Qubad Talabani: Internal issues have put the region's position in danger

Kurdistan 02:27 PM - 2023-05-04

Qubad Talabani's meeting with Barbara A. Leaf in Erbil

Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani met with Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Barbara A. Leaf to discuss the Kurdistan Region and Erbil-Baghdad relations.
 
Darbaz Kosrat Rasul, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Political Bureau's Executive Board; Daban Shadala, the deputy head of the Kurdistan Regional Government's Foreign Relations Office; Alina Romanosky, the US ambassador to Iraq; and Irvin Hicks, the US consul in the Kurdistan Region, all attended the meeting, which was held in Erbil today and covered the internal issues facing the Kurdistan Region.
 
Qubad Talabani stated: "The region's position is under threat by internal issues, which we should all work to resolve responsibly." "Political and party conflict shouldn't escalate to the point of crossing national boundaries, especially not to the point where it weakens the region's standing with Iraq."
 
"Even with the inclusion of representatives from our allies, we are ready to organize a joint committee to resolve all the points of contention, and we welcome any proposal to do so," he added.
 
 They also discussed relations between Erbil and Baghdad during the meeting. Qubad Talabani stated in this context, "Our goal is to resolve the issues with Baghdad substantially."

"After many years of security, political, and economic instability, as well as unnecessary political and party conflict, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region need a long period of stability and peace so that we can work together on economic development and market recovery because Iraq and Kurdistan cannot tolerate unnecessary party conflict anymore," he added.
 
The discussion also covered the state of free speech in Kurdistan. The Deputy Prime Minister stated: "While we have always been happy to offer freedom of expression and freedom of the press, recently we have unfortunately faced criticism from our friends."
 
He stressed: "We must look at ourselves so that the name and reputation of the region are not tarnished internationally due to violations of freedoms."
 
"To prevent international tarnishment of the region's image and reputation owing to abuses of liberties, we must take a close look at ourselves," he stressed.

 

 

PUKMEDIA