Dutch Consul General calls Iraq to end flight ban, repair ties with Kurdistan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Consul General of the Netherlands in Erbil on Sunday reiterated her call on the Iraqi government to lift an international flight ban on airports in the Kurdistan Region.

Speaking to Kurdistan 24 on the sidelines of a Middle East Research Institute (MERI) conference in Erbil, Dutch Consul General Janet Alberda said Iraq needs to “step up” its efforts to mend ties with Kurdistan.

“There are confidence-building measures that the government of Iraq can take to restore the relationship between Baghdad and Erbil,” she stated, adding the end of a flight ban “needs to come out of a fruitful discussion” between the two sides.

“The airports are open, but of course we’re talking about international flights,” Alberda noted. “I hope they will resume very soon.”

The Iraqi government banned international flights to Erbil and Sulaimani as part of collective punitive measures leveled against the Kurdistan Region in response to the Sep. 25 independence referendum which saw an overwhelming majority support secession.

Baghdad claims it will not lift the ban until it has full control and direct oversight of international airports in the semi-autonomous region. The Federal Government of Iraq has also called on all border crossings and oil fields to be handed over to Baghdad.

Earlier this year, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said it welcomed any positive steps taken by the Iraqi government to hold discussions and work toward resolving outstanding issues within the framework of the Iraqi Constitution.

Despite the collective punitive measures imposed by Baghdad, Erbil has maintained it remains committed to finding a solution to their disputes peacefully and through constructive dialogue.

“It’s good that both of them are talking right now,” Alberda said. “But, they need to step up [and speed] up these confidence-building measures.”

The Dutch Consul General explained that her government has made supporting “Iraq in its entirety” one of its priorities for the coming four years, adding the Netherlands “will talk with Baghdad and Erbil to make sure that confidence-building [is] restored.”