Nechirvan Barzani.. "The Man of Difficult Moments", between Baghdad and Ankara

Shafaq News / The rapid political movement of Nechirvan Barzani, Kurdistan Region’s president -during his visit to Baghdad on Wednesday to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, and then to Ankara two days later, where he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan- enhanced the image he established as a man with cross-border interests, compromises, and roles, both locally and regionally.

On his arrival to Baghdad on Wednesday, Macron's words continued to ring in the ears of those interested when he said, "regional stability is at stake". He asked Barzani to meet him in Baghdad; all signs of the importance of the movement made by the president of Kurdistan as the "man of difficult moments" in these circumstances and at exactly this time.

Barzani met with Macron, who expressed his suspicious with the Turkish actions, whether across the border of the Kurdistan Region, or in the eastern Mediterranean where conflict looms; it is feared that the outcome will be a regional war involving Turkey, France, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, and possibly Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Libya. Macron’s message was crystal clear.. France is present in the region and has a role and other interests in the eastern Mediterranean, all the way to Baghdad and Erbil.

Barzani's meetings in Baghdad and Ankara are therefore important, reinforcing his position as a central player in the region.

Internally, the messages were no less clear. A French message implicit in expressing concern for the place of Kurdistan in the French vision of the region and in arranging the relationship with Baghdad, and therefore the request for a meeting in Baghdad with the president of the Region, the protocol that took into account the formal details, the private discussion of the two presidents, and Barzani's travel to Ankara shortly afterward added importance to the Kurdish-French meeting.

Observers have noted that Macron was careful not to refer directly to the "Iranian role" or "Iranian influence" as, for example, U.S. officials used to do at every turn of the day on the region's affairs in general.

Macron talked about the issue of "Iraq’s sovereignty" and the rejection of foreign interventions -which was mentioned by the French Minister of The Armed forces, Florence Parly when she visited the Iraqi capital prior to the French president. The reference was aimed at Turkey specifically, especially since the French minister expressed her stand with Iraq to prevent violations of its territory.

Turkish forces have been carrying out attacks inside Kurdistan for nearly two months under the pretext of pursuing the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), causing civilian casualties and many displacements, while relations between Ankara and Baghdad, which have repeatedly summoned the Turkish ambassador, have been strained.

Barzani maintains a calm relationship with Turkey, while his relationship with the federal government in Baghdad marked a great improvement –especially since Mustafa Al-Kadhimi took office- reflected in many tense issues that have prevailed between the two parties in the previous years.

In this sense, his presence in Baghdad to meet Emmanuel Macron With Iraqi hospitality -which also enhances the status of Kurdistan- and then his departure Friday for Ankara, where he held talks with Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu indicates that something is going on behind the scenes to vent the existing tension and that Kurdistan, specifically Barzani, has many cards that can be used to deal with crises, which also serve Kurdistan Region and Iraq itself.

Observers noted that it is true that the meeting between Barzani and Macron took place in Baghdad, at the request of the French president, but it clearly shows the specificity of Kurdistan and its constitutional status, as the privileged interaction with the president of the region aroused the interest of the entire world.

Observers also pointed out that the raising of the Kurdish flag and the protocol established to receive Nechirvan Barzani, showed the influence of Kurdistan in the federal state; and the position of France and President Macron and their role in the Middle East and his dealings in this way with the president of the region is in support of the consolidation of the federal system in the administration of the country, which strengthens the status of Kurdistan.

Observers said that showing the readiness of the president of the region to co-exist and guarantee the rights of the citizens of Kurdistan as their peers, all citizens of Iraq, and the indications that were reflected in the French president's dealings, are important signs of the Iraqi authority and political parties towards the need to solve problems with Kurdistan and to preserve its constitutional rights.

This is an implicit message that Baghdad must have noticed. This was reflected in the handling and relationship shown by the Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, and the Iraqi political parties with the president of Kurdistan, which highlights Barzani's successful policy in dealing with events and solving problems.

All of the above shows the impact of Kurdistan’s president’s role as an inclusive point for all parties within Iraq and Kurdistan.

Observers expressed the hope that there would be an opportunity for Kurdistan and the Federal Government to take advantage of this role played by Nechirvan Barzani.

The leader of the Iraqi Salvation and Development front, Atheel Al-Nujaifi, had a special vision regarding these developments, and he concluded that Kurdistan reserved its seat on the future train, after Macron visited Iraq, as he described it.

"President Macron's visit to Iraq was based on the knowledge that radical changes will take place in the region, and that the Iranian withdrawal is coming; the Iranian influence must end in Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria as there is an international will formed with this goal and it is impossible to change this international will", Al-Nujaifi told Shafaq News agency.

Atheel Al-Nujaifi added, "France is aware of Turkey’s readiness to fill the void after Iran's withdrawal from the region; this worries France especially in light of the crises between Ankara and Paris. France is ardently aiming to block Turkey’s path and Macron’s visit was an attempt to create other solutions", he also noted, "Kurdistan has realized that France's attempts will fail, and that's why Barzani went to Ankara to redraw relations with Turkey; it is also in Iraq's interest to redraw its relationship with Turkey instead of clashing with it, especially since the Turkish force is beginning to appear in the region".

All in all, the president of the Kurdistan region is distinguished by his relations with regional countries, Europe, and America, as he adopts a one-way policy with those countries that witness broad diplomatic representation in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region.