President Barzani: Agreement reached with Baghdad to resolve all issues

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Region delegation headed by President Masoud Barzani arrived in Baghdad and met with the Iraqi Prime Minister.

On Thursday, President Barzani and accompanied delegation held a one-hour-long meeting with the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad.

Following the meeting, President Barzani and PM Abadi held a joint a press conference.

President Barzani said during the press conference that “Our visit to Baghdad is to show our full support for the Prime Minister as we have many challenges ahead of us and we have joint priorities, the top one is the fight against Daesh terrorists.”

President Barzani assured people of Mosul that their future is safe and they will be freed from Islamic State (IS), stating that “There is good coordination between the Iraqi army and the Peshmerga forces to have a plan for Mosul operation.”

“We had brotherly talks and there has been a common understanding on all the matters discussed in the meeting,” President Barzani.

President Barzani explained that all issues and matters have to be resolved through understanding with Baghdad; and for the Kurdistan Region, Baghdad has a strategic depth.

Our relations now and in the future all has to be through mutual understanding Barzani said, “We have reached an agreement to resolve all the issues as there is understanding to resolve the economic crisis and oil and gas issue.”  

The Iraqi PM Abadi said that there has been several stranded issues between Erbil and Baghdad that have remained unresolved since 2003, “we hope that through these meetings we reach a comprehensive agreement.”

“We have to coordinate to mitigate the suffering of the people as it is our joint responsibility to provide a decent life for all citizens, including the employees of the Kurdistan Region and of all Iraqi governorates,” Abadi said.

“We have to resolve the oil dispute, in Kirkuk and in all other areas as it represents the main source of revenue to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region,” he added.

Regarding the Mosul liberation operation Abadi said that the operation has reached its final stage, and there is a plan which has been widely discussed previously.

Editing by Ava Homa