SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani welcomed an invitation by the Iraqi premier for a “national dialogue” between the parties to solve problems and disputes.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi called on Monday on the country’s rival political groups to use dialogue to solve their differences, a move he said would reflect the “love and tolerance” shown by Pope Francis’ historic visit to Iraq.
“In the atmosphere of love and tolerance promoted by the visit of His Holiness the Pope to the land of Iraq, we present today the call for a national dialogue,” Kadhimi said in a televised speech.
Iraq suffers from chronic mismanagement and corruption, and a steady level of violence often linked to the rivalry between Iran and the United States in the region 18 years after the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
“On behalf of the KRG, I welcome and support the invitation of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi for a national dialogue between the Iraqi parties to fundamentally solve all problems and disputes,” the Kurdish premier said in a tweet on Monday.
He also expressed KRG’s readiness to reach a “comprehensive and final agreement” to resolve issues between Erbil and Baghdad on the basis of Iraqi constitution.
Kadhimi called on the officials and political and civil bodies to “reach a final understanding on an agreement about relations between the federal government and the KRG so as to keep the unity of Iraq’s land.”
Despite a series of meetings between Iraqi and Kurdish officials, Erbil and Baghdad have yet to reach a final agreement on suspending issues between both sides.
Many in Iraq hope the Papal visit will garner more international support for Kadhimi’s government to handle sensitive crises, including reining in Iran-backed militias whose power and influence Kadhimi has sought to curb since taking office in May 2020.
The prime minister said dialogue would help to reduce tension in his country and pave the way for a successful early election.
