Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said that the PKK's presence in Sinjar was an obstacle to the development and stability of the region.

Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said that the presence of the PKK in Sinjar is an obstacle to the development and stability of the region, so they hoped the PKK would be withdrawn.

In an interview with Rudaw of Iraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Barzani, assessed the PKK's presence in Sinjar and the visit of French President François Hollande to Erbil.

Nechirvan Barzani said at a meeting with French President Hollande that Iraqi Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani demanded the continuation of France's political and military aid and that he emphasized that political as well as ethnic groups in Iraq should be considered for a successful solution after Mosul.

Barzani said that Hollande's visit contained an important message, "The President of France had a very bad situation when he came here 2 years ago, and ISIS was 30 kilometers away from Erbil. He was the first president to visit the Kurdistan Region. After two years of hard work, his visits to the Kurdistan Region again is a sign of feeling and support that France has about the region."

Barzani thanked the supporters of Iraq in the current war, saying that a large part of the territories occupied by ISIS were recaptured as a result of the struggle of Peshmerga and international support.

Barzani said: "We asked for assistance in these areas. But it's not just those areas that need help. But actually the Kurdistan Region, which welcomes 1 million 800 thousand migrants, should be supported firstly. Before the reconstruction of the rescued regions was discussed discussion should be made on how to support the Kurdistan Region, which welcomes a large number of people."

Referring to the PKK presence in Sinjar, Barzani said, "Our policy is clear, we have thanked all the forces that helped to save the people of Sinjar from the ISIS terrorists, and now the presence of the PKK in Sinjar is a factor against the development of the region and a barrier to stability. We hope that the PKK has withdrawal.” (ILKHA)