Is Abadi Key to Resolving Kurdish Conflict?

A successful democratic experience in Iraqi Kurdistan could serve as a model for various regional governments that are likely to arise after the war against IS. It is also a key ingredient to preserving ties and unity between the different Iraqi components in the long run. By playing a positive role in Kurdistan’s crisis, Baghdad could pave the way toward setting differences between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Region.

Abadi has a solid reputation for impartiality among the different Kurdish parties. Therefore, he could serve as an objective intermediary and increase his chances to negotiate under the auspices of Baghdad.

It is the duty of the Iraqi government and Abadi in particular to work toward hosting the conflicting Kurdish parties in Baghdad and to foster comprehensive Kurdish dialogue to help reach a peaceful solution within the framework of democracy, to put an end to the crisis without harming Kurdistan's democratic gains.

This could be the key for Baghdad to reconcile all Iraqi parties to prevent major problems in the future, and to avoid a grinding political crises and a years-long absence of dialogue — precisely the kind of division that has allowed IS gangs to take over larger areas of the country as a result of the ongoing divide.