Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird in Salahaddin today.

The President and the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister discussed Canada’s humanitarian and military support for the KRG, the fight against the ISIS terrorists, and the political process in Baghdad.

Foreign Minister Baird praised the leadership of President Barzani and the role of the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga forces for standing up to ISIS terrorists and said that Canada stands shoulder to shoulder with the KRG in this fight. He added that his country would continue to support the KRG with humanitarian aid and military equipment. Mr. Baird also paid tribute to the peshmerga for their sacrifices in protecting and saving Yezidi, Christian, and other minorities and for offering a safe refuge for them. He said the world appreciates the KRG and its leadership for their generosity towards the IDPs and refuges.

President Barzani thanked Foreign Minister Baird for visiting Kurdistan, saying that the visit in itself is a strong message support and solidarity to our people. The President also thanked Canada and all other countries for their humanitarian and military support and for standing by the people and government of Kurdistan.

Both the President and the Canadian Foreign Minister agreed that the ISIS terrorists pose a threat to the whole world and confronting them needs cooperation and collective action by all sides.

They also discussed efforts to form an inclusive government in Baghdad. President Barzani said that the KRG would do its best to ensure a genuinely inclusive government is formed in Baghdad.