Abadi, Barzani reaffirm peaceful means to resolve Baghdad, Erbil issues

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council visited the Iraqi capital of Baghdad and met with Prime Minister.

On Saturday, Masrour Barzani, Chancellor of the KRSC, accompanied by Fuad Hussein, Chief of Staff to the Kurdistan Region's President met with Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad to discuss military and political developments in the region.

According to a KRSC statement, Barzani and Abadi discussed the military and political situation in Kurdistan, Iraq and the region.

The Iraqi PM expressed his gratitude for the bravery and sacrifices made by the Kurdistan Region's Peshmerga forces in the fight against terror, stating that the Iraqi forces' victory in the Nineveh province has been the result of direct coordination and support from the Peshmerga forces.

Abadi stressed the need for suitable solutions to resolve prolonged issues and prevent the rise of extremism in the region, the statement said.

Regarding Erbil-Baghdad relations, both sides stressed the importance of frank negotiations to resolve all issues peacefully, where the will and demands of all of Iraq's components are respected.

"It would guarantee a stable, bright and trustworthy future for all," the statement concluded.

The Iraqi PM Office also issued a statement regarding the meeting, stating they discussed military victories in Mosul and the effective coordination between all military forces, including the Peshmerga forces, in liberating Mosul.

The meeting reaffirmed that cooperation between the Iraqi army and Peshmerga forces built trust and harmony which helped defeat the enemy, the statement said.

It concluded by saying that “this cooperation will be the start of more thoughtful relations between the federal government and the Region in the future.”

Editing by G.H. Renaud