Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (gov.krd) - Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, received yesterday in Rome a Kurdistan Regional Government delegation, headed by Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed the gratitude of the people and government of the Kurdistan Region to Italy for its provision of essential humanitarian and military assistance to the Kurdistan Region and for the visit last summer by the Italian Prime Minister to Erbil, which Prime Minister Barzani described as excellently timed as it helped show that the Kurdistan Region was supported, while facing serious terrorist threat.

He briefed the Italian Prime Minister about the latest developments in the Kurdistan Region and the continuous progress marked by the Peshmerga forces on the frontline against the Islamic terrorist organisation, ISIS. He also highlighted the situation of the displaced people from the rest of Iraq and the Syrian refugees who constitute a heavy burden on the Kurdistan Regional Government, stressing that they desperately need further assistance.

Italian Prime Minister Renzi reiterated that his government “will continue to provide humanitarian and military assistance to the Kurdistan Region, and in order to eradicate terrorism we will stand side by side with the Kurdistan Region in every way possible.” He also expressed his respect to the courage of the Peshmerga Forces in their fight against terrorism.

Mr. Renzi expressed his concern for the spread of terrorist organisations in other parts of the world, stressing the need to confront terrorism all together.

He added that Italy will support the Kurdistan Region because it has a strategic position, considering Italy as Kurdistan people’s friend.

Prime Minister Renzi stated that Italy has decided to upgrade its diplomatic representation in Erbil to Consulate General, considering that this move will send a message to the world that the situation in the Kurdistan Region is better than before. He stated, “It is important for us that Kurdistan Region’s stability continues.”

Both sides also discussed the relationship between Erbil and Baghdad, the situation in Mosul, political developments in Iraq and the importance of including all the components of Iraqi society in governance. They also discussed the situation in Syria and its repercussion on the situation in Iraq and the wider region. The two sides reiterated that a political solution is needed for the Syrian crisis.

The KRG delegation included Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs, Kamal Muslim, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa, KRG spokesperson, Minister Safeen Dizayee and the KRG Representative to Italy Ms Rezan Hama Salih.

Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi arrived in Erbil today and met with President Masoud Barzani and Prime Minster Nechirvan Barzani in Erbil today. He also visited a refugee camp near Erbil which is home to a large number of IDPs from Ninawa province.

In his meeting with the KRG leadership, Prime Minister Renzi expressed his country’s support for the KRG in its fight against ISIS terrorism and stated that Italy would provide both humanitarian and military aid to the KRG. He added that there is a consensus in the EU that both humanitarian and military aid must be provided for the KRG. On the fight against terrorism, Prime Minister Renzi said that Italy stands by the KRG in this fight, as ISIS is a threat to Italy and not just to Kurdistan.

President Barzani expressed his gratitude to the people and government of Italy for their show of solidary and offer of support and said that this public support gives the people of Kurdistan more hope and strength in the face of terrorism.

In their meeting, they also discussed the plight of the hundreds of thousands of IDPs and refugees who have sought refuge in Kurdistan. President Barzani said that the KRG would spare no efforts to tend to the needs of the IDPs. He added that Kurdistan is proud to be a place where people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds live side by side in peace and that the KRG would do whatever it takes to protect this tradition.