PM Barzani, Iraqi Counterpart Reiterate Commitment to Resolve Disputes

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Saturday received a high-level delegation from the Iraqi government led by acting Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi in Erbil.

Barzani and Abdul Mahdi discussed the recent regional tensions, the bilateral ties between Erbil and Baghdad, and the persisting threat of the Islamic State (IS) during a lengthy meeting.

Abdul Mahdi said during the meeting that a favorable framework has been set for the relations between the Kurdistan Region and Iraqi governments, and that there is a chance now to address their disputes in a direction that it could serve the interests of the entire country, according to the official readout of the meeting published by the KRG.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minsiter reasserted that addressing the disputes between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government, and the implementation of their agreements, requires a serious decision and a firm commitment.”

They also touched upon the recent increase in the tensions between Iran and the United States, noting that Iraq should be kept outside the regional and international conflicts, and it should play a balanced role in the region.

 

On the Islamic State, PM Barzani said that the jihadist group remains a serious threat to the security and stability of Iraq, and that a close and continuous coordination between Iraq, Kurdistan Region, and international partners was needed to counter the threat.