UN ready to 'provide assistance' to resolve Erbil, Baghdad dispute

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The United Nations on Sunday expressed its readiness to assist and resolve the ongoing problems between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Iraqi government.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani met with UN Special Envoy to Iraq Jan Kubis who was accompanied by his deputy, Alice Walpole.

Prime Minister Barzani said he was satisfied with the start of a dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad in recent weeks, according to a KRG press release following the meeting.

Kubis offered to provide “all forms of support and cooperation” to ensure the continuation of technical meetings between the KRG and the Iraqi government.

He also noted that the UN was eager “to develop solutions to existing problems [between Erbil and Baghdad], especially with regards to the disbursement of Kurdistan Region employees’ salaries and the reopening of airports.”

The Kurdistan Region Prime Minister said the beginning of a dialogue between the KRG and the central government in Baghdad was “a good start,” adding he hopes it is the first step of many to resolve all the disputes between the two sides.

Relations between Kurdistan and Iraq weakened following the Region’s Sep. 25 independence referendum where an overwhelming majority (93 percent) voted for secession.

Baghdad responded negatively to the historic vote, imposing several collective punitive measures on Erbil including an international flight ban on airports in Kurdistan as well as the use of military force to regain control of disputed areas.

However, in recent weeks, tensions have decreased after the exchange of delegations from both sides following the KRG’s continuous calls for a dialogue to resolve all problems peacefully.