Saudi Arabia welcomes Kurdistan’s initiative for dialogue with Baghdad

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Saudi Arabia on Friday welcomed the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) call to freeze the results of the Sep. 25 referendum and launch a dialogue with Baghdad.

The relations between the KRG and the Federal Government of Iraq have considerably deteriorated following the Kurdistan Region’s independence referendum which resulted in a vast majority of “yes” votes for secession from Iraq.

“Riyadh follows the current situation in Iraq and welcomes the decision of the KRG to accept dialogue with Baghdad within the framework of the Iraqi Constitution,” a source from the Foreign Ministry of Saudi Arabia stated.

“The Kingdom is renewing its supportive position to resolve the outstanding issues through dialogue between the two parties consistent with the Iraqi Constitution to avoid the loss of lives and preserve Iraq’s national unity, territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty on its territory,” the source told a Saudi news outlet.

The Federal Government of Iraq has rejected the KRG’s proposal, calling for the full annulment of the referendum results as a pre-condition to begin discussions.

The US, along with many other western countries, have called on Baghdad to accept the KRG’s initiative, which also includes a ceasefire between the Peshmerga forces, Iraqi troops, and the Iranian-backed Shia Hashd al-Shaabi (PMF) militia.

Following the independence vote, the Iraqi government imposed a series of punitive measures on the Region, banning international flights, as well as trying to control Kurdistan’s border crossings with neighboring countries.

Since Oct. 16, the PMF militias along with Iraqi forces have launched a series of attacks on the Kurdistan Region and the disputed territories after taking control of the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany