Also the chief of Kurdistan Strategic Researches, Farid Asa Sard, told Kurdpress that the visit was also an effort to settle differences between the KDP and Shiite and Sunni parties after the referendum of independence in Kurdistan on September 25, 2017.

Despite making the visit to Baghdad as a leader of a political party bur Barzani was warmly welcomed in Baghdad by leading officials including parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Helbusi, Badr Organization Leader Hadi al-Ameri, and a number of Hashid al-Shaabi leaders. He met leading Iraqi officials, including prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi, former PM Haider al-Abadi and Vice President Nouri al-Maliki.

Asa Sard told Kurdpress that a new government is leading Iraq and the new leaders in Baghdad is willing to settle differences with Erbil and welcomes dialogue and negotiation, adding that Abdul Mahdi has always had good relation with Kurds and therefore it is a good time to solve the disputes and tensions between the two sides.

He also stated that the KDP leadership used to call for good ties between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq as good neighbors but they call Baghdad, Iraq’s capital and the new situation helps boosting ties between the two sides.

Asa Sard added that the Kurdistan Region is better to change its policies and follow a new policy as we are witnessing a big change in Iraq’s political map as there is a new PM in Iraq who has a better tie with the Kurdish region.

Reporter’s code: 50101