Erbil has offered to freeze the results of the independence referendum and declare a ceasefire in order to open negotiations with Baghdad on the basis of the Iraqi constitution. Saudi Arabia welcomed this decision.
The Kingdom said it remains supportive of dialogue between the regional and federal governments within the framework of Iraq’s constitution while maintaining Iraq’s unity and sovereignty, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.
Baghdad has rejected the Kurdish offer and called for the Kurdistan Region to fully cancel the results of the vote.
A week before the September 25 referendum, Saudi Arabia had offered to mediate between Erbil and Baghdad and urged the Kurdish leadership to accept international proposals to postpone the vote.
After the vote, Saudi King Salman rejected the result in a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on the day Iraqi forces took control over Kirkuk, according to Abadi’s office.
Iraq and Saudi Arabia are working to improve their relations after 25 years of suspended ties following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait under the former regime of Saddam Hussein.
Abadi was in Riyadh last weekend for the first inaugural meeting of a Coordination Council aimed at boosting economic and security cooperation between the neighbouring nations.
Saudi Arabia enjoys good relations with the Kurdistan Region and has a consulate in Erbil.
