The senior Kurdish leadership on Monday received Mohamed al-Hassan, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), ahead of Iraq’s parliamentary elections scheduled for Tuesday.

According to the official UNAMI account on X, UN Special Representative al-Hassan expressed his highest appreciation to President Masoud Barzani for “for his historic role in supporting national dialogue, reconciliation, and the stability of Iraq and the region, reaffirming the United Nations’ continued commitment to supporting Iraq in its democratic path in a way that promotes security, stability, and prosperity for all.”

In a separate meeting, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also received UN Special Representative al-Hassan and emphasized the importance of conducting the elections peacefully and free from violations, according to the KRG readout. 

He expressed hope that the election results would contribute positively to Iraq’s security and stability, help resolve issues between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government based on the Constitution, and improve public services and quality of life for all Iraqi citizens.

According to UNAMI, the discussions also covered ongoing efforts to strengthen relations between the federal government and the KRG “in a way that preserves the federal relationship between both sides.” 

UN Special Representative al-Hassan reaffirmed the UNs’ support for constructive dialogue between Baghdad and Erbil, grounded in the Constitution, to ensure sustainable solutions and strong relations that serve the interests of all Iraqis.

In a separate meeting, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also received the UN envoy. 

According to the Presidency readout, their discussions focused on Erbil-Baghdad relations, the upcoming Iraqi elections, and recent political developments in the country. Both sides stressed the need for fair and transparent elections across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, emphasizing that the results should open a new and more promising chapter for both sides.

They also underlined the importance of addressing outstanding issues between Erbil and Baghdad through dialogue and mutual understanding, with a shared commitment to maintaining peace and stability across Iraq.

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Since the fall of the Ba’ath-regime in 2003, there have been tensions between Baghdad and Erbil, with attempts by Baghdad to limit the Kurdistan Region’s autonomy. For instance, Baghdad has exerted pressure on the KRG for several years by cutting the salaries of public sector employees in the Kurdistan Region after the KRG started independent oil exports.

However, in July, the KRG and Iraqi federal government reached a deal for the KRG to deliver 230,000 barrels of oil per day and 120 billion Iraqi dinars in non-oil revenues to Baghdad in order to resume oil exports that had been halted since 2023.

Moreover, in September, the Iraqi government, the KRG, and oil companies signed a tripartite agreement, officially restarting oil exports. However, salaries for September have not arrived yet.

In a post on X on November 7, Aziz Ahmad‏, Deputy Chief of Staff to the KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, underlined that the KRG has fulfilled its obligations under the oil export deal and deposited the non-oil revenues to Baghdad.

During the election campaign for the Iraqi elections, top officials of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party called for the implementation of the Constitution, including the passage of a national oil and gas law and the enforcement of Article 140, which provides a framework for resolving the disputed territories between Baghdad and Erbil.