Tobias Ellwood, Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East, said:

I welcome the agreement reached yesterday between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government on the issue of federal budget allocations.

Whilst this is an interim deal, it is a positive and welcome first step which demonstrates that both parties are ready and willing to negotiate seriously and in good faith. I encourage the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to now work together to find a long-term, comprehensive and constitutional solution to this issue. This will require flexibility and compromise on both sides; however I have no doubt that a resolution will bring benefits to Iraqis across the country.

ISIL is a threat to all Iraqis and it is important that Iraq’s communities unite in the face of this common enemy. I hope that yesterday’s agreement can contribute positively to this process.

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