Kurdistan Region of Iraq President Massoud Barzani's visit to Baghdad on July 7 carries many connotations. It also reflects an Iraqi environment favorable to dialogue, not only to resolve the problems between Erbil and Baghdad, but also to address the ongoing Iraqi crises at various levels.

Barzani’s visit to Baghdad sought to end the rift between the central government and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and to set out principles that can be invoked to resolve the problems between the two sides. It also firmly established a concept that seemed absent over the past three years, which is the spirit of initiative among Iraqi leaders.

Barzani did not content himself with official discussions with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, but sought to visit Iraqi political icons at their headquarters. He met with Iraqi parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi at the parliament headquarters.

He visited Ammar al-Ha kim, the leader of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI), in his residence, and also held a meeting with Ayad Allawi, the leader of the Iraqi National Accord, at the movement's headquarters.