Arab League chief calls on Arab nations to strengthen ties with Kurdistan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The president of the Arab League urged Arab countries to develop ties with the Kurdistan Region during a meeting with the Kurdistan Region prime minister in Erbil.

President of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit met with Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Sunday. He arrived in Erbil the night before after spending the day in Baghdad. 

“The president of the Arab League praised the role and position of the Kurdistan Region that has seen large economic progress,” reads a statement from the prime minister’s office. “He also added that his visit to the Kurdistan Region is a message to Arab countries to improve their relationship with the Kurdistan Region – especially in the fields of trade and investment.”

Barzani “thanked the president of the Arab League for his support, and hoped that they would play their role in solving the problems in Iraq, emphasizing that the Kurdistan Region wants to have the best relationship with Arab countries,” the statement added.

Aboul Gheit also met with former President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani during his visit.

He had met the President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani on Saturday while in Baghdad and invited him to visit the Arab League’s headquarters in Cairo.