Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, seen here at a news conference in Goslar, Germany, on January 6, 2018, says he will travel to Baghdad later this month to help mediate talks between the Iraqi government and Erbil. Ralph Orlowski / Reuters
Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, seen here at a news conference in Goslar, Germany, on January 6, 2018, says he will travel to Baghdad later this month to help mediate talks between the Iraqi government and Erbil. Ralph Orlowski / Reuters
Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, seen here at a news conference in Goslar, Germany, on January 6, 2018, says he will travel to Baghdad later this month to help mediate talks between the Iraqi government and Erbil. Ralph Orlowski / Reuters
Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, seen here at a news conference in Goslar, Germany, on January 6, 2018, says he will travel to Baghdad later this month to help mediate talks between the Iraq

Turkey to mediate Baghdad-Erbil dispute


Mina Aldroubi
  • English
  • Arabic

The Turkish foreign minister said on Wednesday that Ankara will mediate talks later this month in Baghdad between the Iraqi government and the Erbil-based Kurdish administration.

“We've had mediation requests and are expected to visit Baghdad on January 21 to discuss bilateral relations and the issue of mediation," said Mevlut Cavusoglu, who will lead a Turkish delegation to the Iraqi capital.

Baghdad and Erbil’s relationship deteriorated after the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) held a non-binding independence referendum in September last year. Baghdad said the vote, which saw an overwhelming response in favour of secession, was against the Iraqi constitution.

Mr Cavusoglu said Ankara would play an “effective role” in resolving the dispute between the two sides.

Erbil is seeking to repair ties with Turkey, which threatened to close its borders to oil exports from the autonomous Kurdish region over the independence vote.

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Iraq’s prime minister, Haider Al Abadi, said on Tuesday that he had “ordered” the resumption of military talks between Baghdad and Erbil.

Baghdad responded to the Kurdish independence referendum by halting all international flights to and from Iraqi Kurdistan and sending troops to retake disputed areas outside the autonomous Kurdish region that were held by Kurdish forces. These measures have left the KRG grappling with an economic and political crisis.

“I have instructed the military committee to engage in regular talks” with the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, Mr Al Abadi said during his weekly press conference in Baghdad.

The prime minister also confirmed that a delegation has been formed to resolve the issue of Iraqi Kurdistan’s borders and to follow up on Baghdad’s demand for the Peshmerga to withdraw to the pre-2003 borders that separated KRG-administered areas from the rest of Iraq.

Meanwhile, Mr Al Abadi confirmed that the share of the Iraqi budget allocated to the KRG in the 2018 draft budget bill would not be amended.

"The share … is settled. It is not subject to change," he said, adding that the "parliament needs to approve the draft 2018 federal budget as soon as possible; any delay will impacts our citizens and affects the delivery of public services".

The central Iraqi government has halted all federal funds to the KRG for the past three years. But until Baghdad's recapture of disputed areas in October, the KRG held nearly all of northern Iraq's oil infrastructure and so had been able to sell enough crude to fund itself. Now, however, the autonomous Kudish region is once again financially dependent on Baghdad.

The United States on Wednesday voiced its concerns about Baghdad and Erbil's dispute.

"The United States is anxious for Kurdistan's existence within a unified Iraq," the US ambassador to Iraq, Douglas Silliman, said during a press conference in the embassy.

"The US has encouraged Baghdad to pay the salaries of Kurdish public servants and to co-ordinate security and border issues with Erbil."

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Abandon
Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay
Translated by Arunava Sinha
Tilted Axis Press 

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
Fresh faces in UAE side

Khalifa Mubarak (24) An accomplished centre-back, the Al Nasr defender’s progress has been hampered in the past by injury. With not many options in central defence, he would bolster what can be a problem area.

Ali Salmeen (22) Has been superb at the heart of Al Wasl’s midfield these past two seasons, with the Dubai club flourishing under manager Rodolfo Arrubarrena. Would add workrate and composure to the centre of the park.

Mohammed Jamal (23) Enjoyed a stellar 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League campaign, proving integral to Al Jazira as the capital club sealed the championship for only a second time. A tenacious and disciplined central midfielder.

Khalfan Mubarak (22) One of the most exciting players in the UAE, the Al Jazira playmaker has been likened in style to Omar Abdulrahman. Has minimal international experience already, but there should be much more to come.

Jassim Yaqoub (20) Another incredibly exciting prospect, the Al Nasr winger is becoming a regular contributor at club level. Pacey, direct and with an eye for goal, he would provide the team’s attack an extra dimension.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The biog

DOB: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon
School: ACS in Lebanon
University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
Nationality: Lebanese
Status: Single
Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year

The biog

Name: Greg Heinricks

From: Alberta, western Canada

Record fish: 56kg sailfish

Member of: International Game Fish Association

Company: Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters

Fixtures

50-over match

UAE v Lancashire, starts at 10am

Champion County match

MCC v Surrey, four-day match, starting on Sunday, March 24, play starts at 10am

Both matches are at ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City. Admission is free.