On Thursday, ministers from 21 countries gathered in London to discuss the fight against the Islamic State.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi was there, holding a press conference with US Secretary of State John Kerry and British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond.
Iraqi Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani was not. He was not invited, despite Kurdish peshmerga being in the front line of the battle with the jihadists.
On Friday, Barzani made his displeasure known on Twitter:
Int. London meeting to counter ISIS held at a time when Kurdistan directly fighting ISIS terrorists & peshmerga sacrificing their lives. 1/4
— Masoud Barzani (@masoud_barzani) January 23, 2015
We were expecting everyone to show respect to the sacrifices made by our people/peshmerga by inviting a rep. from Kurdistan to the event.2/4
— Masoud Barzani (@masoud_barzani) January 23, 2015
We express our dissatisfaction with organizers of this event. Disheartening to see our people make sacrifices & others to receive credit.3/4
— Masoud Barzani (@masoud_barzani) January 23, 2015
Our people are bearing the brunt of situation & no one can represent it and speak on its stead in int. events .4/4 http://t.co/4f185U5tfS
— Masoud Barzani (@masoud_barzani) January 23, 2015