President Barzani: Kurds shouldn't be blamed for partition of Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Region President on Thursday met with representatives and diplomats of foreign countries based in Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan.

In a meeting with consuls and representatives from foreign countries in Erbil, the President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani emphasized several points including the emergence of the Islamic State (IS), the Mosul operation, the economic situation in the Region, and Erbil-Baghdad relations.

There are currently nearly 40 representative offices and foreign consulates in the Kurdistan Region.

During the meeting, President Barzani expressed his appreciation on behalf of the people of the Region for the support provided by the coalition members to the Peshmerga forces.

“With the little capabilities it had, and a lot of sacrifices, Peshmerga forces protected people and stopped the advancement of [IS],” the President said during the meeting.

“The continued expansion of diplomatic missions in the Kurdistan Region is of immense value to the people and government of Kurdistan,” President Barzani added.

Additionally, the President also addressed the Mosul operation and pointed to the successful advance of both Kurdish and Iraqi forces.

On Oct. 17, 2016, Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces began the military offensive to liberate the city from IS.

Without cooperation and coordination between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army, the Mosul operation would not have been successful, President Barzani continued.

Regarding Baghdad and Erbil relations, President Barzani stated Kurds had done everything to maintain a diverse, truthful, democratic, and federal Iraq.

“No one should blame the Kurds for the partition of Iraq,” he concluded.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany