Kurdish leader meets Iraq premier

Barzani’s visit is his first to the capital in more than two years

Prominent Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani met with Iraqi premier Adel Abdul Mahdi in Baghdad yesterday, during his first visit to the capital in more than two years.

Barzani’s visit is seen as another sign of an improvement in relations between Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan, which deteriorated sharply after the autonomous region held an independence referendum last year.

The prime minister’s office announced the meeting just yesterday afternoon, sharing a photo of Barzani in a suit instead of his usual Kurdish garb.

Barzani previously served as the Iraqi Kurds’ president and now heads the prominent Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which emerged victorious in regional parliamentary ■ elections in September.

Last year’s independence vote saw more than 92 per cent of Kurds back secession, but the federal government rejected the poll as “illegal,” imposed economic penalties and seized the disputed Kirkuk oilfields.

But since Abdul Mahdi was appointed premier, relations seem to have improved between Baghdad and Kurdish leaders in regional capital Arbil. Both sides announced a deal last week to resume Kirkuk oil exports.

“It’s very important for us to have good, smooth relations between Arbil and Baghdad,” Abdul Mahdi told reporters.

Reuters Adel Abdul Mahdi (right) with Masoud Barzani — who heads the Kurdistan Democratic Party — in Baghdad yesterday.