US won't rule out 'punitive' actions to encourage Baghdad-Erbil talks

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The United States has not ruled out using harder diplomacy in helping to resolve disagreements between Iraq and the KRG, but still prefers conversation.

"In terms of punitive measures such as withholding money or anything, we never forecast that," said US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert in a press conference on Tuesday.

She was asked about German Foreign Minister's Sigmar Gabriel remarks on Monday that Iraq "solves its internal conflicts peacefully and democratically" between and Erbil and Baghdad being a "precondition" of Berlin's support to Iraq — firmer diplomatic tones than other possible interlocutors like the United States have taken.

"I’m not saying we would do it at all, but we just continue to ask the countries to sit down and have a conversation," added Nauert.

She re-stated the US position of "continuing to ask the 'countries' to sit down and have a conversation," while clarifying that she meant Erbil and Baghdad.

Countries like the Netherlands have called on Baghdad to end its international flight ban at the Kurdistan Region's two international airports in Sulaimani and Erbil.

"That is a situation where they need to work it out themselves. I understand under the Iraqi constitution that the central Government of Iraq has sort of management over the airports throughout the country," Nauert said, adding she has spoken to "some of our experts who cover Iraq" regarding Washington's interpretation of the status of airports and borders in the KRG.

Revenues in the KRG are heavily dependent upon oil exports, border trade, and its budget share from Baghdad. The first two were reduced after the Kurdistan Region's September 25 referendum, the flight ban, Iran's closure of border crossings, and federal control of disputed or Kurdistani areas claimed by Baghdad and Erbil at the hands of Iraq forces and their Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitias in October. The KRG has called for a return of a 17 percent budget share, which was reduced in 2013, and Baghdad has proposed allocating 12.67 percent in 2018.

Also on Tuesday, KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani announced after meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin that Germany wants to "jointly support talks and resolving Erbil-Baghdad issues."

The United States has allocated for Baghdad nearly $1.3 billion in 2018 Iraq Train & Equip defense funding. Billions in dollars will also be available through the State Department's budget, including $5.6 billion to work to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and Vice President Mike Pence's initiative that allows faith-based NGOs to receive USAID funding, a move that bypasses UN organs.

Rudaw.net