MESOP SOUTH KURDISTAN PUK Official: Turkey, Saudi Arabia actively discourages Baghdad–Erbil relations

22.05.2014 – Mewan Dolamari – BasNews, Erbil – Secretary of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s (PUK) Central Council Adel Murad has stated that there have been attempts by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) to weaken or discourage relations between Erbil and Baghdad.

In a press conference, Murad said: “Kirkuk needs practical steps to be taken, not slogans. I believe that Kurds should reach an agreement with Baghdad no matter which party forms the new government.” He stated that Turkey, Saudi Arabia and ISIS, who fear a stronger Kurdistan Region, fan the tension between Kurds and Baghdad. Murad asserted that, for the sake of stability throughout Iraq, any attempts to sabotage an agreement between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Federal Government must not be allowed to succeed.