Top Kurdistan Region officials meet with British Envoy to Iraq

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – British Ambassador to Iraq Stephen Hickey convened with top Kurdistan Region officials on Monday to discuss the latest developments concerning Iraq and the region, including the COVID-19 public health crisis and its economic ramifications as well security and political issues.  

Masoud Barzani, the former president of Kurdistan Region and the current leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), met with the British diplomatic delegation headed by Ambassador Hickey to discuss the latest developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, a statement from the Kurdish leader’s office read.

The resurging threat of the so-called Islamic State was one of the topics addressed in the meeting.

“President Barzani and Ambassador Hickey also spoke of the ongoing threat posed by the terrorists of the Islamic State,” as they referred to “the recent attack by the terrorists in the villages of Dara and Mekhas in the Khanaqin area,” the statement said.

On late Saturday, suspected Islamic State fighters struck a village in Iraq’s disputed Khanaqin district, killing seven individuals, in yet another attack targeting the country’s Kakai community.

Read More: Suspected ISIS attack in Iraq's disputed Khanaqin village leaves 7 dead

The current relations between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Federal Government of Iraq were discussed as Masoud Barzani “reiterated his optimism about the future of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.”

“It is of immense importance for all citizens to abide by the health regulations concerning COVID-19,” the KDP leader said in the meeting with the British envoy as they also discussed the ongoing public health crisis in the Kurdistan Region.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met separately with Ambassador Hickey on Sunday to discuss a variety of topics concerning Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, a statement on the Kurdistan Region Presidency website said.

President Nechirvan Barzani and the British envoy underscored “the importance of the International Coalition’s continued support to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in confronting terror,” as both sides discussed the resurging threat posed by the self-proclaimed Islamic State that targets civilians and security members indiscriminately.

The pending issues between Erbil and Baghdad were also highlighted in the meeting as both officials stressed ways to resolve the problems based on “the basis of the constitution of Iraq.”

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

The British Envoy also met later with Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, with whom he discussed Erbil-Baghdad relations, according to a statement from the premier’s office.

Prime Minister Barzani affirmed, “We support Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s government for the sake of solving all the issues on a constitutional basis.”

“Whenever our brothers in Baghdad from the Federal Government are ready to resolve the issues in a fair manner, I am willing to visit Baghdad,” Barzani added.

Ambassador Hickey, for his part, expressed “his country’s willingness to assist” the KRG and Iraqi government to settle long-standing disputes. “We consider Iraq and the Kurdistan Region our allies and want to assist them at this challenging time,” Hickey added, according to the KRG statement.

The UK highly values its relationship with the @Kurdistan Regional Government. Ambassador @sblhickey had an excellent meeting with KRI Prime Minister @masrour_barzani covering a wide range of issues. #TwitterKurds https://t.co/cJm3sfzavk

— James Thornton (@UKThornton) June 15, 2020