Erbil, Kurdistan Region, August 23, 2023
President Nechirvan Barzani received today in Erbil, the United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Security, Mr. Tom Tugendhat, and his accompanying delegation.
In the meeting, attended by the UK Ambassador to Iraq and the UK Consul General in the Kurdistan Region, the latest developments in the fight against terrorism and the threat of ISIS, the upcoming elections and the internal situation in the Kurdistan Region, Erbil-Baghdad relations, illegal immigration to the UK, and the fight against drugs were discussed.
Both sides stressed the importance of the UK’s joint cooperation with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to reduce illegal immigration and to combat organized crimes. They agreed that joint regional cooperation is necessary to prevent the spread of drugs in the region. In this regard, they also discussed a memorandum of understanding to be signed between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the UK Government.
Regarding the internal situation in the Kurdistan Region, both sides agreed on the necessity of strengthening solidarity and unity and the importance of holding elections. With regards to the elections, the President stressed that the Kurdistan Region is committed to holding general elections which grants legitimacy to the Kurdistan Region.
https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-the-uk-secretary-of-state-for-security-affairs/