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Kurdistan President doesn't need Baghdad's
permission for international visits: KBC
2.5.2012 |
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President of the autonomous Kurdistan Region Massoud
Barzani. Photo: KRP.
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May 2, 2012
ERBIL-Hewlêr,
Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — President of the
autonomous Kurdistan Region Massoud Barzani does not
need to obtain permission from Baghdad for his
regional and international visits, said the
spokesman for the Kurdish Blocs Coalition (KBC) in
the Iraqi Council of Representatives on Wednesday.
Muayyid Tayyeb denied that such visits are
"personal", as they come in response to calls by
officials and leaders of the concerned countries.
Tayyeb said: "Barzani's visits to the neighboring
countries and other countries were carried out as
head of the region. All of them are official visits
that take place in response to official invitations
from the leaders of these countries."
MP Ali al-Allak from the State of Law Coalition led
by PM Nouri al-Maliki said in a statement that
Barzani's
visit to the
Gulf countries was a "personal visit".
Allak added: "Every political leader who leaves the
country must coordinate with the Iraqi Foreign
Ministry to prevent any external interference in
Iraq's affairs.
"Barzani's tour of the Gulf countries is personal
and we weren't informed about what will be
discussed."
Tayyeb rejected Allak's comments, stating: "Barzani
is a well-known leader and has strong regional, Arab
and international relations that aim to serve the
new Iraq which is based on consensus and support of
the democratic process. He aims to serve all Iraqis
and the Kurdistan region as well.
"Saying that these visits show a divided country is
not accurate, and those who are saying that
monopolize the political decision.
"Iraq's foreign policy is governed by the federal
constitution, which states in one of its terms that
Iraq seeks to build good relations with its
surroundings and work to resolve their differences
using diplomatic and political means.
"There might be a sense of envy of the relationships
and respect that Barzani enjoys as president of the
region due to his wisdom.
"All the relations of the president of the Kurdistan
Region can benefit Iraq as a whole because at the
end they will be for the interest of the country in
general."
Barzani arrived to the United Arab Emirates on
Monday at the head of a delegation including the
Vice President of the Kurdistan Regional Government
(KRG) Imad Ahmed, KRG Minister of Planning Ali Sindy,
KRG Foreign Relations Department official Falah
Mustafa, head of the region's investment committee
Hersh Muharram and a number of advisers.
The officials discussed many economic and investment
issues related to the two sides.
The presidency of the Kurdistan Region announced on
Tuesday that Barzani will travel to Qatar after his
visit to the UAE.
These visits were preceded by trips to a number of
European countries, as well as a visit to Washington
DC at the beginning of April where Barzani met US
President Barack Obama.
Relations between Baghdad and Erbil deteriorated
after Barzani criticized Maliki, stating that the PM
is taking Iraq into the "unknown".
By Khudr Khallat
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