VIDEO: ‘Baghdad, Erbil must reach written agreement post-IS’

A Middle East expert on Tuesday said a written agreement between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region regarding their relations needs to be signed after the defeat of the Islamic State (IS).
kurdistan24.net

WASHINGTON, United States (Kurdistan24) – A Middle East expert on Tuesday said a written agreement between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region regarding their relations needs to be signed after the defeat of the Islamic State (IS).

Nabeel Khoury, a Nonresident Senior Fellow, Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East at the Atlantic Council, spoke to Kurdistan24 during a live broadcast.

Khoury stated there were “long-term questions” between Baghdad and Erbil that have not been resolved yet and should be addressed after the Mosul operation and defeat of IS.

“The whole question of the Kurdish region in its entirety has not yet been resolved with Baghdad,” he said. “I think you need to come at some point to a written agreement between Baghdad and Erbil.”

Khoury revealed he was “optimistic” that a solution between the two governments would be reached, but it would require efforts from both sides.

“The problem between Baghdad and Erbil is something that the Iraqi people will—and the Kurdish people will have to resolve together,” Khoury continued.

The Senior Fellow also addressed Turkey’s presence in Iraq and said the Turkish issue can be resolved by the intervention of the US.

“Turkey is a foreign power and does not belong in Iraq unless by invitation; that can be resolved with American mediation,” Khoury told Kurdistan24.

Additionally, the Middle East expert pointed to two problems that prolonged the Mosul operation.

Firstly, he explained the technical capabilities of the Iraqi army had to improve before the offensive began.

Secondly, he pointed to the conflict between Baghdad and Kurds, and Turkish forces in the country which contributed to the delay.

Nonetheless, Khoury said he believed IS would be defeated because of the joint efforts of Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces.

 

 

Editing by Ava Homa

(Abbas Zangana conducted the interview from Washington, DC)