Salahaddin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani will visit France and Italy in the coming days. The President will meet French President François Hollande in Paris and Pope Francis in the Vatican. The President will also meet senior Italian government officials in Rome.

President Barzani and an accompanying KRG delegation will aim to boost KRG’s relations with France and Italy.

Paris, France (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with French President François Hollande in Paris on Friday.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani returned yesterday following a three day visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan upon an official invitation by King Abdullah II. President Barzani and King Abdullah discussed the development of stronger bilateral relations, and President Barzani conducted a number of meetings with senior Jordanian officials aimed at bolstering ties and exchanging views on regional developments. 

Salahaddin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani earlier today cast his vote for both the Iraqi Council of Representatives and Kurdistan Region provincial elections in a polling station in Salahaddin.

Salahaddin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani congratulated the people of Kurdistan and Iraq for their participation and praised them for their high turnout and for exercising their democratic right to vote.

In a message, the President said,” On the successful holding of elections for both the Iraqi Council of Representatives and the Kurdistan Region provincial councils, I congratulate the people of Kurdistan, political side and the Iraqi people. I specially thank the police and the security forces for ensuring security on the election day.”

The President added that, “Both local and international observers and independent NGOs have praised this successful election. I hope the results of this election will bring happiness to our people and will lead to further development of democracy in Kurdistan.”

“I call on all political sides to accept the official results which will be announced by the Independent High Electoral Commission. I hope the results will encourage all sides to work together and put national interests first.”

Salahaddin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with Ayad Allawi on Tuesday in his office in Salahaddin. The two discussed the political and security developments in the country, including the situation in the Anbar province.

They also discussed disputes between Erbil and Baghdad, and the upcoming parliamentary elections due later this month. Both underlined that the political process in Iraq has grinded to a halt and that there is a need for an comprehensive overhaul of the process.

Salahaddin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRP.org) – President Masoud Barzani met with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Mr. Steven Beecroft today for discussions on the current political and security situation in Iraq.

The US Ambassador expressed his concern about the deteriorating security in the country, especially in the Anbar province.

In their meeting, the two discussed the upcoming parliamentary elections, due on April 30th, and its potential implications on the political process in the country. Both expressed their hope that the election results will lead to a diffusion of the challenges and many crises facing the country.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with the Director of the Middle East and North Africa at the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr. Edward Oakden.

The President and the UK Foreign Office senior official discussed bilateral relations, Erbil relations with Baghdad, and the Syrian crisis.

On behalf of the UK government, Mr Oakden praised the role of President Barzani and the KRG for the support and assistance they have offered to the large number of Syrian refugees in Kurdistan. He also hailed the remarkable developments in Kurdistan, adding that the UK government is committed to continue its support of the KRG.

The two also discussed the threat of terrorism in Iraq and in the region in general. They both underlined the importance of cooperation by all sides to confront terrorism.

On the challenges facing the country, the President said that lack of adherence to the constitution is the source of the security and political problems facing Iraq. He added that the Baghdad government has abandoned the principle of power-sharing, and it does not consider the KRG as a partner. Our people have offered many sacrifices and would never accept being subordinates, the President said.