Iraq interior minister to request end to Kurdistan's flight ban

Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq's interior minister has said he will request for the re-opening of Erbil and Sulaimani airports saying political disputes should not be mingled with individuals' affairs, according to a Kurdish official after a formal meeting in Baghdad.

A delegation of 21 people from the passport and residency departments of Erbil, Sulaimani and Duhok visited Baghdad on Monday. They met with Iraq's Interior Minister Qasim al-Araji.


It was the first official visit by the KRG to Baghdad after September 25's vote for independence.

After the meeting, Didar Omer, the head of the Erbil's Passports Department, told Rudaw that Araji voiced the significance of opening the airports.

"In addition to the promising of resolution of salaries issues, the [Iraqi] minister emphasized that he would ask for the opening of the Kurdistan airports in the meeting of the Council of Ministers and support this call from us," Omer explained.

Omer described Araji as demonstrating a positive attitude towards the Kurdistan Region, saying the Iraqi minister called for people's affairs to not be mixed with political issues.

The interior minister also promised to improve cooperation between both sides, Omer added.

The passports, national identity cards and citizenship departments in the Kurdistan Region are administratively tied to the Iraqi Interior Ministry.

A readout of the meeting from Iraqi ministry stated that the parties at the meeting plan to establish this as an "annual conference."

"The people of Iraq are one people from the north to the south and the Kurdistan Region is a constitutional province," stated Araji.

There was no direct mention of "airports" in the Iraqi statement, although "in the new year," Araji said, "with the help of God, good will prevail" with more cooperation and "solving problems and difficulties" for citizens within and outside the region.


The Kurdish delegation is also scheduled to meet with Iraqi President Fuad Masum.

Relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Government of Iraq have devolved since Iraqi forces including Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitaries took control of the Kurdistani or disputed areas which are claimed by both capitals. 

The Kurdistan Region held a referendum on independence on September 25. Baghdad banned international flight carriers from landing at the Kurdistan Region's two airports, Erbil and Sulaimani.

Flights to the Kurdistan Region are now limited to the domestic carrier Iraqi Airways, which flies to Basrah and Baghdad.


Last updated at 3:26 p.m.