Baghdad and Iraqi Kurds On Edge in Tense Climate
Relations between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have worsened in advance of a visit by KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani to Baghdad to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari.
The worsening relationship between the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and the federal government — led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of the Shiite National Iraqi Alliance — has had a significant impact on the once close relations between Iraqi Shiites and Kurds. This, therefore, justifies the Kurdish approach to deal cautiously with the Iraqi government and Shiite parties in general.
Heated dialogue is taking place in Kurdistan regarding Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani’s upcoming visit to Baghdad, after he was invited by Maliki. However, the Kurdish party has not set a final date for the visit. The KRG imposed a media blackout on a similar visit made by Maliki to Erbil in mid-February.
Tariq Najem, former director of Maliki’s office and a leader in the National Iraqi Alliance, visited the Kurdistan region to meet with KRG President Massoud Barzani. A few days following the visit, sources in Baghdad revealed that he was carrying a message from Iraqi Shiite parties calling for an end to the current crisis between the KRG and the central government. Erbil didn't openly announce the visit, but only referred to it indirectly.
Speaking to Al-Monitor, the official spokesman for the KRG, Saven Dazai, denied that Maliki invited Barzani to visit Baghdad. He did, however, say that Kurdistan is a part of Iraq and dialogue between the two parties is a normal occurrence.
