ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Council of Ministers on Wednesday commended the Kurdistan Region’s people for their stance in the face of the conflict between Erbil and Baghdad, while reiterating that the KRG has implemented all of its obligations toward solving the dispute.

During a regular session of the Council of Ministers in Erbil on Wednesday, dicussions regarding the recent agreement between Iraq and the Kurdistan Region took center stage.

In a statement following the session, the council reaffirmed that the Kurdistan Region has “fully implemented all its obligations” in regard to the agreement, noting that the Kurdistan Region has deposited 120 billion Iraqi dinars in cash in the Iraqi finance ministry’s account as the federal treasury’s share of non-oil revenues as per the agreement.

The Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Natural Resources has provided “all facilities to the committee of the federal Ministry of Oil and [the State Organization for Marketing of Oil] SOMO company in making available the information and data and their direct visit to all oil fields in the region,” the statement noted, caveating that oil production at the Region’s oil facilities has diminished due to a recent series of drone attacks on the Region’s energy infrastructure.

“These measures also confirm the Region's commitment to the agreement; therefore, in return, the federal government must implement its commitment according to the agreement by immediately sending the salaries and financial entitlements of the people of Kurdistan,” the statement added.

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.

The Iraqi government on Thursday approved a preliminary agreement between the two governments that was put forward by the KRG, seeking to resolve the issue of the disbursement of the Kurdistan Region’s civil servant salaries and the export of the Region’s oil.

Following the agreement, the Iraqi finance ministry announced on Tuesday that they will be financing the disbursal of the Region’s public employee salaries for the month of May.

In a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio "noted the importance of paying Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR) salaries consistently and resuming oil exports via the Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline,” read a statement attributable to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce sent to The New Region

The Council of Ministers' statement also highlighted “with great respect and appreciation” the “responsible and resilient stance” of the Region’s people during the salary crisis, saying that they have "become victims of an unlawful and unconstitutional decision" but have demonstrated "understanding" in bearing the course.