Masoud Barzani to discuss Erbil-Baghdad relations in Iraqi

[Anthea]

Masoud Barzani to discuss Erbil-Baghdad relations in Iraqi capital

Masoud Barzani, who championed the Kurdistan independence referendum, will meet with Iraqi leaders on Thursday on his first trip to the capital since that historic vote

He will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi who said, “We will strengthen our relations with Kurdistan.”

“The Kurdistan Region is part of Iraq and a strong relationship will be beneficial for both sides,” Abdul-Mahdi said in a press conference on Wednesday evening.

Barzani is also expected to meet with Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi and heads of Iraqi political parties. It is not clear if a meeting with President Barham Salih will be included.

“Essential issues between Baghdad and Erbil will be discussed,” said Hemin Hawrami, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) bloc in the Kurdistan parliament and former senior assistant to Barzani.

Fuad Hussein, Iraq’s finance minister and former chief of staff for Barzani’s tenure as KRG president, said the KDP leader’s visit is an “important political gesture in the development of relations” between Erbil and Baghdad.

“It will also become a big support for the newly established Iraqi government,” he added.

Abdul-Mahdi is “happy” to welcome Barzani to Baghdad, said Hussein.

As finance minister, Hussein hopes the visit will improve talks about the Iraqi budget. The Kurdish leadership is demanding a bigger share of the national budget than what was proposed in the draft bill prepared by the outgoing government.

The new parliament and government have committed themselves to making significant changes to the budget.

Barzani, head of the KDP – largest Kurdish party, visits the Iraqi capital after recent agreements over exporting Kirkuk’s oil and removing customs at the internal border. His trip is the latest sign of warming relations between Erbil and Baghdad.

http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/211120181

[Piling]

That's an event : I wonder if he ever came back to Baghdad since his teen age. I don't know the new PM, but from Duhok I heard yesterday that he has friendly relations with Barzani.

Hope it won't turn like his "friendship" with Maliki