Kurdistan Region’s top officials meet Iraq’s security chancellor

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region’s senior officials on Sunday met with Iraq’s national security advisor in Erbil to discuss a range of topics, including the protection of foreign diplomatic staff and facilities, according to a statement.

The leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Masoud Barzani, received Iraq’s National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji to speak about the latest political developments in Iraq, Erbil-Baghdad relations, and cooperation to defeat the threat of terrorism, according to a statement from the KDP leader’s office.

Continued cooperation between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Federal Government of Iraq was stressed to resolve the outstanding issues, including countering the threat of terrorism posed the so-called Islamic State poses, the statement added.

Kurdistan Region discusses security of embassies in Baghdad

In a meeting with Advisor al-Araji on Sunday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani underscored “the need to maintain security around embassies and diplomatic missions in Baghdad,” a statement from the president’s office read.

The two sides discussed “the recent attacks on embassies and diplomatic missions in Baghdad and their implications in particular,” the statement said, as they stressed on the need to maintain security around foreign diplomatic compounds.

Cooperation between Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi Army in the fight against the Islamic State was underlined in the meeting, the statement added.

President Barzani previously expressed his “great concern” regarding attacks on foreign diplomatic installations as well as the coalition against ISIS and expressed the region’s willingness to ensure security and safety in the country.

We follow with great concern latest threats & attacks against diplomatic missions & international coalition bases who are protecting Iraqis from terror. We support efforts of Iraqi leaders to prevent more attacks & stand ready to help ensure security & stability in the country.

— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) September 25, 2020

Recent reports indicate that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Iraq top officials, including Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, that his government would pull out its diplomatic corps in the Iraqi capital Baghdad unless the Iraqi government reins rocket attacks on its embassy, in which Washington puts the blame on Iranian-backed militias.

A similar report also appeared Sunday in The Wall Street Journal. It explained that even as the US had informed Iraqi officials it was “beginning to take preliminary steps” to close the embassy, it was “retaining its consulate in Erbil.”

Read More: US will close Baghdad embassy—but keep Erbil consulate open

Earlier in the day, Advisor al-Araji also met with Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, where the two discussed security cooperation between the KRG and Iraqi government to defeat the threat of the Islamic State.

Read More: Kurdistan PM, Iraqi National Security Adviser talk enhanced security coordination

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany