Spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Jotiar Adil said on Wednesday, December 23, that the KRG cannot pay salaries to the Kurdistan Region’s public sector employees for the last two months in 2020 if the federal government does not send the Region’s funds.

Kurdistan's Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani, called on Wednesday, the United Nations to participate as a third party in the Erbil - Baghdad discussions.

The representative of the Kurdistan Islamic Party in the Iraqi parliament stressed that no agreement has been reached between Erbil and Baghdad yet, and that the Kurdish parliament will not approve the budget bill as submitted by the government.

The commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps met with senior Iraqi officials during a short visit to Baghdad, Al-Alam reported.

Following the cabinet’s approval of the 2021 draft federal budget bill, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on Monday, December 21, defended the legislation, saying that it will protect vulnerable groups and cut the salaries of senior government officials.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s deputy chief of staff outlined why the Kurdish region's government wants US forces stationed in and around the Fish Khabur border crossing.

Citing efforts by various groups to maintain control on Shingal, Jamestown Institute said that it is difficult to fully implement the agreement over the Iraqi central government controlling the Shingal region.

The Iraqi Minister of Finance announced that Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan Region, and Baghdad have agreed on 2021 budget law.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi committed to enhanced cooperation on terrorism, trade and energy, although Turkey’s ongoing military operations in Iraqi Kurdistan may remain a source of contention between the two neighbors.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said he had talked with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein about the opening of Ovakoy border between the two countries. But he stressed that the move would be made without "taking Erbil or Baghdad by surprise".

A Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) negotiating delegation met with Iraqi President Barham Salih on Thursday, December 17, in Baghdad, during which they discussed the importance of reaching constitutionally-sound solutions to the budget disagreements between the KRG and the federal government.

During a meeting with a number of protesting teachers in the Kurdistan Region, the Iraqi President expressed his full support for their demands and that of all clerks in the region.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on Wednesday met for talks with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, during which they discussed implementation of the recent Shingal agreement and issues involving the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The media office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Qubad Talabani, denied the return of the KRG's negotiating delegation to Baghdad.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara where they discussed strengthening economic co-operation between the two countries.