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Iraqi Government: Kurds Must Back Country's 'Unity' Before Talks

by Reuters

   BAGHDAD --

   The Iraqi government has a series of conditions that the Kurdish
   Regional Government (KRG) must meet before agreeing to hold talks on
   the crisis triggered by last month's independence referendum, a
   government spokesman said on Thursday.

   The KRG must first "commit to Iraq's unity," the spokesman told
   Reuters, reacting to an offer for dialogue made Wednesday overnight by
   the Kurdish authorities.

   "The local authorities in the [Kurdistan] region must accept the
   sovereign authority of the federal government on oil exports, security
   and border protection, including land and entry points," he added.

   "These are the basis for any dialogue requested by the local government
   of the region," he said.