Erbil, Kurdistan Region, March 1, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani received today in Erbil Lord Tarq Ahmad, the Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and United Nations at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Lord Ahmed stressed his country’s keenness to develop relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and reaffirmed that the UK attaches great importance to the relations between Erbil and Baghdad. Lord Ahmed viewed stability and good relations between Erbil and Baghdad as a source of strength for Iraq to face its challenges. He expressed his country’s support for the resolution of the differences between the two sides.

In the meeting, which was attended by the UK Ambassador to Iraq and the UK Consul General in Erbil, the two sides discussed the political and economic situation in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. In this regard, President Nechirvan Barzani stressed that the Kurdistan Region is making continuous efforts to resolve the issues with Baghdad, as well as to maintain unity in the Kurdistan Region.

Both sides agreed that peace and stability and the resolution of the country’s problems will promote the progress and return of Iraq to its rightful position in the region and the world, and will create more job opportunities, investments and foreign capital.

The Kurdistan Region elections, the Iraqi Oil and Gas Law, the budget, the relations between Iraq and the Kurdistan Region with neighboring countries, the situation in the wider region, the consequences of the war in Ukraine and other issues of common interest were highlighted.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-uk-secretary-of-state-lord-ahmad/