ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - A delegation from the Kurdistan Region featuring senior figures from the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has arrived in the Iraqi capital for discussions with top officials in the federal government regarding outstanding salary and oil disputes between Erbil and Baghdad.

The delegation, headed by PUK leader Bafel Talabani and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, a senior KDP member, has already met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, President Abdul Latif Rashid, and Supreme Judicial Council Chief Faiq Zidan.

“During the meeting, a number of national issues and files were discussed, including the issue of the transfer of oil and non-oil revenues to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the salaries of its employees,” read a statement from Sudani’s office on the meeting.

“They also emphasized the importance of coordination and working to resolve common issues in accordance with the applicable constitutional and legal frameworks and the Federal Court's ruling on this matter,” it added.

Preparations for the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections, set for November, were also discussed during the Iraqi premier’s meeting with the Kurdish delegation.

The delegation is also set to partake in a meeting of Iraq’s ruling State of Law Coalition during the visit to Baghdad.

In a letter addressed to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in late May, Iraqi Finance Minister Taif Sami said that Baghdad was “unable to continue funding the Region” for the rest of the year, arguing that Erbil has already exceeded its share of the annual budget.

The decision has resulted in a halt in disbursing the Region’s civil servant salaries, who have yet to be paid for the months of May and June.

Top leaders from the KDP and the PUK met in Erbil’s Pirmam on Monday to discuss their positions on the financial issues between Erbil and Baghdad going forward, with both sides agreeing that “all efforts must be intensified toward resolving the issue.”

The KDP on Saturday said they were granting Baghdad one last chance to solve the issues, citing a promise by the federal government to address the problem.