Politics

Masrour Barzani, UK Minister discusses ways to strengthen UK-Kurdistan partnership

Both sides discussed “regional developments and ways to continue strengthening the strong partnership between the United Kingdom and Kurdistan Region.”

Kurdistan 24 2019/01/26 18:43

kurdistan Kurdistan Region United Kingdom Masrour Barzani Alistair Burt KRSC

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) Chancellor Masrour Barzani discussed ways to improve ties between the Kurdistan Region and the United Kingdom in a meeting with a UK minister on Saturday.

Chancellor Barzani welcomed UK Minister of State for Middle East Alistair Burt in Erbil to discuss “regional developments and ways to continue strengthening the strong partnership between the United Kingdom and Kurdistan Region,” a statement on the KRSC website read.

Both sides also discussed the recent passing of the Iraqi Federal Budget, which the KRSC Chancellor commended “as a positive step in institutionalizing Erbil-Baghdad relations.”

Iraq recently agreed to add 68 billion Iraqi dinars to the Defense Ministry’s budget to cover the salaries of Kurdish Peshmerga forces, who fought alongside the US-led coalition and Iraqi security forces against the Islamic State over the past few years.

Productive meeting today with @AlistairBurtUK — I welcomed UK support for economic and security-sector reforms; urged UK to help reconcile Erbil-Baghdad disputes and increase Peshmerga-ISF coordination. Readout: https://t.co/I7vebQXitj pic.twitter.com/zu3u9VpDXs
— Masrour Barzani (@masrour_barzani) January 26, 2019

Following the Kurdistan Region’s historic September 2017 independence referendum, tensions between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Iraqi government increased.

Despite an overwhelming majority favoring independence, Baghdad rejected the results and responded with punitive measures, including the use of military force in disputed areas, namely Kirkuk province.

Since then, both the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces have been working to mend ties and increase cooperation.

Both Burt and Barzani “reviewed benefits coordination between Peshmerga Forces and Iraqi Security Forces can bring in the disputed territories,” the KRSC statement noted.

“These include stopping [ISIS] taking advantage of security gaps and providing the stability necessary to advance a settlement in line with the Constitution.”

Chancellor Barzani “urged the United Kingdom to help reconcile other differences,” and the two “also discussed other issues of bilateral importance.”