Risk of IS re-emergence in Iraq ‘high’ if issues not addressed: Barzani to German Defense Minister
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday received the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, and shared her support for dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad to begin and bring the current disputes to a peaceful end.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday received the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, and shared her support for dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad to begin and bring the current disputes to a peaceful end.
Following the meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel in Berlin, Barzani on Tuesday met with Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen to discuss military aid to the Kurdistan Region.
Leyen commended the role of the Peshmerga in defeating the Islamic State (IS) and the cooperation between the Peshmerga, German forces, and the US-led coalition against the jihadist group. She mentioned that German support to the Kurdistan Region would continue, read a statement by Barzani’s press office.
The German official also shared her concerns regarding the current tensions between Erbil and Baghdad and called for dialogue.
According to the press office, the German Defense Minister reiterated that Germany and its allies would assist in helping resolve issues between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Federal Government of Iraq.
Ties between the KRG and the federal government have considerably deteriorated following the Sep. 25 referendum on independence for the Kurdistan Region which saw an overwhelming majority vote for secession.
Barzani discussed bilateral ties between Erbil and Berlin and called for Germany’s support as he stressed that the reasons which led to the rise of IS in Iraq had not yet been addressed, warning the jihadist group could re-emerge.
The Kurdish Premier also highlighted the need of elections to be held in Kurdistan in the nearest possible future and asked Germany to help the Kurdistan Region overcome its current economic and financial crisis by pressuring the Federal Government of Iraq to provide the Region with its fair share of the budget.
Barzani also restated the KRG’s call for dialogue with Baghdad and asked the European ally, along with other nations, to help both Erbil and Baghdad address their issues.
Editing by Nadia Riva