Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani said on Thursday that the region’s future depends on a strong and federal Iraq, calling for political disputes to be overcome through constitutional solutions, dialogue and coexistence.
Speaking at the Sulaymaniyah Economic Summit, Barzani said political disagreements should not obstruct trade and investment, stressing the need for a clear constitutional mechanism agreed upon with the federal government to address financial, customs and tax issues.
He emphasized the importance of building a state that guarantees the rights of all Iraqis, including Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, Christians and Yazidis, regardless of political influence or demographic strength, with state institutions and the law serving as the main safeguards.
Barzani said outstanding issues concerning the budget, salaries, oil and gas, and constitutional powers should be settled through constitutional mechanisms that protect the rights of the Kurdistan Region, Iraq and its citizens.
He added that the relationship between Erbil and Baghdad should not be based on one side being subordinate to the other, but rather on adherence to a constitutional Iraq, stressing that Kurdistan’s strength lies within a strong federal state.
Barzani concluded by saying that the time had come to address unresolved disputes and move toward solutions based on the Constitution, dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
