Jordan–Kurdistan Region relations

Jordan–Kurdistan Region relations
Map indicating locations of Jordan and Kurdistan Region

Jordan
Kurdistan Region

Jordan–Kurdistan Region relations are bilateral relations between Jordan and the Kurdistan Region[1]. Jordan is represented in Kurdistan Region through a consulate general in Erbil since 2011,[2][3] while Kurdistan Region has no representation in Jordan. Relations are described as historical, dating back to the times of Mullah Mustafa Barzani and King Hussein bin Talal.[4] As a response to the unilateral Kurdish independence referendum in September 2017, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stated that the issue was an internal Iraqi affair and that Jordan did not interfere in other countries' domestic affairs.[5] The Jordanian Consul General in Erbil described ties as "strong and solid" in August 2018.[6]

High-ranking meetings

In 1996, Iraqi Kurdish rebel leader Jalal Talabani and King Hussein of Jordan met to press for the Iraqi opposition to unite.[7][8] At the inauguration of the Jordanian consulate general, Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit visited Kurdistan Region with a delegation including Minister of Agriculture Samir Habashneh, Minister of Trade and Industry Hani Mulki and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Khaled Toukan and four other ministers. During the visit, seven Memoranda of Understandings were signed between the two parties.[9] Jordanian King Abdullah II of Jordan and Kurdish President Masoud Barzani has met on five occasions; March 2007, in May 2014, in May 2015, in February 2016 and in May 2017.[10][11][12][13][14] Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani also met with the King in January 2018 during the World Economic Forum in Davos and relations were described as 'excellent'.[15][16] In January 2019, Masoud Barzani visited Jordan and met with King Abdullah for regional talks.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ While Kurdistan Region refers to the autonomous Kurdish region in Northern Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan is a geographical term referring to the Kurdish area of Iraq
  2. ^ "Consulate General of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan". Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Jordan opens consulate in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan's capital". Ekurd. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  4. ^ "Historical Ties Growing Between Jordan and Iraq's Kurds". Rûdaw. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Jordan FM: Kurdistan referendum Iraq's domestic affair". Kurdistan24. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Jordan will maintain 'strong' ties with Kurdistan Region: Consul General". Kurdistan4. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  7. ^ Curtin Ryan (2000). "Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Jordanian-Iraqi Relations" (PDF). Middle East Report (215): 41. doi:10.2307/1520157. JSTOR 1520157.
  8. ^ Kamran Karadaghi (2 January 1996). "King Hussein's Iraqi Gambit and the Iraqi Opposition". Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Jordan's Prime Minister makes historic visit to Kurdistan Region". 13 September 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  10. ^ "King meets Talabani". 14 March 2007. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  11. ^ "President Barzani and King Abdullah of Jordan discuss bolstering ties". 8 May 2014. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  12. ^ "President Barzani Meets King Abdullah of Jordan". 22 May 2015. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  13. ^ "Barzani discusses referendum with officials in Munich". Kurdistan24. 13 February 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  14. ^ "Jordan King, Kurdistan President discuss bilateral relations". Kurdistan24. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  15. ^ "Davos: PM Barzani builds on 'excellent' Kurdistan-Jordan ties with King Abdullah II". Rûdaw. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  16. ^ "I met His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan in Davos today..." Twitter. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  17. ^ "King receives former president of Kurdistan Region in Iraq". 27 January 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.

Further reading

  • Schenker, David (2003). Dancing with Saddam : the strategic tango of Jordanian-Iraqi relations. Lanham, Md. [u.a.]: Lexington Books [u.a.] ISBN 0-7391-0649-X.