Asked by: John Slinger (Labour - Rugby)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the relationship between the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Through our diplomatic presence, we regularly engage with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government. We continue to encourage constructive dialogue and cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil to resolve their outstanding issues, including around the federal budget, security cooperation, and the oil and gas sector. Priorities for the UK in Iraq include Parliamentary ratification of the UK-Iraq Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which establishes a framework for deepening the UK-Iraq partnership across areas of common interest such as security, people smuggling, environmental protection, and trade.
Asked by: John Slinger (Labour - Rugby)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Iraqi counterpart on the suspension of budget transfers to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Although the Foreign Secretary has not made any direct representations to his Iraqi counterpart on the suspension of budget transfers to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), the UK Government continues to encourage through our regular diplomatic engagement cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil to resolve outstanding issues, including budget payments. It is important that both sides negotiate to find a sustainable solution that secures regular and consistent salary payments for public servants in the KRI.
Asked by: John Slinger (Labour - Rugby)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the outcome of the recent parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan region in Iraq.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK was pleased to welcome the Kurdistan Region of Iraq's parliamentary election which took place on 20 October 2024. This election was an essential opportunity for the people of the Region to have their voices heard, as demonstrated by the high turnout (72%). After two-years of delays, this election contributes to the renewal of the Kurdistan Regional Government's democratic legitimacy.
We look forward to the resumption of the regional parliament and the formation of a regional government as soon as possible.
The UK continues to support a thriving Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) within a peaceful and prosperous Iraq. Through our diplomatic engagements with the KRI's political parties, we still urge greater cooperation between them to confront shared economic, political and security challenges.