BERLIN, Germany - The spokesperson of the KRG said Germany supports Kurdish constitutional rights and the importance of securing stability in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, thus, urges dialogue between the Region and central government.
Dizayee added “Germany is a strong supporter of the rights of the Kurdish people entitled to them per the Iraqi constitution.”
Baghdad has yet to commit to talks despite growing pressure from the international community, especially France, the United Kingdom and Germany.
“There is mounting pressure on Baghdad to engage in dialogue with the Kurdistan Region,” he explained.
Without naming them specifically, Dizayee added some other countries are expected to invite KRG to their countries.
“Relationships with Turkey have been forged again, but not to the point of direct relations. Attempts continue and we are confident that in the future, we once again will normalize our ties with them,” he added.
PM Barzani stated on at least two occasions that he wanted to visit Turkey both before and after the referendum vote to explain Erbil’s position to Turkish officials, but that Ankara had refused.
The KRG crossed by land into Turkey for the second time on Sunday and then took a flight to Germany. Last month the same travel route through Turkey was taken to fly to France where KRG officials met with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss efforts to bring both Erbil and Baghdad to the negotiation table.
“Turkey with pleasure opened the door to us. The KRG delegations reach European countries through Turkey,” he said.
Although Turkey strongly opposed the Kurdish vote, it did not close the border or stop oil exports as demanded by Iraq. It closed its airspace for international flights to and from the Kurdistan Region at the request of Baghdad.
“Germany is for dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad and for existing issues to be resolved on the basis of dialogue and the constitution,” Safin Dizayee who has accompanied Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and Deputy Qubad Talabani in their visit to Germany, told Rudaw from Berlin.
Dizayee added “Germany is a strong supporter of the rights of the Kurdish people entitled to them per the Iraqi constitution.”
At the invitation of the German Government, PM Barzani and Talabani arrived in Berlin on Sunday where they are scheduled to meet with German officials, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, to discuss a range of topics including the fight against ISIS and the Erbil-Baghdad deadlock.
Baghdad has yet to commit to talks despite growing pressure from the international community, especially France, the United Kingdom and Germany.
“There is mounting pressure on Baghdad to engage in dialogue with the Kurdistan Region,” he explained.
Without naming them specifically, Dizayee added some other countries are expected to invite KRG to their countries.
Concerning a visitation to the UK after PM Barzani received an invitation to visit London last week from PM Theresa May, Dizayee said “no time frame has been set for this visit,” due to Christmas holidays in Europe.
Concerning upcoming eventualities to the Kurdistan Region, he said he was “optimistic” as this situation will not continue as it is.
“I am very optimistic about the future of the Kurdistan Region. This situation will not continue as countries around the world really admire the KRG’s attitude to have shown readiness to begin dialogue with Baghdad,” the KRG spokesman said,
Turkey, as a neighboring country showed fierce opposition to the independence referendum. However, the spokesperson explained that some channels of discussion have resumed with Ankara as well.
“Relationships with Turkey have been forged again, but not to the point of direct relations. Attempts continue and we are confident that in the future, we once again will normalize our ties with them,” he added.
PM Barzani stated on at least two occasions that he wanted to visit Turkey both before and after the referendum vote to explain Erbil’s position to Turkish officials, but that Ankara had refused.
The KRG crossed by land into Turkey for the second time on Sunday and then took a flight to Germany. Last month the same travel route through Turkey was taken to fly to France where KRG officials met with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss efforts to bring both Erbil and Baghdad to the negotiation table.
“Turkey with pleasure opened the door to us. The KRG delegations reach European countries through Turkey,” he said.
Although Turkey strongly opposed the Kurdish vote, it did not close the border or stop oil exports as demanded by Iraq. It closed its airspace for international flights to and from the Kurdistan Region at the request of Baghdad.
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