Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) – Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, yesterday received a delegation from German Parliament, which included representatives from Christian Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, left Party, and Green party.

The aim of the German Parliament delegation's visit to the Kurdistan Region was to closely observe the military, humanitarian and economic situation of the Kurdistan Region.

The members of the visiting delegation expressed their appreciation for the fact that, despite the war against terrorism and the economic crisis, the Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, has been able to protect the Region’s peace and security, and provide shelter and assistance to scores of refugees and displaced people, who fled the violent repression of the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, and took refuge in the Kurdistan Region.

They reiterated their support both at humanitarian and military levels.

The German Parliament delegation also hailed the peaceful coexistence, which prevails among the religious and ethnic communities in the Kurdistan Region.

Deputy Prime Minister Talabani expressed his appreciation for the visit, and stressed that Germany has assisted Kurdistan Region in hard days, particularly by providing military aid and training to the Peshmerga forces that have resulted in positive achievements and progress in the fight against ISIS.  

He urged Germany to continue its support and assistance as, despite the fact that Peshmerga forces have been successful on the battlefront and taking back Kurdistan territories, the terrorist threat has not been definitively eradicated.

Deputy Prime Minister Talabani briefed the German Parliament delegation about the Kurdistan economic situation and the background of political differences between the KRG and Iraqi Federal Government.

The meeting was also attended by KGR Minister of Interior, Karim Sinjari, Minister of Planning, Ali Sindi, Minister of Health, Halkawt Hama Rashid and KRG Spokesperson, Safeen Dizayee.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with a German parliamentary delegation today to discuss bilateral relations as well as political and security developments in Iraq.

Chairman of the German parliament’s CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Volker Kauder, and Deputy Chairman of the group Andreas Schockenhoff, relayed the greetings of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to President Barzani and expressed their country’s strong support for the KRG in its war against the ISIS terrorists.

They said Germany would support the KRG, both on the humanitarian front in dealing with the hundreds of thousands o IDPs, and on the military front by proving military equipment to the peshmerga forces. The German parliamentarians praised the KRG and its leadership for providing a safe refuge of Yezidis, Christians, and other minorities fleeing from ISIS and seeking refuge in Kurdistan.

For his part, President Barzani stated that the KRG is proud to fight the ISIS terrorists on behalf of the free world, adding that with international support, the peshmerga forces soon defeat the terrorists. The President also expressed his appreciation for Germany for its support and solidarity with the people of Kurdistan.