Tillerson urges Iraq, Kurds to resolve conflict through dialogue

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, second from left, listens as Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, right, speaks during their meeting in Baghdad on Monday. (Reuters)

BAGHDAD: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan region on Monday to resolve their conflict over Kurdish self-determination and disputed territories through dialogue.
Tillerson made the call at the start of a meeting in Baghdad with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, who in turn defended the role of an Iraqi paramilitary force backed by Iran against the criticism made by Tillerson on Sunday.
鈥淲e are concerned and a bit sad,鈥� Tillerson said in his opening remarks. 鈥淲e have friends in Baghdad and friends in Erbil and we encourage all parties to enter into discussion... and all differences can be addressed,鈥� he said, referring to the Iraqi and Kurdistan region capitals.
The US administration sided with Al-Abadi in rejecting the validity of the referendum held last month in the Kurdish region, which produced an overwhelming yes for Kurdish independence.
The administration also called on the two sides to avoid further escalation, after the Iraqi prime minister retaliated against the vote by isolating the Kurdistan region and ordering his troops to seize Kirkuk from Kurdish fighters.
"We don鈥檛 want to enter into any battle against any Iraqi component,鈥� Al-Abadi said. 鈥淲hen we entered Kirkuk we sent a clear message that the citizens of Kirkuk are important to us.鈥�
It was Tillerson鈥檚 second meeting with Al-Abadi in as many days. After Sunday鈥檚 meeting, alongside 萝莉视频鈥檚 King Salman, Tillerson said it was time for Iranian-backed militias that had helped Baghdad defeat Daesh to 鈥済o home.鈥�
Al-Abadi told Tillerson the paramilitary force called Popular Mobilization 鈥渋s part of the Iraqi institutions,鈥� rejecting accusations that it is acting as Iran鈥檚 proxies.
鈥淧opular Mobilization fighters should be encouraged because they will be the hope of country and the region,鈥� he said.
A few hours earlier, Al-Abadi鈥檚 office published a statement rejecting Tillerson鈥檚 comments. 鈥淣o party has the right to interfere in Iraqi matters,鈥� it said.