France's President Emmanuel Macron attends the European Union Tallinn Digital Summit in Tallinn, Estonia, September 29, 2017. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

 

TALLINN: Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi accepted an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday to come to Paris on October 5 for talks on the Kurdish independence referendum, a source in Macron?s office said.

Macron had offered to help ease tensions between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government over Monday?s referendum ? which produced an overwhelming vote in favour of secession from Iraq ? and had warned that any further escalation should be avoided.

Baghdad has closed Kurdish airspace and vowed to take control of the autonomous region?s external borders.

In a statement after a telephone call with Abadi, Macron?s office said he had invited Abadi to Paris, but warned that the two sides should remain united in their priority to defeat Daesh and stabilise Iraq.

?All escalation should be avoided,? Macron said in the statement.

?The president? recalled the importance of preserving unity and Iraq?s (territorial) integrity while recognising the rights of the Kurdish people,? the statement said.

?With the priority to fight [major terrorist groups] and the stabilisation of Iraq, Iraqis must remain united,? it added.