ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi congratulated Nechirvan Barzani on being elected president of the Kurdistan Region, adding that he is certain economic and security situations will improve for the entire country.
"I am extending warmest congratulations on your election as the president of the Kurdistan Region," Abdul-Mahdi wrote in a letter seen by Rudaw on Monday.
He emphasized the needs of the Kurdistan Region will be provided. Budgetary arguments between the federal and regional governments have deadlocked previous opportunities for cooperation.
While leaders in the Kurdistan Region have so far favored Abdul-Mahdi in comparison to his predecessors, a gap between Iraqi and Peshmerga forces has allowed Islamic State (ISIS) remnants to wreak havoc in the disputed areas like Kirkuk and its surroundings.
Areas of oil-rich Kirkuk, a disputed or Kurdistani province are claimed by both Erbil and Baghdad. Iraq has maintained the security portfolio over the province since the events of October 16, 2017. Abdul-Mahdi addressed the need for cooperation with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) during a meeting with the National Security Council on Sunday.
Additionally adding to instability, more than 1.66 million Iraqis remain displaced because of the conflict. More than 1.5 million Iraqi IDPs and Syrian refugees are sheltered in the Kurdistan Region, straining financial resources in Erbil and Baghdad.
"We are confident that receiving this post will more support the development of relations between the central government and the Region which will positively result economic and security situations of our country.
Abdul-Mahdi hosted Barzani in Baghdad in February. The meeting was described as cordial and the Iraqi PM said there was a “spirit of cooperation” between the two governments. Others have said Abdul-Mahdi, because he also was in opposition to Iraq’s previous dictator Saddam Hussein, understands the Kurdish perspective in the country.
The mid- and long-term impacts of US sanctions on neighboring Iran remain to be seen in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
Following Barzani's election by the Kurdistan Region parliament on Tuesday, Iran's Consul General to Sulaimani Saadullah Masudian claimed Barzani's presidency "will be a more illustrative and a better road for the improvement of relations between Iran and the Kurdistan Region."
Masudian described Barzani as a "strong and outstanding person" and labelled his election as an "important event in the Kurdistan Region."
The Iraqi head of state, President Barham Salih who is a Kurd, conveyed his country's objection to the anti-Iran language in the final communique of the Arab and Gulf Summits in Saudi Arabia last week.
Salih asserted that given the current crisis "if not managed well" between US-backed Arab states and Iran, international confrontation will wreak havoc "on our countries."
"I am extending warmest congratulations on your election as the president of the Kurdistan Region," Abdul-Mahdi wrote in a letter seen by Rudaw on Monday.
He emphasized the needs of the Kurdistan Region will be provided. Budgetary arguments between the federal and regional governments have deadlocked previous opportunities for cooperation.
"We wish you success in carrying out your new duties and providing the demands of our beloved nation in the Region," Abdul-Mahdi added, referring to Barzani's four-year term set to begin on June 10.
Iraq President Barham Salih also offered his congratulations in a phone call with Barzani on Monday evening. The president-elect invited Salih to attend his swearing-in ceremony.
Barzani, who is the outgoing prime minister in the Kurdistan Region, has been widely credited with restoring domestic relations with Baghdad after the independence referendum and ensuing events of October 2017.
While leaders in the Kurdistan Region have so far favored Abdul-Mahdi in comparison to his predecessors, a gap between Iraqi and Peshmerga forces has allowed Islamic State (ISIS) remnants to wreak havoc in the disputed areas like Kirkuk and its surroundings.
Areas of oil-rich Kirkuk, a disputed or Kurdistani province are claimed by both Erbil and Baghdad. Iraq has maintained the security portfolio over the province since the events of October 16, 2017. Abdul-Mahdi addressed the need for cooperation with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) during a meeting with the National Security Council on Sunday.
Additionally adding to instability, more than 1.66 million Iraqis remain displaced because of the conflict. More than 1.5 million Iraqi IDPs and Syrian refugees are sheltered in the Kurdistan Region, straining financial resources in Erbil and Baghdad.
"We are confident that receiving this post will more support the development of relations between the central government and the Region which will positively result economic and security situations of our country.
Abdul-Mahdi hosted Barzani in Baghdad in February. The meeting was described as cordial and the Iraqi PM said there was a “spirit of cooperation” between the two governments. Others have said Abdul-Mahdi, because he also was in opposition to Iraq’s previous dictator Saddam Hussein, understands the Kurdish perspective in the country.
The mid- and long-term impacts of US sanctions on neighboring Iran remain to be seen in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
Following Barzani's election by the Kurdistan Region parliament on Tuesday, Iran's Consul General to Sulaimani Saadullah Masudian claimed Barzani's presidency "will be a more illustrative and a better road for the improvement of relations between Iran and the Kurdistan Region."
Barzani, who speaks Farsi, was educated in Tehran and was warmly greeted by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and other officials on a visit in January 2018.
Masudian described Barzani as a "strong and outstanding person" and labelled his election as an "important event in the Kurdistan Region."
The Iraqi head of state, President Barham Salih who is a Kurd, conveyed his country's objection to the anti-Iran language in the final communique of the Arab and Gulf Summits in Saudi Arabia last week.
Salih asserted that given the current crisis "if not managed well" between US-backed Arab states and Iran, international confrontation will wreak havoc "on our countries."
“We have a 1,400 kilometer border with them, multiple ties and relations. We believe that the security and stability of a neighboring Islamic country is in the interest and one of the foundations of Arab and Islamic countries,” the Iraqi president said at the time.
Barzani is deputy of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) the largest party in the Kurdistan Region, while Salih is second deputy of the second-largest, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
Traditionally, the post of the Iraqi presidency goes to the PUK and the Kurdistan Region presidency to the KDP. The former is largely ceremonial, while the latter has greater latitude. In addition to having the powers of the head of state, Barzani will also command all security forces in the Kurdistan Region.
However, the PUK bloc walked out of the parliament prior to the vote electing Barzani as president. The two parties are deadlocked over an agreement they co-signed on March 4 that dealt with government formation, the presidency law, and the post of Kirkuk governor.
King Abdullah II of Jordan joined in the chorus of international and regional leaders congratulating the president-elect while emphasizing their family-like relations.
"I am glad to extend my sincere congratulations to my dear brother on his election by the parliament of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq as the president of the Region," Abdullah said in a letter seen by Rudaw on Monday.
King Abdullah stressed the need for "enhanced brotherly relations" between Jordan and the Kurdistan Region.
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