A delegation from Britain's All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the Kurdistan Region in Iraq meets with top KRG officials. From left to right: MP Robert Halfon, APPG Secretary Gary Kent, MP Jack Lopresti, Matthew Dent, the parliamentary secretary to Lopresti, and KRG Interior Minister Karim Sinjari. Photo: APPG
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A delegation from the UK's All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the Kurdistan Region in Iraq is touring the country, meeting with officials from Baghdad to Erbil to Sulaimani. Here is an initial statement, co-signed by MPs Jack Lopresti and Robert Halfon:
The Kurds suffered a needlessly violent, vicious and harsh reaction by Baghdad leaders to their peaceful referendum and their aspiration for eventual and negotiated independence seven months ago.
They also faced massive challenges from 2014 when Baghdad cut all budget transfers to Kurdistan, Daesh captured Mosul and a third of Iraq and this sent two million IDPs into Kurdistan overnight, the oil price slumped, and Daesh attacked Kurdistan.
These deep, combined, and potentially existential crises mean that the Kurds have taken two steps forward and one step back in recent years.
On our first visit since observing the referendum we detected promising signs of a reset in Kurdish-Iraqi relations. We discussed these issues in detail in meetings with senior leaders in government and in opposition and diplomats in Erbil, Sulaimani and Baghdad — the first visit to the Iraqi capital by an APPG delegation.
We accept the right of the Kurds in Iraq to self-determination and understand why one day they wish to protect their own interests.
An attitude of Robust Pragmatism will help build a decent relationship and resolve outstanding issues including the status of the disputed territories to mutual benefit, and especially if Kurds maximize their influence in government in Baghdad.
The equation of a strong Kurdistan within one Iraq needs to be applied with full respect for the federal constitution.
We are honoured to be friends of the Kurdistan Region given its laudable role in protecting and promoting religious tolerance and pluralism. We hope this can help prevent the disappearance of Christians from the Middle East.
We salute the Kurdish Peshmerga's extraordinary courage and valiant contribution to defeating Daesh and share the Kurds' cautionary view that Daesh may be revived without new governance in Sunni majority territory. The neighbouring Kurds can do much to assist.
Whether Kurdistan is in Iraq or secures statehood with strong links to Iraq, it should maintain its economic and political reform process.
The Kurds are so often resilient and dynamic but need assistance from the British government and NGOs.
We aim to provide an audit of their needs to prompt interest in boosting their capacity as well as trade and investment links which requires urgent reform of the UK visa application system.
This will be advanced by the formation in the Kurdistan Parliament of an APPG on relations with the UK.
A more detailed report on our five day delegation will be published in the near future.
Jack Lopresti MP, Chairman APPG on the Kurdistan Region in Iraq
Robert Halfon MP, Vice Chairman
Gary Kent, Secretary
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