Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in Salahaddin today. The President and the EU’s foreign policy chief discussed the fight against ISIS terrorists, including recent peshmerga gains in Sinjar, and the plight of hundreds of thousands of IDPs in Kurdistan.

Following their meeting, the two held a joint press conference, in which Federica Mogherini congratulated President Barzani for the recent victories by the peshmerga against the ISIS terrorists, especially in Sinjar district. She said the purpose of her visit to Kurdistan is to find out how the EU can further support Kurdistan in this fight, adding that the EU would ask its member states to continue to provide both military and humanitarian aid to Kurdistan.

The EU High Representative said that Kurdistan has scored three victories: the recent military successes against the ISIS terrorists, a psychological victory that ISIS can be defeated, and thirdly that Kurdistan has shown to the world that it is possible for different communities to live together in peace.

President Barzani thanked the EU and the international coalition countries for their military and humanitarian support for Kurdistan, and added that this support further strengthens the resolve of the peshmerga forces in their fight against the biggest and most vicious terrorist organization. The President said that it is a source of pride for the peshmerga to be fighting this terrorist organization on behalf of the whole world.

Link to their joint press conference.