Erbil, Kurdistan Region, March 2, 2023
President Nechirvan Barzani welcomed the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres to the Kurdistan Region at Erbil’s International Airport on Thursday.
The meeting, attended by the Vice Presidents of the Kurdistan Region, covered a number of pressing issues including the latest political developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, relations between Erbil and Baghdad and the ongoing efforts to resolve their existing differences; the agenda of the Iraqi Federal Government and the status of Sinjar district were also highlighted.
President Nechirvan Barzani presented an overview of the agreement among the political parties on the formation of the Iraqi Federal Government and its agenda. The President affirmed that the current atmosphere between Erbil and Baghdad to resolve the issues is positive with the expectations that the Iraqi Prime Minister is determined to enforce the government’s agenda. The President also praised the role of the United Nations in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
For his part, the UN Secretary-General commended the progress of the talks between Erbil and Baghdad and reaffirmed the UN’s support for the efforts to resolve the pending issues between them.
Discussions also focused on the general elections in the Kurdistan Region. In this regard, President Nechirvan Barzani stressed that, as the President of the Kurdistan Region, he will set the date of the upcoming elections to be held during the current year.
The President and the Secretary-General reaffirmed the importance of implementing the agreement between the Iraqi Federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government on the status of Sinjar, and to encourage and facilitate the return of the Yazidi refugees to their reconstructed homes.
Regarding the internal situation in the Kurdistan Region, Secretary-General Guterres stressed that the solution of the internal problems and the unity of the political parties will strengthen the Kurdistan Region’s position in Iraq and beyond.
Discussions also included other issues of common interest.
https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-un-secretary-general-antonio-guterres/