Russian official applauds peaceful Erbil-Baghdad talks

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Head of Department of Foreign Relations, Falah Mustafa, on Tuesday met with Russian Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Moscow.

The participants in the meeting hoped for the continuation of the historical friendship between Kurdistan and Russia and for further growth and development of relations.

“We discussed the political process, the latest election [May 12 Iraqi parliamentary election], the results of the election, the formation of the new Iraqi government, and the role Kurdistan plays in it,” Mustafa said in an interview with Kurdistan 24 after the meeting.

He said of Bogdanov: “As the representative of Russia, he expressed his happiness at the KRG’s decision to participate with vigor [in the new Iraqi government] to demand our [the Kurds’] constitutional rights.”

Officials from various Kurdish parties emphasize the necessity of Kurdish unity in Baghdad to reach a conclusion on the implementation of the constitutional articles that concern the rights of the Kurds.

Articles 140 and 132 are among those articles, one deciding the fate of Iraq’s disputed territories through a referendum and the other for the compensation of the victims of Saddam Hussein’s regime.

The Russian Deputy had also indicated his country’s support for the KRG and was glad the Erbil-Baghdad issues were being resolved through diplomacy and peaceful means.

“We want our friendship to continue with both sides,” Bogdanov had said.

On May 9, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani visited Moscow on an official invitation where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss bilateral relations.

Erbil-Moscow ties have strengthened over the past few years, notably after the KRG signed an agreement with Russia’s state oil company Rosneft.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany