BERLIN, Germany – There is a joint effort by France and Germany to help resolve the Erbil-Baghdad deadlock, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said after his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
In their meeting, Merkel stressed that France and Germany want to “jointly support talks and resolving Erbil-Baghdad issues," Barzani told Rudaw in Berlin.
He described his invitations to Germany this week and France earlier this month as “important for the Kurdistan Region” because they are a sign of support for the Region and its calls for talks with Baghdad.
"And we have asked these European countries to be supportive in order to resolve our problems with Baghdad within the framework of the constitution," he added.
Baghdad has so far resisted agreeing to engaging in talks with Erbil, despite the KRG making several concessions and growing international pressure for negotiations to begin.
"Any side who will be able to support us in order to start the talks, we will be happy with that....” Barzani said in Berlin. “Our stance is clear as we have reiterated many times and reiterate again – the Kurdistan Region is committed to all the constitutional bases of Iraq and wants to resolve the issues within the context of it."
"It is important for all of us to call for stability in Iraq. And to reach it, dialogue is very, very important with Baghdad,” he added.
Refusing to sit down and talk will not bring stability, “in the end, only dialogue can resolve our issues."
Asked about what options exist if Abadi does not come forward for dialogue, he said "the question is not about a choice or what choice we have. What we call for is the right of a nation and that nation will reach its rights.”
"The Kurdistan Region does not aim to start talks on the basis of who is strong and who is weak with Baghdad," he said. But instead, “We have to speak in a language to find the measures through which we reach a result.”
Barzani confirmed that there have been signs of Iraqi military movements around Makhmour, as the Kurdistan Region Security Council warned on Monday. “We hope there is no fighting... But the threat is still imminent,” he said.
While the prime minister has been in Berlin, angry anti-government protests have erupted in Kurdish cities, largely in Sulaimani and Halabja provinces. A major demand of the demonstrators is full payment of civil servant salaries.
The protests have turned violent, with at least five people killed on Tuesday.
Barzani said protests are a natural right, but setting on fire public and government buildings that provide public services, is “not helpful at all.”
He reiterated comments made in a published statement earlier Tuesday evening, saying the Kurdistan Region is going through a difficult period and urging unity.
"Our message is very clear. I am calling on the security forces to protect calm and do not allow further escalations of the problems,” he said.
"We understand the situation is severe,” he said, but burning offices, “will in no way resolve the issues and makes no changes to the reality."
Barzani visited Germany at the invitation of the German government and met with German officials on Monday, including Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel. On Tuesday he met with Germany's Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen.
He met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris earlier in December and has been invited to London, though no date has been set yet.
In their meeting, Merkel stressed that France and Germany want to “jointly support talks and resolving Erbil-Baghdad issues," Barzani told Rudaw in Berlin.
He described his invitations to Germany this week and France earlier this month as “important for the Kurdistan Region” because they are a sign of support for the Region and its calls for talks with Baghdad.
"And we have asked these European countries to be supportive in order to resolve our problems with Baghdad within the framework of the constitution," he added.
Baghdad has so far resisted agreeing to engaging in talks with Erbil, despite the KRG making several concessions and growing international pressure for negotiations to begin.
"Any side who will be able to support us in order to start the talks, we will be happy with that....” Barzani said in Berlin. “Our stance is clear as we have reiterated many times and reiterate again – the Kurdistan Region is committed to all the constitutional bases of Iraq and wants to resolve the issues within the context of it."
"It is important for all of us to call for stability in Iraq. And to reach it, dialogue is very, very important with Baghdad,” he added.
Refusing to sit down and talk will not bring stability, “in the end, only dialogue can resolve our issues."
Asked about what options exist if Abadi does not come forward for dialogue, he said "the question is not about a choice or what choice we have. What we call for is the right of a nation and that nation will reach its rights.”
"The Kurdistan Region does not aim to start talks on the basis of who is strong and who is weak with Baghdad," he said. But instead, “We have to speak in a language to find the measures through which we reach a result.”
Barzani confirmed that there have been signs of Iraqi military movements around Makhmour, as the Kurdistan Region Security Council warned on Monday. “We hope there is no fighting... But the threat is still imminent,” he said.
While the prime minister has been in Berlin, angry anti-government protests have erupted in Kurdish cities, largely in Sulaimani and Halabja provinces. A major demand of the demonstrators is full payment of civil servant salaries.
The protests have turned violent, with at least five people killed on Tuesday.
Barzani said protests are a natural right, but setting on fire public and government buildings that provide public services, is “not helpful at all.”
He reiterated comments made in a published statement earlier Tuesday evening, saying the Kurdistan Region is going through a difficult period and urging unity.
"Our message is very clear. I am calling on the security forces to protect calm and do not allow further escalations of the problems,” he said.
"We understand the situation is severe,” he said, but burning offices, “will in no way resolve the issues and makes no changes to the reality."
Barzani visited Germany at the invitation of the German government and met with German officials on Monday, including Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel. On Tuesday he met with Germany's Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen.
He met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris earlier in December and has been invited to London, though no date has been set yet.
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