Berlin - The President of the Kurdish Autonomous Region of Iraq, Massoud Barzani, met Wednesday with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier during a visit to Berlin.

The discussion focused on bilateral relations between the two regions.

A spokesman for the foreign ministry, Jens Ploetner, said they spoke in particular about strengthening economic ties between Germany and the Kurdish region, as well as the significant "potential for cultural cooperation."

Baghdad  - The President of the Autonomous Region of Kurdistan Massoud Barzani called on Kurds and Arabs on Friday "to have an open dialogue and find a consensus solution for the city, away from any foreign interventions."

During his few-hours-visit to Kirkuk on Friday, Barzani said: "We do not accept any side imposing its agenda on us, and likewise we do not want to do the same."

The Kurdish leader described Kirkuk as "Iraq's Kurdish city," and asked people to live peacefully together.