U.S. Ambassador to Baghdad meets KRG leader in Erbil

By İdris Okuducu

ERBIL, Iraq

U.S. Ambassador to Baghdad Douglas Silliman met Thursday with northern Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani in Erbil on Thursday, according to a KRG statement.

Silliman discussed developments in the region and urged Erbil and Baghdad to make 'a serious effort' to resolve their differences.

He said a truce discussed ladt month needs to continue to initiate negotiations between the two sides to resolve the problems.

Barzani said he is not supporting a conflict between Erbil and Baghdad, according to the statement that said declarations encouraging peace and dialogue were published by the KRG.

Silliman emphasized that these declarations led to more pressure by Baghdad that forced the Peshmerga to defend themselves and its controlled territories, the statement added.

The statement also said Barzani informed the U.S delegation he would continue to take necessary steps to normalize the political situation in the KRG and elections would be held in eight months.

On Sept. 25, Iraqis in KRG-held areas -- and in a number of disputed districts -- voted on whether or not to declare regional independence from the Iraqi state.

According to results announced by the KRG, almost 93 percent of registered voters cast ballots in favor of independence.

The illegitimate referendum was heavily criticized by most regional and international actors, with many warning it would distract from Iraq’s ongoing fight against terrorism and further destabilize the region.