Politics

Britain affirms continued support for Kurdistan, Peshmerga forces in meeting with region's top officials

During the meetings, the British Ambassador to Iraq “affirmed his country’s support for the Kurdistan Region and its Peshmerga forces.”

Mustafa Shilani 2021/02/02 09:40

Masoud Barzani (right), leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, is photographed during a meeting with the British Ambassador to Iraq, Stephen Hickey, on Feb. 1, 2021. (Photo: Masoud Barzani’s office)

Kurdistan Baghdad-Erbil Iraq Kurdistan Sinjar

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Senior Kurdistan Region officials met on Monday with the British Ambassador to Iraq to discuss the latest developments in the region, especially the relations between Erbil and Baghdad.

In a post on Twitter, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader, Masoud Barzani, said he held “a productive meeting” with the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Iraq, Stephen Hickey, where the two “discussed the latest developments, particularly insofar as the relations between Baghdad and Erbil are concerned.”

Had a productive meeting today with the British ambassador to Iraq, @sblhickey where we discussed the latest developments, particularly insofar as the relations between Baghdad and Erbil are concerned. pic.twitter.com/SL3IIO2NTG
— Masoud Barzani (@masoud_barzani) February 1, 2021

A statement Barzani’s office released after the meeting said both sides had highlighted the need to address the problems between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq “within the framework of the constitution and through dialogue.”

According to the statement, Ambassador Hickey “affirmed his country’s support for the Kurdistan Region and its Peshmerga forces.”

The British ambassador and his accompanying delegation, which included the UK’s Consul General in Erbil, James Thornton, met separately with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani.

A statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Presidency office said both sides addressed the importance of Erbil and Baghdad finding a solution to resolve their outstanding differences.

“President Barzani affirmed the willingness and will of the Kurdistan Region to solve the problems with Baghdad in a complete and final solution on the basis of the constitution,” the statement read. “Solving the problems between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government is the key to security and stability in Iraq now and in the future.”

The two sides also discussed the role of the international community in providing support to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, British aid in the form of institutional strengthening, the Sinjar agreement, and the ongoing threat of extremist groups like the so-called Islamic State in the region.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany