Salahadin, Erbil, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani welcomed Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany. Mr. Steinmeier was accompanied by a delegation of the Ministry as well as German diplomats from Baghdad and Erbil. President Barzani welcomed the minister by a high Kurdistan Region delegation which included Mr. Masrour Barzani, the Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council.

The meeting was initiated by Mr. Steinmeier offering his congratulations to President Barzani and the Peshmerga forces for the Sinjar operation last month which resulted in the liberation of the town of Sinajr from the control of the terrorists of the Islamic State. Mr. Steinmeier also spoke of Germany's military support to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and stated that that support will continue.

President Barzani and Mr. Steinmeier spoke of other military operations in Iraq and in Kurdistan against the terrorists of the Islamic State. The President stated that the operations will continue and took advantage of the opportunity to express his gratitude to the allies for their support to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

President Barzani and Mr. Steinmeier discussed the political and economic situation in the Kurdistan Region and the relations between Baghdad and Erbil. 

The two held a press conference after their meeting with the presence of local, national and international media outlets.

Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received a high-level diplomatic and military delegation from the United States. The delegation was headed by General Lloyd Austin, the Commander of the Central Command and included a number of State and Defense departments officials. The meeting was also attended by the Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council, Mr. Masrour Barzani.

President Barzani and General Austin discussed the military operations against the terrorists of IS, especially the Sinjar operation of last month which was concluded with the liberation of the town for which General Austin offered his congratulations. They also spoke of the advanced in other parts of Kurdistan and Iraq.

President Barzani stated that the role of the air support by the U.S.-led coalition continues to make a tremendous amount of difference in fighting the terrorists of the IS and expressed his appreciation for that support.

General Austin and President Barzani also discussed the relations between Baghdad and Erbil and the what's needed for closer coordination for the future plans against the terrorists.

Ankara, Turkey, (Krp.org)- As part of President Masoud Barzani's visit to Turkey, he was received today by Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey. During the meeting President Barzani and President Erdogan discussed the latest developments in Iraq and in Kurdistan insofar as the war against the terrorists of the Islamic State is concerned. Presidents Barzani and Erdogan stressed on the importance of continuing and strengthening the coordination between the allies against the terrorists.

President Barzani also discussed the Kurdish issue in Turkey with President Erdogan and reiterated his stance of peace being the only solution for all parties involved. President Barzani stated that neither the Kurds nor the state of Turkey would benefit from attempting to violently resolving the issues.

During President Barzani's series of meeting with Turkish officials, he also met with Mr. Ahmet Davutogu, the Prime minister of Turkey. 

Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani returned to the Kurdistan after a brief trip to the Persina Gulf Region. The trip included several meetings in the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the aim of strengthening the bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and the the mentioned countries.

It is noteworthy to mentioned that President Barzani was, among a series of meetings was received by His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia to discuss the current regional developments and to reiterate the Kurdistan Region's commitment to continue and battle the terrorists of the Islamic State.

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani as part of his visit to the Persian Gulf region met with His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, the king of Saudi Arabia. King Salman and President Barzani discussed the current issues facing the region in particular and te entirety of the world in general in the hands of the terrorists of the Islamic State. 

President Barzani and King Salman also spoke of the bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and they both stated that they would work for even more enhanced relations between the two countries.

President Masoud Barzani and the accompanying delegation to the Persian Gulf region arrived today in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. While there the President is expected to meet a number of the kingdom's officials.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani today announced the liberation of Sinjar by peshmerga forces and thanked the US and other coalition partners for their crucial air support to the operation.

In remarks to a group of journalists following the liberation of symbolic town, the President said, “Today I declare Sinjar liberated. I congratulate the people of Kurdistan, in particular the Yezidis. Sinjar has become a symbol of the oppression of the people of Kurdistan. We have delivered on our pledge to liberate Sinjar.”

The President added that other than the peshmerga forces and coalition air support, no other forces were involved in the operation. He also called on the international community and the Iraqi federal government to help the KRG rebuild Sinjar so that its people can return to their homes. 

Kurdistan President Barzani conveyed his condolences to President Hollande. In a message to the French President, the President said that the people of Kurdistan stand with the French people in solidarity, adding that as victims of terrorism themselves, they send their heartfelt condolences to the French people.