“Met US Deputy National Security Advisor Mira Ricardel to reaffirm our shared commitment to the anti-ISIL campaign and the strong partnership between Peshmerga and US-led coalition,” Barzani tweeted following their meeting.
After ISIS conquered a third of Iraqi territory in 2014, cooperation between Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan Region and the US-led coalition has played a key role in liberating these territories. Peshmerga forces fought ISIS on ground with US air support, weapons, and training.
“On government formation in Iraq, I emphasized the Kurdistan Region seeks a coalition government based on consensus, balance and partnership responsive to the needs and rights of the people of Kurdistan,” Barzani added in a follow up tweet.
The Kurdistan independence referendum of September 2017 raised tensions between Erbil and Baghdad, leading to the events of October 16 when Iraqi forces and Shiite paramilitias seized the disputed territories. With the shock result of the May 12 election, however, Erbil and Baghdad have an opportunity to address some of their disputes by forming a coalition.
Shiite political parties have so far failed to overcome their differences to form a coalition. In the Kurdistan Region, meanwhile, a grand coalition of Kurdish parties has not materialized to maximize its influence in the next Iraqi government.
However, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), traditionally the two largest Kurdish parties, together holding 43 seats in the forthcoming parliament, have announce they will have a joint committee for government coalition talks. They have invited the Region’s smaller parties to join.
from Rudaw https://ift.tt/2uWiiII
via Defense News
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