President Barzani, Erdogan stress political solutions to regional tensions

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received a phone call from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during which the two leaders discussed the ongoing regional situation and the challenges emerging from the current war.

“During the phone call, they discussed the situation in the region and the dangerous challenges that have emerged as a result of the war. Both sides agreed that the escalation of tensions poses a real threat to present and future stability and emphasized the necessity of pursuing political solutions to prevent the spread of conflicts and protect nations from the devastation of war,” according to a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.

During the call, Erdogan thanked Barzani for his “constructive contribution” toward fostering peace in Turkey, noting that such positions are important for strengthening unity and coexistence among peoples and for reducing tensions in the region.

For his part, Barzani reaffirmed that the Kurdistan Region will continue to support peace and dialogue as the best path to resolving disputes.

“The Kurdistan Region will always strive for peace and [it] supports all peaceful initiatives and dialogue aimed at resolving issues in a manner that safeguards the security and mutual interests of the people of the region,” Barzani said.

Erdogan “stated in the conversation that Turkey will continue its struggle against steps that would drag the region into a disaster for many years, and that the recent movements within terrorist organizations and certain affiliated groups are being closely monitored,” according to a statement from the Turkish presidency.

The statement added that Erdogan “is working intensively to end the conflicts in our region and to facilitate a return to negotiations.”

A week ago, the US and Israel carried out an aerial campaign against Iran. The ongoing war has significantly affected regional countries as Iran targeted American interests in these countries in its retaliatory strikes.