Iraqi vice president Osama Al Nujafi says the Kurdish president has agreed not to act on the results of the recent independence vote if Baghdad ensures the rights of the autonomous Kurdish region.
It comes after Mr Al Nujaifi met with the president of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masoud Barzani, on Saturday.
"Mr Barzani said, 'We will freeze the results of the referendum if we reach an agreement with Baghdad's central government that ensures the rights of the Kurdish region'," Mr Al Nuaijfi's spokesperson told The National on Monday.
As a first step, Mr Barzani said he wanted Baghdad's sanctions on the Kurdish region to be lifted and for negotiations to begin between the two sides, Mr Al Nujaifi said.
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Mr Barzani and Mr Al Nujaifi met on Saturday in the Iraqi Kurdish city of Sulaymaniyah, where they were attending the funeral of Jalal Talabani, former Iraqi president and leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party. Ayad Allawi, one of Iraq's two other vice presidents, was also present at the meeting.
The trio agreed to talks between Baghdad and Erbil, the capital of the Kurdish region, with an open agenda and to ensure ongoing meetings between the two sides.
How much weight this agreement carries is unclear, however, after Baghdad later rejected the meeting.
"The meeting that took place between president of Iraqi Kurdistan Masoud Barzani and Iraqi vice presidents Ayad Allawi and Osama Al Nujaifi does not reflect the position of the Iraqi government,” Saad Al Hadithi, the spokesperson of prime minister Haider Al Abadi, said on Sunday.
Iraqi Kurds voted overwhelmingly in favour of secession from Iraq in the controversial September 25 independence referendum.
Baghdad responded by banning international flights into the Kurdish region and threatening to take control of border crossings.
Mr Al Nujaifi's spokesperson told The National on Monday that the vice president believed "the decision to hold the Kurdish referendum was unilateral and wrong".
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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A foster couple or family must:
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Schedule for Asia Cup
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
Rocketman
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell
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Ronaldo's record at Man Utd
Seasons 2003/04 - 2008/09
Appearances 230
Goals 115
The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
