IRAQ: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discusses Baghdad relations and Syria peace talks with Iraqi Kurdish leaders

Record ID: 564851

  • Title: IRAQ: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discusses Baghdad relations and Syria peace talks with Iraqi Kurdish leaders
  • Date: 14th January 2014
  • Summary: ARBIL, IRAQ (JANUARY 14, 2014) (REUTERS) U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL, BAN KI-MOON, DISEMBARKING FROM PLANE AT ARBIL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CHILDREN PRESENTING BAN KI-MOON WITH FLOWERS KURDISH PRIME MINISTER NECHIRVAN BARZANI GREETING BAN KI-MOON BAN SHAKES HANDS WITH KURDISH OFFICIALS AT AIRPORT BAN SHAKES HANDS WITH BARZANI BAN AT PODIUM AHEAD OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL, BAN KI-MOON, SAYING (Followed with Arabic translation): "I have issued invitations to all the participants including the two parties of Syria - the Syrian government and opposition parties. The Syrian government has confirmed they will participate. The Syrian National Coalition, led by Mr. Ahmad Jarba - I hope he will participate. There are about 30 countries, including former members of the Security Council that will participate. Iran's participation is still being discussed and my position as Secretary-General has been consistently clear that Iran should participate. But there is no consensus for this matter, I am still working. Even yesterday, I was discussing this matter with Lakhdar Brahimi and I will also talk with other key leaders." BAN ALIGHTING FROM VEHICLE AT THE RESIDENCE OF IRAQI KURDISH PRESIDENT MASOUD BARZANI BAN GREETS BARZANI / SHAKES HANDS / ENTER RESIDENCE BAN AND BARZANI DURING MEETING BARZANI BAN AND BARZANI DURING MEETING VARIOUS OF DELEGATES
  • Embargoed: 29th January 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAS57SPH8KHCEC7O97EW5COEZ3
  • Story Text: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met leaders of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Arbil on Tuesday (January 14) for talks that focused on the region's relations with the central government and upcoming Geneva peace talks over Syria.
    The U.N. chief arrived at the Arbil International airport where he was greeted by the Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and other officials.
    Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Ban said he had extended invitations to 30 countries to take part in the upcoming so-called Geneva 2 conference.

    "I have issued invitations to all the participants including the two parties of Syria - the Syrian government and opposition parties. The Syrian government has confirmed they will participate. The Syrian National Coalition, led by Mr. Ahmad Jarba - I hope he will participate. There are about 30 countries, including former members of the Security Council that will participate," said Ban.
    He added there was still no consensus on Iran's participation in the peace talks.

    "Iran's participation is still being discussed and my position as Secretary-General has been consistently clear that Iran should participate. But there is no consensus for this matter, I am still working. Even yesterday, I was discussing this matter with Lakhdar Brahimi and I will also talk with other key leaders."
    Almost two weeks ago the United States appeared for the first time to hold out the possibility that Iran might play a role on the sidelines of a Syria peace conference even if Tehran is not formally invited.
    Washington, and Syrian opposition groups, have long had reservations about the participation of Iran, which they accuse of supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with manpower and arms during the near three-year uprising against his rule.
    Despite the improvement in U.S.-Iranian relations this year with a landmark nuclear deal struck in November, ties are strained by many issues, including the Syrian civil war in which at least 100,000 people have been killed and millions uprooted.
    The U.N. Secretary-General arrived in Iraq on Monday (January 13), where he met Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to discuss spiralling violence in Iraq that has marked the worst bloodshed in five years.
    Iraqi Kurdistan is in a row with Baghdad over oil exports from the autonomous region via a new pipeline to Turkey.
    Al-Maliki has threatened to cut Kurdistan's 17 percent share of the federal budget if exports via the pipeline went ahead without central government consent.
    A delegation led by Nechirvan Barzani is due in Baghdad soon to discuss the issue, which stems from a fundamental, longstanding disagreement over how to manage Iraq's resources and divide the proceeds.
    Previous rounds of talks have borne little fruit, but industry sources say a bargain is still on the cards.
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