France's Macron vows efforts to press for dialogue between Baghdad, Erbil

France will work more to convince Iraqi government and Kurds to accept negotiating an eventual end to their political row, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday.
"France will continue to act to facilitate this dialogue in the coming weeks," Macron said.
The French president urged Iraqi rival parties to avoid military escalation after Kurdish leader resigned, calling on Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi federal authorities to "continue on the path of dialogue with the support of the United Nations in order to achieve lasting peace in an united Iraq United."
In a statement released by his office, the French president noted that Paris "has always worked for the full recognition of Kurdish rights under the Iraqi constitution," adding that he took note of the decision of Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani to step down later this week.
Tensions have been running high between Baghdad and the region of Kurdistan after the Kurds held a controversial referendum on the independence of the Kurdistan region and the disputed areas.

source: xinhua