ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Masoud Barzani, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader, held new rounds of meetings in Baghdad on Thursday with ambassadors of neighboring countries and top Iraqi party leaders and officials.
Barzani met with the Turkish ambassador to Iraq, Anil Bora Inan, and the Iranian ambassador to Iraq, Mohammad Kazem Al-e Sadeq. According to the KDP president’s office, they discussed the latest political developments in Iraq and affirmed the positive environment in the country's political processes could serve as a foundation for resolving issues in Iraq.
The ambassadors expressed their hope that Iraqi parties will adhere to their agreements and emphasized their support for resolving conflicts through dialogue without marginalizing any parties.
Barzani received Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law coalition, discussing bilateral relations and the establishment of a coordination mechanism among members of the Coordination Framework, according to a statement from Barzani’s office. The Coordination Framework is the largest bloc in the Iraqi parliament.
"Political situations and challenges facing the political process and the appointment of the speaker of parliament were topics of discussion in the meeting," Barzani’s office added in the statement.
Barzani also received Mohammed al-Halbousi, head of the predominantly Sunni Taqadum bloc, discussing “the appointment of the parliament speaker and the political parties’ implementation and commitment to the State Administration Coalition agreements," according to a statement from Barzani’s office.
The Iraqi parliament has been without a speaker since November, when the Federal Supreme Court ruled to terminate Halbousi’s tenure and revoke his parliamentary membership.
Under Iraq’s sectarian power-sharing system, the post of the parliament speaker always has been reserved for Sunnis, prime minister position for Shiites, and presidency for Kurds.
Lawmakers of Taqadum, headed by ousted speaker Halbousi, insist the party is entitled to the speakership on account of having the largest Sunni bloc in parliament.
The KDP leader also met with Muhsin al-Mandalawi, parliament’s acting speaker. According to a statement from Barzani's office, Mandalawi emphasized Barzani's significant role in the Iraqi political process.
Barzani also met with ambassadors from Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates (UAE). He highlighted positive political developments in Iraq, expressing hope these will help overcome obstacles toward a prosperous future. The ambassadors reaffirmed their countries' support for Iraq in achieving this goal.
In his meeting with Sunni political figures, they talked about their demands, challenges, and the appointment of the parliament speaker. The KDP leader expressed his hope that their meeting would lead to mutual understanding and cooperation.
Additionally, on Wednesday, the KDP leader attended the periodic meeting of the Coordination Framework coalition in Baghdad for the first time. Earlier in the day, he met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and other top officials.
Barzani’s last visit to Baghdad was in November 2018. He was welcomed by then-speaker Halbousi, Amiri, ministers, and officials at the international airport.
