US Envoy McGurk Says Discussed With Kurdish Top Diplomat Baghdad-Erbil Partnership

Special Presidential Envoy Brett McGurk said in a statement on Friday that he discussed with Kurdistan Regional Government Foreign Relations Department head Falah Mustafa future cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th November, 2018) Special Presidential Envoy Brett McGurk said in a statement on Friday that he discussed with Kurdistan Regional Government Foreign Relations Department head Falah Mustafa future cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil.

"Discussed new and promising opportunities for closer cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil, inclduding Kirkuk exports, strengthening security cooperation, and support for minority populations," McGurk said via Twitter.

The statement noted that the meeting between McGurk and Mustafa took place at the Department of State on Thursday.

Relations between Baghdad and Erbil escalated after Iraqi Kurdistan held in September 2017a referendum on independence that was proclaimed illegal by the Iraq's Federal government.

In response, the Iraqi government launched a military operation and took control over the Kurdish oil-rich province of Kirkuk, as well as imposed sanctions, restricted banking operations, closed border crossings and banned international flights to and from the region.

Baghdad lifted the restrictive measures in January after the Kurdish government authorities and private institutions accepted the authority of Iraq's federal government.