Jabouri's visit to Kurdistan 'aimed at easing tensions: Experts
October 09 2017 09:06 PM Barzani and Jabouri
Visit of speaker of the Iraqi parliament Salim al-Jubouri, to the Kurdistan to meet the head of the autonomous region Masoud Barzani elicited positive reactions among the Iraqi political spectrums

The move's supporters said the visit is of utmost importance to maintain friendly relations with the region and defuse tensions

On the other side, opponents argued the visit is disappointing and will not settle the ongoing spat
Observers told The Baghdad Post that the visit of Salim al-Jubouri to Kurdistan is of great importance since it comes at a delicate juncture

The visit is integrated with the efforts exerted by Iyad Allawi and Osama al-Nujaifi to render this problem resolved they noted.

Defusing tensions The commentators yet reiterated the assertion that attempts to defuse tensions through resorting to dialog and negotiations is a significant gain

The Office of al-Jubouri, issued a statement on his visit to the Kurdistan region, saying the Jubouri's meeting with Barzani came to stop the deterioration of the relationship between Baghdad and Erbil after the serious repercussions" caused by the referendum The involvement of some regional countries as parties in the ongoing spat between Baghdad and Erbil compromises Iraq's stability the statement added.

It yet noted the meeting came to bring all parties to the crisis together to find a solution to the crisis before it reaches an impasse

In the landmark meeting, Jabouri asserted the need to maintain unity of Iraq, security and stability of its people and to resort to political trajectories and the Constitution

He reaffirmed the Constitution should be the main reference when it comes to resolving all crises

The high-profile official asserted the need to preserve the legislative institution and respect its decisions, calling on all national trends to stick to national principles and wipe out terror, which he said political standoffs could open the door for terror to unfold again

Foreign meddling

On the independence referendum conducted by the region two weeks ago, the statement said the discussions at the meeting centered on ways to ease tensions especially in the disputed areas between Baghdad and Erbil

Jabouri pressed partnership between the two sides is vital, saying its principles should be respected

Also, he asserted the need to deescalate the inflammatory rhetoric
According to the statement, Barzani has a vision related to the plebiscite and ways to settle the dispute And the speaker of the parliament saw it necessary to consult with the main political trends to outline a vision that serves Iraq and brings the current deadlock to an end

Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Ahmed Mahjoub, has confirmed - earlier - that the federal government in Baghdad is insistent on initiating a dialogue with the Kurdistan region within the framework of the Constitution and Iraqi law

MP Adel Khamis Mahlawi indicated that the visit of Jubouri to Erbil is a step towards easing tension between the region and Baghdad to find appropriate solutions and get out of the crisis

Jabouri seeks to use his clout to find appropriate solutions that satisfy all parties, unify Iraq, and defuse tensions* the lawmaker added.

The independence referendum gave rise to tensions between Iraq and Erbil, which require exerting efforts to prevent any clashes between fellow countrymen, Mahalawi noted.

On this point, experts said it is in the very interest of Iraq to preserve unity among its different factions whether they are Sunnis, Shiites or Kurds

There should be any room for meddlers to fan the flames of sedition in Iraq they stated. https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/18017/Jabouri-s-visit-to-Kurdistan-aimed-at-easing-tensions-Experts