Iraqi parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi kicked off on Friday an official visit to the Kurdistan Region, his first to the area since his appointment to his post.
He held talks with Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, who was recently nominated for the Kurdish presidency.
The two officials discussed pending political and security affairs between Erbil and Baghdad and efforts to form a new Iraqi government.
They underline the need and importance of filling the remaining vacant seats in the cabinet.
The case of refugees in Kurdistan was also addressed.
Later, Halbousi held talks with former Kurdish President Masoud Barzani on the political process in Iraq and the obstacles it is facing, including completing the cabinet lineup.
The warned of the repercussions of failing to form the government, while stressing the need to preserve balance in state institutions, especially in the security and military sectors.
Halbousi also held talks with Kurdistan’s general intelligence chief Masrour Barzani, who has been nominated to form the next Kurdish government.
They discussed bolstering ties between Erbil and Baghdad, as well as the Kurdish region’s budget.
