Barzani not in favor of deterioration of relations with Turkey

In an interview with French magazine L'Essentiel des Relations Internationals, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) leader Masoud Barzani said that there were between 10,000 and 15,000 Kurdish refugees from Syria in their region and some of them given defense training to protect themselves in their home regions. Barzani also reiterated his call on the terrorist PKK to cease its armed struggle against Turkey, saying that Iraq does not want relations with Turkey to deteriorate. "There is now an opportunity for the Kurdish members of Turkish Parliament to make their influence felt. The opposition can be transformed into peaceful demonstrations in city streets, at Parliament and elsewhere. There is no need for violence. We have told the Kurdish political leaders that they should resolve the problem by peaceful means," Barzani added.