President Barzani, Swedish minister discuss stability in Iraq following elections

Layal Shakir

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Sweden’s foreign minister discussed the political situation of Iraq with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday as both sides emphasized the importance of achieving stability following the country’s parliamentary election and a failed assassination attempt on the Iraqi prime minister.

Barzani and Ann Linde “emphasized the importance of political stability in Iraq and the political parties' access to an understanding for the future of the country's political process,” read a statement from the presidency.

The political situation in Iraq is tense following the October 10 vote, as it handed unexpected victories and losses. Iran-backed parties who failed to make the gains they sought have rejected the results, with their supporters staging repeated protests.

The officials also discussed human rights which are under scrutiny in the Region following recent trials of activists and journalists, the use of force against student protestors, and waves of migration out of the Kurdistan Region.

Sweden is a member of the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) which emerged in 2014, and in an interview last month, Stockholm’s ambassador to Iraq said that Sweden will continue to support the country in its fight against the extremist group for as long as Iraq requests it. Linde touched upon the efforts to prosecute ISIS members with President Barzani.

The terror group was declared territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017, but remains a security threat. 

Linde convened with Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday where she addressed the good relationship between the Region, Kurdish diaspora in the Scandinavian country, and the role of Peshmerga in defeating ISIS, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

The PM addressed the KRG’s efforts in working towards strengthening the economic infrastructure in the Region. 

The Swedish diplomat also talked over the bilateral ties between Erbil and Stockholm with Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani, according to a statement from the Barzani headquarters.

On Tuesday afternoon, she met with with the Region's Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani.

Linde arrived in Erbil from Baghdad on Monday evening. She was welcomed at the airport by Safeen Dizayee, head of KRG department of foreign relations.

“The relationship between Sweden and Kurdistan is strong… They sent military support during the ISIS war, they sent about 200 Swedish officers who helped the Peshmerga in training,” the KRG representative to Sweden, Shorsh Kadir, told reporters. Linde is expected to meet with the Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani later on Tuesday.

The Swedish minister met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi who escaped a failed assassination attempt earlier this month. They discussed increasing cooperation between Iraq and Stockholm, especially in battling extremism. She also met with President Barham Salih, discussing climate change and preserving the environment. 

Updated at 3:35 pm