Following marathon meetings in Baghdad by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)’s PM Masrour Barzani, the Iraqi cabinet on 17 September approved ID2.1tr ($1.62bn) in loans to the semi-autonomous region to help cover public sector salaries for September, October and November.
The decision will provide a much-needed cash infusion for Erbil’s finances which have reeled since the mid-March halt of independent pipeline oil exports to the Turkish Mediterranean terminal of Ceyhan (MEES, 31 March). It came a day ahead of Iraqi PM Mohammed al-Sudani’s trip to New York to attend the UN General Assembly and meet officials from the US State and Treasury Departments and executives from American private sector and energy companies. (CONTINUED - 1638 WORDS)
