Sheikh Mohammad to UN Special Envoy to Iraq: Our presence in Baghdad is to calm the situation and ease the tension between Baghdad and Erbil

Deputy Speaker Aram Sheikh Mohammed discussed with UN Special Envoy to Iraq Mr. Jan Kubiš, the latest security and political developments in the in Iraq. The two sides discussed the crisis between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government wherein Sheikh Mohammad remarked, “Our presence in Baghdad is to calm the situation and ease the tension between Baghdad and Erbil and open the door for dialogue and negotiation between the political parties”.

Sheikh Mohammad added: “We do our best to alleviate the crisis. Unfortunately, those who pay the price is the simple citizen in the region. Frankly, we have serious concerns about the worsening situation and the crisis of the Kurdistan referendum. Our position is clear and we said that the decision to hold a one-sided referendum and not to take advice from friendly countries will negatively affect at this stage the situation in Kurdistan and Iraq. Today we must renew our support for dialogue and understanding between all parties and use reason and wisdom to deal with the crisis”.

On his part, Kubiš assured Sheikh Mohammed that the UN will continue to support the efforts exerted and open channels of dialogue with the parties. He expressed the hope that all parties will take part in the dialogue to end the tension between the region and the center and return to the time before the crisis of the Kurdistan referendum.

Deputy Speaker Media Office

4/10/ 2017