France ready to work for Iraq’s stability: President Barzani

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani has spoken of France’s “continuous support” for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in a press conference in Paris, saying France is ready to help Iraq achieve stability and continue counter-terrorism work against the Islamic State (ISIS). 

“In yesterday’s meeting, France’s continuous support for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region was reiterated,” President Barzani said on Wednesday morning, thanking France for its efforts towards achieving stability in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. 

Barzani met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday in Paris at the Elysee Palace, where the leaders discussed topics of mutual interest.

The leader also met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Tuesday evening. Discussion revolved around the Kurdistan Region’s role in fostering political stability across the Middle East, according to the president. 

He also visited the Iraqi embassy in France, where developing Iraqi-French ties was discussed. 

“Yesterday he [Macron] reiterated that he is ready to make every effort for political stability and economic stability in Iraq. He reiterated that France is ready to help because we both agreed that terrorism and Daesh is still a big threat for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region,” Barzani said in the press conference, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS. 

He also thanked France for mediating between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government in Baghdad, particularly since the Region’s independence referendum. 

“After what happened in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in 2017, President Macron had a fundamental role in resolving our issues with Baghdad … if was not for his political role, our job would have been much more difficult.”

When asked why problems between Erbil and Baghdad resurface every year, the president said “the problem is this system is wrong, and the way Baghdad deals with the Kurdistan Region is wrong…this has to be solved sooner or later.”

"In Iraq we have a federal system, and we have a constitution that the majority of Iraqis have voted for, but Baghdad doesn't deal with the Kurdistan Region in the federal way. This is the main problem."

A Kurdish delegation has traveled to Baghdad several times in recent months to discuss the 2021 budget bill, as sections regarding the Kurdistan Region's share of federal funds became a point of contention. 

The parliament is due to vote on the bill on Wednesday.

“We hope parliament takes this matter seriously,” Barzani said, saying it is “clear” that the KRG was not responsible for the delays.