Kurdistan Delegation Arrives in Baghdad to Resume Salary Talks

A high-level delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government arrived in Baghdad today Thursday, headed by Omid Sabah, President of the Regional Council of Ministers' Office, with the aim of resuming talks with the federal government to settle outstanding financial files, foremost among them the salaries of regional employees.

Press sources said the delegation will meet officials from the federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Board of Supreme Audit, where the issue of securing salaries for regional employees for last June tops the meeting agenda.

The regional government announced its difficulty in committing to a previous decision to deliver 120 billion dinars per month of local and non-oil revenues to the federal government, due to the decline of those revenues resulting from recent regional developments.

The delegation is calling for the implementation of the Financial Management Law, which stipulates delivering 50% of non-oil revenues to the federal treasury, in return for guaranteeing the regular release of financial allocations for employees' salaries.

Discussions on implementing the automated customs system also include the disputed points related to applying the ASYCUDA system for automating and updating customs work, as the federal government seeks to impose full control over customs systems and tariffs in the region.

In return, the regional government demands a clear mechanism determining its share of customs revenues collected before proceeding with the comprehensive digital transformation.

"The attendees will discuss the disputed points related to the implementation of the ASYCUDA system for automating and updating customs work," as reported by a correspondent.