Deputy Speaker Hawrami welcomes UK Deputy Ambassador James Downer

Kurdistan Parliament Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami on 26 January welcome the UK's Deputy Ambassador to Iraq James Downer, and Consul General James Thornton. They discussed Kurdistan Parliament's legislative and monitoring work and plans, the Reform Law and Iraq's next election.

MPs Gulistan Said (Head of Change block), Bahman Kakabdullah (KDP), Faisal Qadir (PUK), also met with the British diplomats.

Deputy Speaker Hawrami said that in the current Parliament recess he and committees have met with several ministers and the Integrity Commission to follow up on their implementation of the cabinet's published agenda and with the Reform Law.

Parliament's current priorities include a wide-ranging education and study bill and the Kurdistan Region draft budget bill. 

Dr. Hawrami added that the Kurdistan Parliament is looking into the next Iraqi election and its impact on the Kurdistani areas outside the KRG administrative area.

Deputy Speaker Hawrami, Deputy Ambassador Downer, Consul General Thornton also discussed Erbil-Baghdad relations and ongoing talks on Kurdistan's share of the budget and other outstanding issues.

Dr. Hawrami asked that the UK support the dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad to achieve an agreement.