Masrour Barzani: Independence of Kurdistan will be the key factor of stability in the region

Masrour Barzani received former United States Ambassador to Iraq and current Chair of Atlantic Council’s “Task Force on the Future of Iraq’ Ryan Crocker at a meeting for talks on the political and military developments in the Kurdistan Region.

During the meeting, they exchanged views on the crisis afflicting the region and war against the terrorist organisation Islamic State. They focused on future of Iraq and the relationship with Kurdistan as a result of the ongoing issues between both regions.

The Chancellor and Head of Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC), Mr Barzani, highlighted the injustices the Kurds have faced under previous Iraqi regimes and said there is a correlation after so many decades. He said: “It is now time that the West handles the inequalities. We’ve tried to ensure a peaceful coexistence with Iraq but there is no doubt that an independent Kurdistan will be a key factor in the stability of the entire region.”

In another aspect of the meeting, Mr Barzani said that Iraq has not witnessed any stability similar to that of Kurdistan in its history and although the war against the Islamic State is the current priority, it should “not neglect the referendum because it’s a demand of the Kurds, as a national right.”

The meeting was attended by Middle East security affairs expert Kenneth Pollack, Iraqi politics expert Michael Knight, former US diplomat and author of the book, ‘The End of Iraq’, Peter Kalbrait.

The Council of Atlantic comprises of 25 experts and researchers to search for solutions to problematic that has plagued Iraq in order to serve the future of country. The Task Force seeks to refocus attention on the underlying drivers of conflict that must be addressed to stabilise Iraq, beyond the military defeat of ISIS.