ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi told Rudaw on Monday that he reached a “good understanding” with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani during their meeting in Baghdad, as talks to form a new federal government gather pace.
“There was a good understanding regarding the outstanding issues between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government, and steps were taken to facilitate resolving them. The remaining and related issues, God willing, will be settled under this government,” he told Rudaw's Malik Mohammed.
“We discussed their participation (the Kurdistan Democratic Party) in the upcoming government, and they will take part strongly. Together, we will cooperate to run the country with all its components, nationalities, and sects,” added Zaidi.
The PM-designate also said that he will submit his cabinet to the parliament next week.
Regarding the outstanding financial issues between Erbil and Baghdad, Zaidi said that he will resolve Kurdistan Region’s salary issue. “All salary-related issues in the Region will be resolved. These are the salaries of the people and citizens, and it is not right for them to be delayed.”
Baghdad has failed to send the salaries of the Region’s civil servants on time and in full for years.
President Barzani on Monday held meetings with Iraq's key political leaders in Baghdad as negotiations over the formation of a new federal government continue.
He met with leaders of the ruling Shiite Coordination Framework, including Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law Coalition, soon after arriving in the capital.
Barzani and the Shiite alliance’s discussions "focused on the political landscape in Iraq and initiatives to establish a new federal government. In this regard, there was a strong emphasis on forming a government that addresses current challenges and meets the expectations and needs of all Iraqi communities," said the Kurdistan Region Presidency in a statement.
Hadi al-Amiri, leader of the Badr Organization, which is a member of the alliance, told Rudaw that there is "consensus" among all Iraqi political parties to expedite the formation of the next federal government.
Abbas al-Amiri, secretary-general of the Coordination Framework, told Rudaw’s Malik Mohammed regarding the content of the meeting between President Barzani and leaders of the alliance that “as always, the atmosphere in the presence of President Nechirvan was positive and constructive.”
He added that “optimism and mutual understanding prevailed in the meeting,” noting that a roadmap has been set for the future of relations between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, as well as ties between the Coordination Framework and the Kurdistan Democratic Party. Abbas al-Amiri also said it is expected that the new government will be formed “at the beginning of next week.