EU Foreign Ministers: Kurdistan is a big part of the solution to the Iraqi situation

Foreign Ministers of the European Union (EU) on Monday affirmed that Erbil and Baghdad should resolve their issues through peaceful dialogue.
kurdistan24.net

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Foreign Ministers of the European Union (EU) on Monday affirmed that Erbil and Baghdad should resolve their issues through peaceful dialogue.

Foreign Ministers of the EU met in Belgium and discussed the current crises affecting the Middle East.

“Ministers underlined the importance of continuing and strengthening the EU's engagement with Iraq. The High Representative and the Commission are expected to present a proposal for a new strategy in January 2018,” according to the Council of the EU's statement.

In the meeting, EU officials addressed heightened tensions between Erbil and Baghdad, which have considerably worsened since the Sep. 25 referendum on independence for the Kurdistan Region.

“We try to go further with real action from the European Union on Iraq and try not only to start rebuilding Iraq but also to go further with reconciliation and capacity for an inclusive political process for the reconstruction of Iraq. That’s maybe the most important thing, and for the rest, we will try to [continue] to fight against terror,” Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders told Kurdistan 24 ahead of the meeting.

“About Kurdistan, dialogue between Baghdad and Erbil is the only way [to resolve disputes],” he added.

Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser mentioned that the integrity of Iraq is important to the successful defeat of the Islamic State (IS) but also stressed for dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad for stability to return to the region.

“Obviously, Kurdistan is a big part of the solution to the Iraqi situation,” Mikser told Kurdistan 24.

Both Erbil and Baghdad agree that their disagreements can be addressed through negotiations, but talks have yet to begin.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius warned that despite IS' defeat, “it does not mean the fight against terror is over.”

“Everything should be looked in that picture in order to find a smooth solution,” Linkevicius told Kurdistan 24, inferring that clashes between Erbil and Baghdad would only allow for the jihadist group to regroup.

Baghdad has imposed collective punitive measures on the Kurdistan Region, including an international flight ban, and the sanctions continue to be enforced as no date has been set for talks to begin.

Editing by Nadia Riva

(Barzan Hassan contributed to this report)