On the second day of his participation at the Munich Security Conference, President Barzani held meetings with a number of world leaders and officials, including with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, Norway’s Foreign Minister Børge Brende, Germany’s Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

Both German Chancellor Merkel and Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen commended the advances made by the peshmerga forces and reiterated that Germany would send further supplies to Kurdistan for the peshmerga.

The President also participated in a panel on the fight against ISIS terrorism and the situation of IDPS in Kurdistan. He thanked the international community for its support for the peshmerga forces but added that more military aid is needed.

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.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (KRG.org) - The Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, received Federica Mogherini, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and her accompanying delegation at Erbil International Airport upon her arrival yesterday.

In a meeting between the two sides, Ms. Mogherini congratulated the people of Kurdistan and the Peshmerga forces for the victories they have achieved in Sinjar area.

She said that during her visit to Baghdad, she had also congratulated the Iraqi President and Iraqi Prime Minister on the occasion of these victories. She stated that the victories of the Peshmerga in Sinjar areas are important both for the moral of the Peshmerga forces and that of the international community.

Both sides discussed the fight against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, also known as ISIS, and stressed that it poses a threat to humanity and that it is essential to confront it in all its forms.

Prime Minister Barzani pointed out that the fight against ISIS could not be achieved only by military means. It should also be tackled both intellectually and ideologically, he said.

The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of the international coalition and its support, both humanitarian and military, provided to the Kurdistan Region. He also praised the vital role played by the coalition air force in supporting the Peshmerga forces.

Whilst the Prime Minister thanked Ms. Mogherini for European Union’s support, he asserted that the Peshmerga forces need further military assistance, particularly heavy weapons and military training.

In this regard, present at the meeting, the KRG Minister of Peshmerga Affairs, Mustafa Sayid Qadir highlighted the latest military developments in the war against ISIS and the needs and requirements of the Peshmerga forces.

Ms Mogherini emphasized that their efforts will continue to ensure that the Peshmerga are supported and assisted in all respects.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the plight of over 1.5 million displaced people and refugees, who fled ISIS violence and took refuge in Kurdistan Region. He called on the European Union to intensify its efforts to encourage members of the Union and the international community to be more active in regards to the plight of the displaced persons and their dire need for further assistance. He also called on the Federal Government of Iraq to provide further assistance in order to alleviate their suffering.

The two sides also discussed the recent agreement concluded early this month between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Federal Government of Iraq on oil export and budgetary issues, Kurdistan relations with its neighbours and the repercussions of the war on terrorism in the region.

Rome, Italy (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani arrived in Rome on Wednesday to meet with the Pope and Italian government officials.

During his two-day visit, the President held separate meetings with the Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, President of the Italian Senate, Mr. Pietro Grasso, and with the chairman and members of the senate foreign relations committee.

The meetings focused on bilateral ties, the political developments in Iraq- particularly after the recent parliamentary elections, the Syrian refugees, and the situation of Christians in Iraq and in Kurdistan.
In the meeting with Foreign Minister Mogherini, she said she is pleased with the status of her country’s economic and political relations with the KRG and that her country will soon upgrade her country’s diplomatic representation to a full consulate general.

On the situation of refugees in Kurdistan, the foreign minister commended the KRG for taking in refugees not only from Syria, but also Arabs and Christians from other parts of Iraq. She expressed her country’s willingness to help the KRG in its efforts to support these refugees.

The two also discussed the political developments in Iraq and efforts to form a new government after the recent elections. In this regards, President Barzani said that the Kurdistan Region has formed a unified negotiation team for talks with other Iraqi parties. He stated that the people of Kurdistan cannot wait another ten years for their legitimate and constitutional demands to be addressed. If these demands are not addressed, then the KRG leadership would ask the people of Kurdistan through a referendum to decide on their future relationship with Baghdad.

Rome, Italy (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday.

At the outset of the meeting, Pope Francis said that he was aware of the situation of Kurds and of their tragedies in the past. He commended President Barzani and the people of Kurdistan for what they have achieved, particularly in offering the Kurdistan Region as a safe haven for Syrian refugees and for Christians fleeing violence in other parts of Iraq.

The Pope also praised President Barzani for KRG’s policy of promoting tolerance and peaceful co-existence among different religious communities. He expressed his hope that the KRG would continue to enjoy peace and prosperity.

For his part, President Barzani talked about tolerance in Kurdistan as a long-standing tradition that has popular support. He said that peoples of different religions have made sacrifices together in the past and now live side by side in peace and freedom.

On the situation of refugees and Christians who have sought refuge in Kurdistan, President Barzani said that the KRG would continue to provide assistance to them as a humanitarian duty.

Salahaddin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG), Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, in Salahaddin today.

The President and the UN official discussed political developments in the country, the parliamentary and provincial elections of April 30th, and prospects for government formation in Baghdad.

Mr. Mladenov congratulated the Kurdistan Region for the successful elections, including the high turnout in Kurdistan. He expressed his hope that the result of these elections will lead stability and positive change in Iraq.

On Kurdish participation in the new Iraqi government, President Barzani said that all sides should wait for the final results of the election by the Independent High Electoral Commission, reiterating that genuine partnership must be observed in the new government.

Salahaddin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President met with Iraqi Council of Representatives Speaker Osama Nujeifi in Erbil on Thursday. The two discussed political and security developments in the country, as well as the election process and political prospects for the country after this election.

They both agreed that once the final election results are announced by the Interdependent High Electoral Commission, talks should commence between all sides to rescue the country from its political crises.

Salahaddin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with the leadership of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Salahaddin today to discuss their participation in the new KRG government and the political situation in Iraq after the recent elections.

A statement issues after the meeting stated that, “It was emphasized that all Kurdistan political forces must have a unified position when it comes to dealing with other Iraqi political groups in the run-up to negotiations for government formation.

The statement added that President Barzani congratulated the PUK for their election successes in the recent vote. 

On the KRG government formation, President Barzani emphasized that the new government must be finalized as soon as possible and that it must be a collation government that includes all the political sides in Kurdistan.
The PUK delegation included Kurdistan Region Vice President Kosrat Ali and other senior members of the PUK politburo.a