KRG welcomes State Department statement on clashes between Peshmerga, Iraqi forces

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region –The Kurdistan Regional Government has welcomed a statement from the US State Department published on Friday that calls on the two sides, Baghdad and Erbil, to coordinate their movements in the disputed areas, to begin dialogue, and stresses the status of the disputed areas according the Iraqi constitution.

The following is the full statement from the KRG:

On Friday October 20, 2017, the US State Department published a statement on behalf of the United States regarding the situation of the disputed areas, the clashes between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi forces in Pirde [Altun Kupri]. It urged the two sides to have dialogue in order to stop the tensions that took place in recent days between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi forces.

The Kurdistan Regional Government welcomes the content of the statement from the State Department. It also welcomes the immediate cessation of tensions and clashes between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi forces in the disputed areas, and agrees for the Coalition to coordinate the cessation of tensions and clashes between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi forces.

The Kurdistan Regional Government welcomes dialogue with Baghdad at the earliest time in the framework of the Iraqi constitution and without any preconditions.

Kurdistan Regional Government