UK supports constitutional rights of Kurdistan, dialogue between Erbil, Baghdad

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The newly appointed UK Ambassador to Iraq arrived in Erbil and discussed bilateral relations and tensions between Erbil and Baghdad with Kurdistan Region officials.

On Sunday, Jon Wilks, newly appointed UK Ambassador in Baghdad visited Erbil and separately met with the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and the Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) Masrour Barzani.

According to a statement on the KRG website, Wilks stated that “Britain is ready for any cooperation and coordination in order to start a serious dialogue at the aim of resolving the issues between Erbil and Baghdad.”

Wilks thanked the KRG for making efforts to ease tensions with Baghdad and establish the groundwork for dialogue.

The UK Ambassador on behalf of the Queen offered condolences to the victims of the earthquake which hit the Kurdistan Region last week and expressed the UK’s readiness to send humanitarian assistance and support the KRG’s efforts.

“The UK wishes to build strong political, economic and security relations with the KRG,” Wilks stated, hoping to develop stronger ties between the KRG and the British Embassy in Iraq.

In the meeting, which was attended by the Deputy PM Qubad Talabani, PM Barzani said that the KRG has always wanted a serious dialogue with Baghdad away from violence, urging the international community to “play its role in laying down the groundwork for dialogue between both sides.”

In his other meeting with the Chancellor of the KRSC, Masrour Barzani, Wilks reiterated his country’s support for the Kurdistan Region’s constitutional rights and that they would give full support to the Region to enable it to overcome current issues and develop bilateral relations.

Chancellor Barzani welcomed international calls to start a direct dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad, urging the Iraqi government to respect the Constitution and to respond promptly and in a positive manner to the Region’s efforts to initiate talks.

Editing by Nadia Riva