Nechirvan Barzani, Abadi meet in Baghdad to discuss Erbil-Baghdad relations
Both prime ministers discussed the political situation in the country in general and some other common dossiers between Baghdad and Erbil.
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Monday received his counterpart from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, to discuss relations between Erbil and Baghdad.
Both prime ministers spoke about the political situation in the country in general and some other common dossiers between the Federal Government of Iraq and the KRG, the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
“The meeting reiterated the importance of continued communication and exchange of dialogue in a way that strengthens joint national work,” it added.
Barzani and Abadi also emphasized maintaining cooperation between Iraqi security forces and the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga to eliminate any terror threats after efforts to achieve victory against Islamic State extremists.
According to the statement, both leaders shared similar views on dealing with the challenges facing the country.
They also addressed ways to move forward with the formation of the next government that meets the demands of the Iraqi people through support for the economy, construction, provision of services, and employment opportunities.
Fuad Hussein, the Chief of Staff to the Kurdistan Region Presidency, accompanied PM Barzani on his visit to Baghdad.
Relations between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq are slowly improving since ties deteriorated when Kurdistan held a historic independence referendum last September.
Baghdad rejected the legitimacy and results of the vote, despite an overwhelming 93 percent voting for secession from Iraq.
In response, the Iraqi government imposed a set of punitive measures on the KRG, including border closures, an international flight ban, and the use of military force on Oct. 16, 2017, to regain control of disputed territories.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany
