EU ready to support new Kurdistan Regional Government: Ambassador to Iraq

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The European Union is ready to support the new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and its initiatives to deliver better services to the people of Kurdistan, the European Union Ambassador to Iraq stated.  

In a recent interview with Kurdistan 24, Ambassador to Iraq Ramon Blecua pledged the EU’s support to the semi-autonomous region as it prepares to form a new government following elections in September.

Among the first steps, the leading Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), who won the elections, has nominated current Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) Chancellor Masrour Barzani as prime minister to form the new cabinet.

Blecua said although it is too early for him to have an opinion, he is confident the new government under Barzani will be “extremely effective.”

He pointed to reforms the previous KRG administration had begun to implement and said there is “a very positive trend in terms of public finance management” and “government initiatives to deliver better services.”

The ambassador also spoke about Erbil-Baghdad relations and said there is a very good spirit of cooperation between the KRG and the Iraqi government, adding he is optimistic ties between the two will produce good results.

“We believe that there is now an extremely fluid relationship so, we hope the different outstanding issues that are still pending – issues of the budget, issues of constitutional interpretation – will be addressed,” he said.

Relations between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq deteriorated in September 2017 following the historic Kurdish independence referendum which Baghdad quickly rejected.

The Iraqi government responded with punitive measures including a flight ban and the use of military force to regain control of disputed territories.

Blecua pointed to the “very good communication” and continuous meetings between senior Kurdish and Iraqi officials since then.

“I think that there is a very good will from both sides. I’m optimistic on the possibility of results—good results.

(Kurdistan 24 correspondent Blessa Shaweys conducted the interview)