10:53 p.m.
Abadi appeals for unity in Munich Security Conference address
The major theme of Prime Minister Abadi’s speech to the Munich Security Conference was unity, both internally and internationally.
He said Kurds, Shiites, Sunnis Yezidis and Chrisitians had joined together to fight the war against ISIS in Iraq, celebrating this example of national unity.
“For the first time in history, the Kurdish Peshmerga and the Iraqi army [have fought] together. The two forces had fought against each other during the ex-Baathist regime,” he said.
The Iraqis shed much blood and they were the ones fighting for this land and showed their bravery, he added.
The theme of unity extended to Iraq’s regional neighbors. He said Iraq’s foreign policy had been successful in garnering support for the fight against ISIS and restoring stability to the country.
Iraq will continue to strengthen its ties with Arab, neighboring and regional countries on the basis of respecting the nation’s territorial integrity in the spirit of nonintervention in one another’s internal affairs, he said.
In what may have been a reference to the Iraqi army’s takeover of Kirkuk in October, Abadi stressed that Baghdad has now imposed federal control over the whole of Iraq.
“Iraq was on the verge of being partitioned, but it came out united as we managed to impose the federal authority over the entire lands of Iraq,” Abadi said.
He also thanked the international community for their support, particularly at the recent Kuwait talks. He urged them to continue their assistance to promote Iraq’s security and future prosperity.
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4:15 p.m.
Joe Biden 'hopeful' for Baghdad-Erbil relations
Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani headed a delegation that met with former US Vice President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Munich conference on Saturday.
"The meeting was good," Biden told Kurdish media. "I have an affection for the Kurds overall."
Former US Vice President Joe Biden meets with a Kurdish delegation in Munich on February 17, 2018.
Biden noted "constructive suggestions" which the KRG has contributed to resolving the stalemate.
"I was impressed that the prime minister has been making some very constructive suggestions to Baghdad as a way to get through the present difficulty and I am hopeful," he said.
"But I'm always hopeful," noted Biden.
The Kurdish delegation appreciated Biden's continued support.
"It's good to see my friend and former Vice President of the United States Joe Biden in Germany," tweeted PMBarzani. "I highly value Mr. Biden's continued support to the Kurdistan Region, especially during his tenure in the Senate and the White House."
It’s good to see my friend and former Vice President of the United States @JoeBiden in Germany. I highly value Mr. Biden’s continued support to the Kurdistan Region, especially during his tenure in the Senate and the White House. pic.twitter.com/Bd0u6wyeEz
— Nechirvan Barzani (@PMBarzani) February 17, 2018
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1:25 p.m.
Kurdish offical: The Region will remain important in Iraq
After the meeting with Abadi, KRSC Chancellor Masrour Barzani explained: "We expressed our opinion to Iraqi delegation and also listened to them."
Kurdish officials have complained of Abadi wanting to deal with provinces directly, in effect bypassing the regional government.
“Kurdistan will remain in its important position," Masrour Barzani told Rudaw correspondent Alla Shally.
Referring to the stalemate with Baghdad, the security chief was optimistic.
“If there is goodwill to resolve issues, there is no excuse for not re-opening international flights," he added.
The international flight ban has been in effect since the end of Sepetember, and has been extended until February 28.
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12:30 p.m.
Iraqi government and KRG heads meet for third time since referendum
MUNICH, Germany — Delegations led by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani are meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
Most of European officials have called on both sides to make an agreement, reported Rudaw correspondent Alla Shally from Munich, so they are anticipating the outcome of the meeting.
It is the premiers' third meeting in the past month after a chilling of relations following Kurdistan's independence referendum and the events of October 16.
Shally reported that Abadi began the meeting with a joke using an Egyptian Arabic accent.
Masrour Barzani, the chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council, is also included in the Kurdish delegation.
The goal of the conference is to encourage dialogue between parties.
Attendees include UN chief Antonio Guterres, head of NATO Jens Stoltenberg, US Defense Secretary James Mattis, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, and the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia, and Turkey.
Background: Conference opens on Friday with European focus
This is a developing story...
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