Iraq Should Not Become Battleground for Regional Rivalries: Kurdistan President

President Nechirvan Barzani emphasized that all efforts shall be dedicated to restore peace and stability in Iraq and said that Iraq should not become a battlefield to settle disputes. The President also said that Iraq needs the presence and support the international coalition to confront terrorism.

In a meeting on Wednesday, January 15, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulrahman al Thani. In the meeting the President underlined that the Kurdistan Region appreciates the foreign minister’s visit to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and reiterated that all sides should do their outmost to safeguard the broader region from ISIS threats.

Qatari Foreign Minister said that his country views the Kurdistan Region’s efforts in restoring peace and stability in the region as highly constructive and reiterated that Qatar sees its relations with the Kurdistan Region as an important one.

The two sides also discussed the ongoing efforts to restore stability, Iraq’s and Kurdistan Region’s relations with Qatar and the opportunities for Qatari investment in Kurdistan Region, as well as a Qatari assessment team’s upcoming visit to the Kurdistan Region to evaluate investment prospects.

The situation of the refugees and IDPs in the Region and ways to support them were also discussed in the meeting.