Deputy Prime Minister Talabani receives British delegation

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (GOV.KRD) - Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani today met with a British delegation led by Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly, and British Ambassador to Iraq, Stephen Hickey, to discuss the latest developments in the region.

The Deputy Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to resolving ongoing disputes with the Federal Government within the framework of the constitution, and announced that a high-level delegation would visit Baghdad in the near future to negotiate a fair and comprehensive agreement.

Minister Cleverly expressed support for the governments in Erbil and Baghdad to peacefully settle their outstanding disputes, warning that failure to do so would create further instability in Iraq and the broader region. He also stressed that Baghdad should not politicise issues related to the Kurdistan Region’s share of the federal budget nor use it as a pressure point against Erbil.

Minister Cleverly also expressed his country’s desire to expand and develop relations with the Kurdistan Region, most notably in the sectors of culture, trade, and tourism. The Deputy Prime Minister welcomed stronger bilateral ties with the United Kingdom and greater British investments in the region.