ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A high level Saudi delegation met with Kurdish President Masoud Barzani on Saturday urging dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad as the Region is going to hold independence referendum on September 25, a move viewed as unconstitutional by Baghdad, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency
The Saudi delegation headed by Thamer al-Sabhan, Saudi’s Arab Gulf Affairs minister met with Barzani on Saturday evening expressing his country’s willingness for laying ground of dialogue and mediation between Erbil and Baghdad to resolving both sides’ unresolved problems that have recently grown in the wake of the declaration of referendum by the Kurdish leadership.
Sabhan, the former Saudi’s ambassador to Iraq, also conveyed greetings from Saudi’s King Salman to the role of the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces and Kurdish people, the KRP announcement added.
Barzani for his part said Erbil has not closed the door of dialogue on anyone.
Barzani, on behalf of the people of the Kurdistan Region, thanked the stance and consideration of King Salman to the Kurdistan Region.
Barzani emphasized the significance of the historical relations between Erbil and Riyadh.

In the lead-up to the September 25 referendum, pressures are mounting on the Kurdish leadership to postpone the process or cancel it from regional and world countries.
Saudi Arabia, however, has not expressed support or opposition to the Kurdistan Region’s decision to hold independence referendum.
The Kurdistan Region will be holding a referendum on independence on September 25.
