PM call with Prime Minister Barzani: 12 December 2017
Prime Minister Theresa May spoke with Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, discussing the Kurdistan referendum, relations with Baghdad and counter-terrorism.
A Downing Street spokesperson said:
The Prime Minister spoke to Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani this morning.
On the Kurdistan referendum, Prime Minister May reiterated the UK’s continued respect for the territorial integrity and unity of Iraq. She welcomed Prime Minister Barzani’s government’s recognition of the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court’s ruling that Iraq is unified and indivisible. She said the UK would continue to fight to protect the identity and rights of the Kurdish people under the Iraqi constitution.
On relations with Baghdad, they agreed on the importance of dialogue and negotiating an agreement over Federal control, joint management of the borders and a resumption of international flights to Kurdistan’s airports in Erbil and Suleimaniya. They both said that they hoped to see progress on this soon.
Prime Minister May underlined the UK’s continued support for the Kurdistan Region and Kurdish people within a unified Iraq, while urging continued reform in the political, economic and security sectors to strengthen Kurdistan’s institutions and deliver for the Kurdish people.
On counter-terrorism, they agreed on the importance of our continued cooperation in order to keep the people of both Kurdistan and the UK safe.
The Prime Minister said that she would be pleased to see Prime Minister Barzani in London in due course to make further progress on these matters.