region are deposited in a bank account subject to the authority of the federal government,” noting that “Baghdad and Erbil will proceed towards approving the oil and gas law,” without details.[/size]
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