Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received a European delegation headed by Mr. Christos Stylianides, the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management. During the meeting President Barzani and Mr. Stylianides spoke of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Kurdistan Region as a result of the influx of hundreds of thousands of IDPs following the attacks of the terrorists of the Islamic State in June 2014. The two sides reviewed the current state of the Kurdistan Region where Mr. Stylianides expressed his appreciation for President Barzani for his role in providing refuge for the internally displaced Iraqis as well Syrian refugees. Mr. Stylianides emphasized on the importance of the issue of promoting the fact that the Kurdistan Region is known for its tolerance and coexistence. 

President Barzani and Mr. Stylianides also discussed the current military and humanitarian situations in the rest of Iraq and spoke of the latest attack by the Turkish government against the Kurdistan Workers' Party.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received European Union Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, EU ambassador to Iraq Jana Hybaskova, and their accompanying delegation.

The EU officials expressed their appreciation to the people and government of Kurdistan Region, which has accommodated and offered assistance to a large number of refugees and internally displaced people, IDP’s, despite the Region's financial difficulties.

They reiterated their support and assistance to the Kurdistan Region, stressing that they will work for increasing international assistance in order to help easing the Region's financial burden.

In a post on his twitter account, Mr. Christos Stylianides said, “We're committed to support impressive generosity of KRG to IDPs and refugees”.

In the meeting with the Prime Minister, the EU delegation also hailed the role of the Peshmerga forces that have been able to repulse Islamic State terrorist organization, ISIS, forces, and protect the region's population from various religious and ethnic backgrounds.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked the EU officials for their visit, and demanded that they covey the reality of situation in the Region to the related European and international organizations. He called for further assistance to the refugees and IDPs, directly or through the international and local aid agencies.

He praised Ambassador Hybaskova’s role, who frequently visits Kurdistan Region and closely observers the situation on the ground, saying this demonstrates the importance that the European Union accords to the Kurdistan Region.

The two sides also discussed the recent developments in Iraq and the region in general.