Baghdad refuses to implement Iraqi Constitution in its entirety: Masrour Barzani

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has been diligent in respecting its constitutional duties, but Baghdad has failed to implement and respect the Iraqi Constitution as a whole, a senior Kurdish official said on Monday.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has been diligent in respecting its constitutional duties, but Baghdad has failed to implement and respect the Iraqi Constitution as a whole, a senior Kurdish official said on Monday.

The international community should be more active in its efforts in the Middle East to prevent the re-emergence of violence and terrorism in the region, Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) Masrour Barzani affirmed in a meeting with Norwegian Ambassador to Jordan and Iraq, Tone Allers, in Erbil.

Both sides discussed tensions between Erbil and Baghdad. Barzani emphasized the need for the Constitution of Iraq to be the founding block on which disputes between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Iraqi federal government ought to be resolved.

The Kurdish official mentioned that the KRG had met its constitutional obligations, but Baghdad refuses to implement the constitution in its entirety, according to the KRSC press office.

Barzani and the Norwegian envoy also highlighted the role of the Kurdish Peshmerga in the fight against the Islamic State (IS). Allers noted that Norway believes the Kurdistan Region plays an important role in the region and hopes to foster bilateral relations with Erbil, the statement continued.

She also expressed her country’s support for current negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad, hoping the dialogue would yield positive results.

Ties between Erbil and Baghdad have substantially deteriorated after the referendum on independence in the Kurdistan Region was held last year.

Erbil and Baghdad have long-standing issues dividing them, including the Kurdistan Region’s budget share, conflicts over the administration of disputed territories, and the distribution of oil export revenue.

Editing by Nadia Riva