Abu Dhabi, UAE, June 12, 2021

The President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani met with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Depu Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Saturday.

At the meeting, attended by Iraq’s Ambassador to Abu Dhabi, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region’s relations with the UAE, the political process in Iraq, the upcoming elections, the threats of terrorism and the dangers of ISIS resurgence were highlighted. The latest developments concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, regional developments, the importance of partnership and coordination among all sides to preserve peace and stability in the region and other issues of mutual interest were discussed.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reiterated his country’s support to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, and expressed UAE’s readiness to develop bilateral relations with the Kurdistan Region.

The President congratulated the UAE after its election to the United Nations Security Council for the period 2022-2023, which demonstrates the international community’s faith in the UAE as a global partner for development and cooperation on the world stage.

The President expressed gratitude to the UAE for its humanitarian support to the Kurdistan Region, especially the recent initiative by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint al-Mubarak securing thousands of Covid-19 vaccines for the displaced and refugees hosted in the Kurdistan Region. The President also offered his appreciation for the UAE Red Crescent and the UAE Consul General in the Kurdistan Region. The President reaffirmed that the Kurdistan Region is willing to assist all UAE investment and business projects in Kurdistan.

The President and the Crown Prince further agreed that cooperation and partnership among the regional countries, including Iraq, the Kurdistan Region and the UAE, is important to safeguard peace and stability in the region and to confront terrorism.