Kurdistan PM affirms conditional support for new Iraqi gov.
During a meeting with Iraq’s defense minister, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani reiterated on Monday Erbil’s support for a new national government.
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – During a meeting with Iraq’s defense minister, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani reiterated on Monday Erbil’s support for a new national government on the condition that the nominee "respects the constitutional rights" of the autonomous region and is welcomed by a majority of Iraqi citizens.
The discussion with Defense Minister Najah al-Shammari took place at the annual Munich Security Conference in Germany, where Barzani met with a number of European and American top officials, including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Topping the Prime Minister’s agenda for talks has been the continued threat posed by the Islamic State and other regional turmoil.
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“To defeat terrorism in the long-term, regional states must implement social and economic changes,” a statement summarizing Barzani’s meetings on Friday said. “The KRG is leading the way with a range of reforms to be a model for Iraq and the whole region in terms of economic opportunity, social reform, stability, and security.”
An Arabic statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) website said that, during a meeting with the Iraqi minister, Barzani stressed “the importance of coordination between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army to counter the ongoing threats of ISIS.”
A separate part of the discussion covered the popular unrest that continues to plague Iraq with a mass protest movement in its fifth month in southern and central parts of the country.
Related Article: Amid national unrest, Iraqi FM meets top Kurdish leaders in Erbil
Iraq’s now-caretaker Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi turned in his resignation after days of unprecedented violence perpetrated by security forces and Iranian-backed militias against anti-government protesters that have reportedly resulted in the death of over 600 people.
Barzani “restated that we will back a government that is supported by the majority of the Iraqi people and respects the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region,” a tweet read, outlining part of the talk. Iraqi President Barham Salih has tasked Mohammed Allawi with forming a new cabinet as part of nominating him to be the next prime minister.
These developments come as talks between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to settle a number of fundamental issues between them have slowed as Baghdad’s focus shifted towards the protests.
PM Barzani is reportedly slated to meet Iraq’s Foreign Minister, Mohammed Ali al-Hakim, on Saturday just days after a previous gathering in Erbil. Barzani is also expected to meet a number of other top diplomats and officials of various countries participating in the Munich event.
Editing by John J. Catherine