Swedish FM calls for inclusive political process to rebuild Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Foreign Minister of Sweden Margot Wallstrom on Tuesday called for dialogue to help resolve the current tensions between Erbil and Baghdad.

Ties between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Federal Government of Iraq have considerably deteriorated since the Sep. 25 referendum on independence held in the Kurdistan Region.

“It’s important that there is a dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad. It’s for Iraq to make sure there is a discussion about the way forward,” Wallstrom told Kurdistan 24 in Belgium.

Baghdad has imposed a set of collective punitive measures against the Kurdistan Region and has used military force to take over the oil-rich Kirkuk province and other disputed territories which were under the protection of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces over the past few years.

“It’s very important that there be a stabilization and rebuilding of Iraq as well as reconciliation and an inclusive political process,” Wallstrom added.

Both sides agree that their differences should be addressed through peaceful negotiations, but so far no dialogue has taken place, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday told reporters at a press conference in Erbil.

Editing Nadia Riva

(Barzan Hassan contributed to this report)