Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani welcomed Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó today.  In a meeting between the two held in the city of Duhok, the President and the Hungarian Foreign Minister discussed the plight of internally displaced people and refuges in Kurdistan, and migrants and refugees heading to Europe from the region. The also discussed the efforts to defeat ISIS terrorists, and Hungarian contribution to this campaign. 

The Hungarian Foreign Minister reiterated his country’s support to Kurdistan peshmerga forces with providing military assistance and training. 

President Barzani thanked Hungary for its support to the peshmerga forces. On the refugee and migrant crisis, the President said that the root causes of this issue must be addressed. He said the threat of terrorism and economic challenges are two of the main causes forcing people to leave their countries. 

On the fight against ISIS, President Barzani said the bulk of this fighting on the ground is on the shoulders of the peshmerga forces, adding that the world has yet to face this threat in a serious way. 

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani welcomed Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó today.  In a meeting between the two held in the city of Duhok, the President and the Hungarian Foreign Minister discussed the plight of internally displaced people and refuges in Kurdistan, and migrants and refugees heading to Europe from the region. The also discussed the efforts to defeat ISIS terrorists, and Hungarian contribution to this campaign. 

The Hungarian Foreign Minister reiterated his country’s support to Kurdistan peshmerga forces with providing military assistance and training. 

President Barzani thanked Hungary for its support to the peshmerga forces. On the refugee and migrant crisis, the President said that the root causes of this issue must be addressed. He said the threat of terrorism and economic challenges are two of the main causes forcing people to leave their countries. 

On the fight against ISIS, President Barzani said the bulk of this fighting on the ground is on the shoulders of the peshmerga forces, adding that the world has yet to face this threat in a serious way. 

Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq (DFR.KRG.org) – Hungary’s Ambassador to Iraq, Mr Tibor Szatmari, met with the Head of the KRG Foreign Relations Department, Minister Falah Mustafa, to express his government’s support for Kurdistan.

Ambassador Szatmari said that Hungary understands the gravity of the humanitarian situation facing Kurdistan, applauding KRG efforts to provide shelter and basics needs to the hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) taking refuge in the Region.

The Ambassador briefed Minister Mustafa on the humanitarian assistance provided by Hungary to IDPs and Syrian refugees currently in the Kurdistan. Last week, Hungary distributed $60,000 of humanitarian aid to IDPs at Saint Joseph Church in Ainkawa and to refugees at the Bahirka and Darashakran refugee camps.

He noted that Kurdistan shoulders the burden of a humanitarian emergency as well as a fight against an international terrorist organisation; therefore, the international community is responsible for providing humanitarian aid and acting to combat terrorism.

Minister Mustafa expressed his appreciation for the humanitarian assistance provided by Hungary. He noted that this support demonstrates friendship and partnership, and the people and the government of Kurdistan are grateful. He explained the importance of continuous support to alleviate the humanitarian emergency.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (KRG.org) – In keeping with the Kurdistan Regional Government’s policy of strengthening relations with members of the international community, the Head of the Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa along with the Assistant Head of the DFR, Siham Jabali, received the Ambassadors of Bangladesh, Thailand and Hungary during their recent visits to Kurdistan.

The Ambassador of Bangladesh to Iraq, Mr Rezanur Rahman Khan, was visiting the region officially for the first time since his appointment in Baghdad and praised the developments he had witnessed in Kurdistan. He said, ‘This my first time here and it will not be my last time. I look forward to continue our relationship and extend it further.’

Minister Mustafa conveyed to the Ambassador the KRG’s hope to build relations with countries from the international community including Bangladesh. The meeting focused on potential fields of mutual cooperation in the fields of labour and agriculture particularly given the demand for expertise and experience for both here in Kurdistan.

In his meeting with the Ambassador of Thailand, Piriya Khempon, Minister Mustafa reiterated the importance KRG places on extending its relations with the international community and spoke about his hopes that Thailand would open a representative office in Kurdistan in the near future to help ensure the strengthening of bilateral relations.

Both sides discussed areas of mutual interest, focusing on tourism, culture, business and agriculture, with Ambassador Khempon briefing Minister Mustafa on the delegation’s visit to the region as well as the wide range of opportunities for mutual cooperation particularly in tourism and agriculture, which are two of the three sectors prioritized by the KRG in terms of development. The Ambassador was accompanied by a delegation from the Tourism Authority of Thailand who during their visit conducted market surveys and meetings with local companies and travel agencies.

In the third of these bilateral meetings, Minister Mustafa met with the Hungarian Ambassador, Tibor Tamari, who spoke about the latest progress in the opening of the Hungarian Consulate General in Erbil. They also discussed the importance of expanding educational and cultural cooperation and this will be made easier with the opening of the new Consulate General, a lot of progress is expected in relations between both sides.

The Bangladeshi Ambassador had met with the KRG Ministries of Interior, Agriculture and Water Resources, Labour and Social Affairs during his visit, whilst Thailand’s Ambassador met with the KRG Board of Investment and the Chambers of Commerce in Erbil and Slemani. The Hungarian Ambassador met with the KRG Ministers of Natural Resources, Trade and Industry, and Higher Education on his visit.

 Wednesday, 12 Feb 2014

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (KRG.org) – The Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa, today met with the Hungarian Ambassador to Iraq, Dr Tibor Szatmari and Ms Marta Papai, Deputy Head of Department for International Development Assistance at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting focused on the needs and situation of the Syrian refugees in Kurdistan as well as ways in which to further enhance mutual relations.

In the meeting which was also attended by the Assistant Head of the DFR, Ms Siham Jabal, Ambassador Szatmari said, ‘Hungary highly values its relationship with Kurdistan and we envision opening up a diplomatic representative office here in the near future.’

The main purpose of the Hungarian delegation’s visit was to provide the Syrian refugees in Kurdistan with humanitarian assistance and to show their commitment to alleviating the suffering that the Syrian people are facing due to the ongoing conflict there. Following the meeting, the Hungarian delegation visited the Darashakran refugee camp in Erbil to provide students with humanitarian assistance.

Minister Mustafa thanked the Hungarian people and government for this step and reiterated the importance of Hungary opening up a Consulate General in the region, as a means towards furthering cooperation between both sides in different sectors. He also referred to the importance of developing MOU’s between Hungarian universities, Chambers of Commerces' with their Kurdish counterparts to enhance sectoral cooperation.

The assistance that has been provided by the Hungarian government comes as a result of urgent appeals by Minister Mustafa to the Hungarian Ambassador for assistance to these refugees, and the DFR continues to appeal to the international community to do more to help the Syrian refugees in Kurdistan.