BAGHDAD, Oct. 23 -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Monday that Washington was keen on dialogue between Iraqi government and the Iraqi Kurdish region to solve the Kurdish issue.
Tillerson made his remarks in his discussion with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi over the tension between Baghdad and the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan.
In a statement by the prime minister's office, Tillerson said that the United States supported Iraq's unity and called for the importance of adherence to the constitution.
For his part, Abadi said what Baghdad did in Kirkuk was redeployment and imposition of state power, which are legal and constitutional procedures.
"We do not want to fight a battle with any (Iraqi) components, all of them are our sons, and when we entered Kirkuk we sent a clear message that the Kurdish citizens are Iraqis and we deal with them like other components," Abadi said.
The statement said that the two sides also discussed "enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields and the war against terrorism."
Abadi stressed that the fight against terrorism "is still a priority for us and we will continue to liberate the remaining areas of the country and secure the borders."
Abadi told Tillerson the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi unit "is an official institution which is part of the Iraq institutions. We have to encourage the (Hashd Shaabi) fighters because they will be the hope for the country and the region."
Earlier in the evening, Tillerson arrived in Baghdad on unannounced visit to meet with Iraqi leaders following last month's independence referendum held by the Kurdistan regional government, according to an Iraqi Foreign Ministry official who spoke to Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Tillerson would also discuss the reconstruction efforts after the defeat of the Islamic State (IS) group in the major IS strongholds in the country, the official said.
Hundreds of U.S. troops are already in Iraq, serving as trainers and advisers, in an attempt to help the country win the battle against IS militants.
The U.S.-led international coalition has also been conducting air raids against IS targets in both Iraq and Syria.
The independence of Kurdistan is opposed not only by the Iraqi central government, but also by other countries as it would threaten the integrity of Iraq and undermine the fight against IS militants.
2017届高考英语(牛津译林版)一轮复习课时提升作业:(二十七) 选修8 Unit 4 Films and film events
2017届高考英语一轮复习随堂演练:1-6-4global warming
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2017届高考英语一轮复习随堂演练:1-3-2healthy eating
2017届高考英语一轮复习随堂演练:1-2-5music
2017届高考英语一轮复习随堂演练:1-5-1great scientists
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2017届高考英语(牛津译林版)一轮复习课时提升作业:(二十二) 选修7 Unit 3 The World online
2017届高考英语(牛津译林版)一轮复习课时提升作业:(二十三) 选修7 Unit 4 Public transport
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2017届高考英语一轮复习随堂演练:1-3-1festivals around the world
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