Netherlands FM urges Erbil-Baghdad collaboration on disputed territories
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Netherlands hopes to see the new governments taking shape in Erbil and Baghdad collaborate on issues of mutual concern, particularly the issue of the disputed territories, Holland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok told a press conference in Erbil Tuesday.
Blok arrived in the Kurdistan Region capital last night for meetings with KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani after visiting Baghdad and Fallujah. On Monday he met with Iraqi PM Adil Abdul-Mahdi and FM Mohamed Ali Alhakim.
In a joint press conference with PM Barzani, Blok said he hopes to see inclusive governments emerge that can work together to resolve Iraq and the Region’s shared challenges.
“We are also happy to hear comments from [Iraqi] President Barham Salih about tolerance and the need to include all minorities within Iraqi society. For lasting stability it is important that all groups in Iraqi society feel included and safe,” said Blok.
“I also hope to see the formation of an inclusive government in Kurdistan which will continue your ambitious reform program during the new phase. We hope to see fruitful collaboration between the governments of Baghdad and Erbil as soon as both governments are formed. There are many areas of mutual concern to be discussed such as the status of the disputed territories,” he added.
Erbil and Baghdad have long disputed the status of several areas outside the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region which have large Kurdistani populations – particularly oil-rich Kirkuk.
Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution drafted after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime calls for a referendum to allow the residents of Kirkuk and other disputed territories to choose whether to join the Region or remain part of the federal provinces.
Fearing the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) was planning to break away from Iraq unilaterally – taking Kirkuk’s oil wealth with it – the Iraqi Army and Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitias forced the Peshmerga out of the disputed territories in October 2017.
The security situation in the disputed territories remains unstable as ISIS remnants use security gaps to regroup and return to insurgency tactics. Kurdish and Turkmen residents also accuse authorities of implementing a deliberate Arabization policy in Kirkuk, stoking further hostilities.
Last week the International Crisis Group (ICG) urged the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) to revive its “stillborn” efforts to help resolve the disputed territories issue between Erbil and Baghdad.
Although Erbil-Baghdad relations have vastly improved since the violent clashes of October 2017, the situation in Kirkuk and the disputed territories is a long way from being normalized.
‘Strong ties’
During Tuesday’s press conference, Dutch minister Blok hailed The Netherlands’ wide contribution to the Region and their history of good relations.
“There are strong ties between The Netherlands and the Kurdistan Region. The Netherlands was the first European country to accept Kurdish refugees in the 1980s and we now have a flourishing Dutch-Kurdish community in both countries. There are 5,000 to 6,000 Dutch-Kurds residing here in the Kurdistan Region,” he said.
Economic partnership seems to be a top priority for future relations, with Blok pledging to back the Region’s fledgling private sector.
“The Netherlands is looking forward to further strengthening their relationship with Iraq including the Kurdistan Region. Iraq is a focus country for our foreign policy and we are looking forward to increasing our cooperation in the fields of security, migration, economy, and human rights,” he said.
“And we are looking into supporting job creation and income generation, mainly through young entrepreneurship and startups.”
Security cooperation and reform was also a feature of talks with PM Barzani, said Blok, who pledged The Netherlands would continue to train Kurdish security personnel.
“We have been a strong supporter of the security services in the Kurdistan Region. The Netherlands will continue its training efforts through the Kurdistan Training Coordination Center here in Erbil, and additionally we will participate in the reform plan for the security sector providing advisors,” he said.
The Dutch government and the country’s NGOs are among the biggest and most active donors to humanitarian work in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Blok commended the Region’s willing to shelter vulnerable groups and promised Holland will continue aid programs.
“We’ve had fruitful discussions on further migration cooperation and I would like to express my appreciation for the hospitality the Kurdistan Regional Government has shown to all refugees and displaced persons including vulnerable minorities who fled the violence of ISIS,” he said.
“The Netherlands has supported those who needed humanitarian aid and will continue to support the return of IDPs and refugees to their homes.”
Also speaking at Tuesday press conference, PM Barzani thanked the Dutch government and NGOs for providing aid to refugee and IDP camps in the Region and for ongoing security assistance.
“We thank the support and aid of Netherlands for the Kurdistan Region in the fight against Daesh and the presence of their forces in the Kurdistan Region to train Peshmerga,” Barzani said.
“We request that The Netherlands, in the sector of food and agriculture, help the Kurdistan Region, as it has rich experience in this.”
A private sector delegation from Kurdistan will soon visit The Netherlands to hold a seminar, Barzani added.
Blok arrived in the Kurdistan Region capital last night for meetings with KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani after visiting Baghdad and Fallujah. On Monday he met with Iraqi PM Adil Abdul-Mahdi and FM Mohamed Ali Alhakim.
In a joint press conference with PM Barzani, Blok said he hopes to see inclusive governments emerge that can work together to resolve Iraq and the Region’s shared challenges.
“We are also happy to hear comments from [Iraqi] President Barham Salih about tolerance and the need to include all minorities within Iraqi society. For lasting stability it is important that all groups in Iraqi society feel included and safe,” said Blok.
“I also hope to see the formation of an inclusive government in Kurdistan which will continue your ambitious reform program during the new phase. We hope to see fruitful collaboration between the governments of Baghdad and Erbil as soon as both governments are formed. There are many areas of mutual concern to be discussed such as the status of the disputed territories,” he added.
Erbil and Baghdad have long disputed the status of several areas outside the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region which have large Kurdistani populations – particularly oil-rich Kirkuk.
Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution drafted after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime calls for a referendum to allow the residents of Kirkuk and other disputed territories to choose whether to join the Region or remain part of the federal provinces.
Fearing the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) was planning to break away from Iraq unilaterally – taking Kirkuk’s oil wealth with it – the Iraqi Army and Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitias forced the Peshmerga out of the disputed territories in October 2017.
The security situation in the disputed territories remains unstable as ISIS remnants use security gaps to regroup and return to insurgency tactics. Kurdish and Turkmen residents also accuse authorities of implementing a deliberate Arabization policy in Kirkuk, stoking further hostilities.
Last week the International Crisis Group (ICG) urged the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) to revive its “stillborn” efforts to help resolve the disputed territories issue between Erbil and Baghdad.
Although Erbil-Baghdad relations have vastly improved since the violent clashes of October 2017, the situation in Kirkuk and the disputed territories is a long way from being normalized.
‘Strong ties’
During Tuesday’s press conference, Dutch minister Blok hailed The Netherlands’ wide contribution to the Region and their history of good relations.
“There are strong ties between The Netherlands and the Kurdistan Region. The Netherlands was the first European country to accept Kurdish refugees in the 1980s and we now have a flourishing Dutch-Kurdish community in both countries. There are 5,000 to 6,000 Dutch-Kurds residing here in the Kurdistan Region,” he said.
Economic partnership seems to be a top priority for future relations, with Blok pledging to back the Region’s fledgling private sector.
“The Netherlands is looking forward to further strengthening their relationship with Iraq including the Kurdistan Region. Iraq is a focus country for our foreign policy and we are looking forward to increasing our cooperation in the fields of security, migration, economy, and human rights,” he said.
“And we are looking into supporting job creation and income generation, mainly through young entrepreneurship and startups.”
Security cooperation and reform was also a feature of talks with PM Barzani, said Blok, who pledged The Netherlands would continue to train Kurdish security personnel.
“We have been a strong supporter of the security services in the Kurdistan Region. The Netherlands will continue its training efforts through the Kurdistan Training Coordination Center here in Erbil, and additionally we will participate in the reform plan for the security sector providing advisors,” he said.
The Dutch government and the country’s NGOs are among the biggest and most active donors to humanitarian work in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Blok commended the Region’s willing to shelter vulnerable groups and promised Holland will continue aid programs.
“We’ve had fruitful discussions on further migration cooperation and I would like to express my appreciation for the hospitality the Kurdistan Regional Government has shown to all refugees and displaced persons including vulnerable minorities who fled the violence of ISIS,” he said.
“The Netherlands has supported those who needed humanitarian aid and will continue to support the return of IDPs and refugees to their homes.”
Also speaking at Tuesday press conference, PM Barzani thanked the Dutch government and NGOs for providing aid to refugee and IDP camps in the Region and for ongoing security assistance.
“We thank the support and aid of Netherlands for the Kurdistan Region in the fight against Daesh and the presence of their forces in the Kurdistan Region to train Peshmerga,” Barzani said.
“We request that The Netherlands, in the sector of food and agriculture, help the Kurdistan Region, as it has rich experience in this.”
A private sector delegation from Kurdistan will soon visit The Netherlands to hold a seminar, Barzani added.