Barzani: Significant Iraqi problems propose a radical solution

The Chancellor of the Kurdistan Regional Security Council Masrour Barzani said there is many historical problems in Iraq need a radical solution, in addition to the so-called Islamic State (IS). 

He stressed that the defeat IS will be the beginning for the elimination of this global terrorist organisation. His comments came after discussions with General Tom Pickett, Special Envoy of the British Prime Minister for Security Affairs, and his accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on the current political climate and military progress in the Kurdistan region where Mr Barzani referred to the latest developments on the battlefields, stressing the renewed vitality of weakening Islamic State to eliminate them from Iraq, adding that Kurdish Peshmerga forces should be "given all applicable resources" to strengthen their offensives directed against the militants.

Mr Barzani emphasised on the resilience of Peshmerga that they are fighting a war on behalf of the free world as the only troops on the ground engaged in the line of duty, and the presence of a huge number of refugees impacting the already challenging economic crisis facing Kurdistan, highlighting that the financial crisis caused the downward spiral.

For his part, Gen. Pickett praised the active role of the Kurds in defeating IS in the Kurdistan region and touched on the support of coalition aircraft which has had a positive influence in destabilising the terrorist organisation, and called on the Kurds as an effective member of the international community.