ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), received ambassadors of the US, UK, France, Russia and China in Baghdad, explaining to them the significance of his rare visit to the Iraqi capital on Wednesday.
Barzani received the US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski, shedding the light on “reasons behind his visit to Baghdad, stating he made the trip after feeling there was goodwill to resolve the issues and abide by the constitution, create a positive atmosphere in Baghdad, and discuss issues with national dimensions,” according to a statement from Barzani’s office.
Barzani arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday for the first time in nearly six years.
Regarding the future of the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq, Barzani said this is a “national issue and is not limited to a specific party,” stressing the need to “take Iraq’s stability and interest into consideration.”
Romanowski expressed her support for Barzani’s visit to Baghdad and called on Erbil and Baghdad to “strengthen” bilateral relations. She also welcomed the Kurdistan Region setting October 20 as the new date for its parliamentary election, the statement added.
Iraqi and American authorities have launched talks over the future of the coalition troops in Iraq.
Barzani also received Cui Wei, China’s ambassador in Iraq.
The KDP leader considered his visit as “a good opportunity to resolve problems and take national interests into consideration,” Barzani’s office said in a statement.
“Relations between the Kurdistan Region and China in various fields were another focus of the meeting,” it added.
In his series of meetings with the heads of the foreign missions in Baghdad, Barzani also received Elbrus Kutrashev, Russia’s ambassador, who told the KDP leader that Moscow “wants to achieve stability in Iraq and consolidate relations between the Kurdistan Region and federal Iraq,” Barzani’s office stated.
They also touched on a range of other issues, including the latest developments in the region.
Barzani and UK’s ambassador Stephen Hitchen also met. The top British diplomat said his country “looks with great interest to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region at all times and in all circumstances, especially with regard to economic issues, terrorist threats, and the phenomenon of migration,” Barzani’s office quoted the ambassador as saying.
The Kurdistan Region’s upcoming legislative elections and the future of the global coalition in Iraq were among other issues discussed.
The elections were originally scheduled for 2022 but have been postponed several times due to political and legal obstacles. The Kurdistan Region last held elections in 2018.
Barzani also received Patrick Durrell, France’s new ambassador. They discussed bilateral relations and the latest developments in the region.
The KDP leader also attended the periodic meeting of the Coordination Framework coalition in Baghdad for the first time. Earlier in the day, he met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and other top officials.
