British Ambassador to Iraq, Jon Wilks, on Wednesday highlighted the role of the Kurdistan Region in helping form the new Iraqi government and the importance of Kurds being equal partners in the decision-making process.

Wilk’s comments came during a meeting with the Prime Minister of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, in Erbil.

In the meeting, they discussed the current political situation in the country, the efforts to form the new government of Iraq following the May 12 national election, the role of the Kurdistan Region, and the importance of having meaningful partnership with Baghdad in the decision-making process, according to the statement issued by Barzani’s press office.

A British delegation headed by Wilks also discussed the upcoming parliamentary election in the Kurdistan Region scheduled to be held on Sep. 30.

Barzani noted negotiations with Iraqi parties are still ongoing and stressed the importance of Kurdish unity when facing Baghdad.

The role of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq, current electoral campaign, post-election reforms in the Kurdistan Region, issues between Erbil and Baghdad, and the current political and security situation in the region were also broadly addressed in the meeting.