ERBIL — Powerful Iraqi Shi’ite politician and former prime minister of the country, Nouri al-Maliki, has stated that the Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani has not abandoned the path he took during the referendum on Kurdistan independence.

Speaking in an interview with an Iranian state-run television channel, Maliki briefed about his recent meeting with Masoud Barzani, the former president of Kurdistan Region and the current president of the largest Kurdish political party, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

“Barzani has not made any decisions about his position of self-determination for Kurdistan and the referendum,” Maliki pointed out, noting that, however, the relations between Erbil and Baghdad are improving now as they both need each other.

“There is willingness from the Kurdish side to return to Baghdad and begin cooperation with the Iraqi government again. However, it was discussed [during the meetings], they didn’t say that they have abandoned the referendum path towards the split of Kurdistan from Iraq.”

Maliki pointed out that the success of the current government in Iraq is bound to bring cooperation between all the components of the country, including Sunnis, Shi’ites and the Kurds to bring prosperity to the country.

Bas News