President Barzani, UNAMI chief say next Iraqi gov’t should resolve all disputes

Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received on Friday the head of the United Nations mission in Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert in Erbil. Both said that the next Iraqi government should resolve all issues in the country, especially the Erbil-Baghdad differences, according to a statement from Barzani’s office. 

“The meeting focused on the latest political developments in the country, the recent election of the Presidency of the Council of Representatives of Iraq, and the ongoing efforts to form the new Iraqi federal government,” the statement read. 

“They reaffirmed the importance of preserving peace and political stability in the country and the need to reach a mutual understanding among Iraqi parties which would bring them together to resolve the pending issues. They also underlined the significance of forming a government that is able to overcome challenges, serve the best interests of the country and all its communities, and resolve all disputes, especially Erbil-Baghdad differences, in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Constitution,” it added. 

UNAMI said in a tweet that both officials also discussed "the need for timely elections in the Kurdistan Region."  Parliamentary elections in the Region are scheduled for September this year. 

The Special Representative for the United Nations Mission for Iraq also met with Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday, discussing the formation of the next Iraqi government. 

Iraq held a snap parliamentary election on October 10. So far, only the presidency of the parliament has been elected. The MPs have to elect a new president by February 8. The president will later assign the candidate of the biggest parliamentary alliance to form a new government.