Politics

British envoy to Iraq discusses Erbil-Baghdad ties with KDP leader, KRG security chief

The KRG security chief, highlighting the “new phase” in Erbil-Baghdad ties, hoped the two governments would be able to resolve their long-standing disputes through constructive dialogue.

Kurdistan 24 2018/12/09 14:36

middle east Iraq Kurdistan Erbil Baghdad Relations Erbil Baghdad

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – British Ambassador to Iraq Jon Wilks on Sunday met with the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Masoud Barzani and Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) Masrour Barzani, to discuss the latest political developments in the country.

In the meeting with Wilks, Masrour highlighted the “new phase” in bilateral ties between Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and hoped Erbil and Baghdad would be able to resolve their issues through constructive dialogue soon, according to a KRSC statement.

The federal and regional governments, despite recent improvements in relations, have longstanding disputes, chief among them the yearly federal budget share allotted to Kurdistan, and the situation in the disputed province of Kirkuk.

Both sides “underscored the importance of identifying win-win technical opportunities that advance economic reforms on one hand and strengthen cooperation with Iraq’s new government on the other.”

The steps would “provide the political will necessary to tackle the outstanding issues” between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad.

From his side, Wilks congratulated Masrour on his nomination by the KDP to become the semi-autonomous region’s next prime minister.

The British envoy expressed his country’s continued support to develop and rebuild the Kurdistan Region further.

A picture from the meeting between Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani and British Ambassador to Iraq Jon Wilks and an accompanying delegation in Erbil on Dec. 9, 2018. (Photo: KDP office)

In the meeting with Masoud, also in Erbil, Wilks underlined the importance of the KDP leader’s recent visit to Baghdad, accompanied by Masrour, where he met with top officials in the political process of the country, including Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi.

Masoud, along with Wilks, agreed that a “new opportunity” had emerged in the country to boost Erbil-Baghdad ties following the establishment of the new central government.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany