ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani took the stage with Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu on Wednesday in an unscheduled appearance before a packed house that touched on relations with Ankara, the war with ISIS and economic ties between the two neighbors.
Barzani joined Sinirlioglu to form the final panel of the second day of the annual Middle East Research Institute (MERI) Forum 2015, telling the audience that Erbil's relationship with Turkey would not be jeopardized by any party including the Iraqi government.
“Turkey opened its doors during Anfal to Kurdish refugees and that will not be forgotten,” Barzani said. He also called the current relations between the Kurdistan region and Turkey a strategic relationship that would benefit all parties in Kurdistan and Iraq.
As with previous 2015 MERI sessions, the war against ISIS was prominent in the discussion. The Kurdish prime minister emphasized the significant role played by regional as well as Western nations to defeat the Islamic State, or ISIS.
“Without Turkey, Iran, European allies and on top of them the United States, victories against Daesh [ISIS] would not be possible,” Barzani said.
Regarding Baghdad and Erbil relations, the Kurdish prime minister said the Kurds have been waiting for the implementation of a constitution for more than 20 years and that Kurds could not wait any longer.
“If we want to obtain independence -- which is a right -- we are not going to do it through violence,” Barzani said, adding that Baghdad will always remain a partner.
Sinirlioglu called for the normalization of Erbil-Baghdad relations while insisting on the continuation of economic, security and political relationships between Erbil and Ankara.
“I am confident the KRG possesses the resolve and ability to continue on the path to security and stability,” Sinirlioglu told the audience.
Salim al-Jabouri, speaker of Iraqi parliament, was invited to represent Baghdad at the end of panelists' discussion by MERI’s president, Dlawer Ala'Aldeen.
“Baghdad believes in dialogue, but we are looking forward to a kind of dialogue that will be based on win-win principles,” Jabouri said.
As for Sinirlioglu , he pledged Turkey's support for Iraq and the KRG against what he called the "man-made monster that is Daesh" and gave a firm note of optimism.
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