Erbil, Baghdad to hold 'decisive' dialogue

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister stated on Wednesday that Kurdistan Region will hold decisive dialogue with Iraq.

KRG PM Nechirvan Barzani in a panel held by the Middle East Research Institute (MERI) on Wednesday, discussed Mosul operation and post-Islamic State (IS)-Mosul, the relations between Erbil and Baghdad and the situation in the Kurdistan Region.

The KRG PM Nechirvan Barzani stated that Mosul is politically and economically important to the Kurdistan Region, and geographically has a big impact on the Kurdistan Region cities, especially Erbil and Duhok and to some extend Kirkuk.

PM Barzani added that there is high coordination between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army since the beginning of the Mosul operation, saying that the Mosul operation is important for the future of Kurdistan and Iraq.

“Mosul is not only a military matter, but it is also a political one, the military side might be much easier than the political one, as the question is what will happen to the post-IS Mosul,” PM Barzani said during the panel.

Barzani insisted on the Kurdistan Region’s position that Peshmerga forces will not enter the city of Mosul city, adding that “We do not want to create conflict between Kurds and Arabs.”

Regarding the relations with Baghdad, KRG PM stated that they will continue to resolve the issues between Erbil and Baghdad through dialogue.

PM Barzani added that the foundation of Iraq has been built by three major components which are Shia, Sunni, and Kurds. “We need to find a new formula for coexistence in Iraq,” he said.

We have hopes for decisive dialogue with Baghdad, PM Barzani stated, however added that “We have been working with Baghdad for over 11 years for the constitution to be implemented but we cannot accept to continue like this for another 11 years without reaching a solution.”

Editing by Ava Homa