Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received the Norwegian Defense Minister, Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, and Foreign Minister Børge Brende, and their accompanying delegation.

The meeting was also attended by the Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, Minister of Peshmerga Affairs, Mustafa Sayed Qadir and other Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, senior officials.

Norwegian Foreign Minister praised the people and government of the Kurdistan Region for having accommodated and assisted a large number of internally displaced people, IDPs, and refuges, who fled violent repressions of the Islamic State terrorist organization, ISIS, and took refuge in the Kurdistan Region.

Mr. Brende also praised the role of the Peshmerga forces in protecting the Region against ISIS.

Norwegian Defense Minister reiterated her country’s support to the Peshmerga forces particularly in the fields of military training, expressing her satisfaction for the progress that has been made in the training plan of the Peshmerga forces.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed the gratitude of the Kurdistan people and government to the Norwegian government for its assistance to the Kurdistan Region at this difficult time.

Prime Minster Barzani urged the Norwegian government and international community to increase their humanitarian assistance to Kurdistan Region in order to be able to face the humanitarian crisis which it currently experiences as the result of the fight against terrorism.

He also asked for the continuation of Norwegian support for the Peshmerga forces.
The two sides also discussed the recent developments in the region and the relations between the Kurdistan Regional Government and Iraqi Federal Government.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Council of Ministers yesterday held its ordinary meeting, chaired by Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani and attended by Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani.

Prime Minister Barzani shed light on the latest developments in the relations between Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, and the Iraqi Federal Government, highlighting the differences between the two sides over the implementation of Iraq’s 2015 Federal Budget Law.

The KRG has fulfilled its obligations as stipulated in the Law, while the Iraqi government has not fully honoured its obligations, which consist of the payment of Kurdistan Region’s budget.

The Iraqi Federal Government takes this stance at the moment when the financial burden on the KRG has dramatically increased, due to the ongoing war against the Islamic State terrorist organization, ISIS, and, in addition to its 1.7 million refugees and internally displaced persons, IDPs, Kurdistan Region continues receiving waves of people fleeing the zones under ISIS.

Prime Minister Barzani pointed out that the KRG continues exerting great effort to ease the Region’s financial difficulties. He reiterated that his government aims at settling the problems with Baghdad through dialog and negotiations. However, he added, if the negotiations lead to no result, the KRG is entitled to settle its problems on the basis of law No. 5, Year 2013, which gives authority to the KRG to seek sources helping to stabilise the Region’s financial security, if Baghdad fails to do so.

In another part of the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Talabani and Ministers of Finance and Economy and Natural Resources discussed the issue of loan from international banks under the Kurdistan Region Parliament Law No. 7 of 2015, published in Official Gazette on 25 June.

Deputy Prime Minister Talabani briefed the Council about the talks held recently with a number of international financial institutions, noting that the move will help the Kurdistan Region not only in securing financial resources, but it would also further enhance the position of the Kurdistan Region in gaining market credibility.

The members of the Council expressed their support for this project and decided to set up a special committee to be in charge of the implementation of the Law.

Issue of amendment of Kurdistan Region Presidency Law

Regarding the Kurdistan Parliament meeting which held on 23 June 2015 to discuss amendments to the Law of Kurdistan Region Presidency, Prime Minister Barzani pointed out that this move created unease among the people in the Region and was a violation of the principle of consensus, while the session of parliament was held without consulting other parties and not taking into account the current difficulties which the Kurdistan Region passes through.

However, he added, exerting efforts to reach a common understanding among the leaders of political parties continues.

He said, meanwhile, the Kurdistan Parliament move should not reflect in the government work, which as a broad-base government has been conducting its affairs in harmony and unity of ranks.

The Ministers, present at the meeting, unanimously expressed their support for the stance of Prime Minister on the need for the unity of ranks and stances in conducting government affairs, and not to violate the principle of consensus. They also expressed concern about the Parliament move which deals with a sensitive subject at this critical moment.

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.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (gov.krd) - Kurdistan Regional Government Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, last Thursday received the Turkish Defence Minister, Ismet Yilmaz and his accompanying delegation in Erbil.

The situation in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq and the fight against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, were the main topics discussed in the meeting, which was also attended by KRG Minister of Peshmerga, Minister of Interior and government Spokesperson.

Mr. Yilmaz said that they conducted a field visit to the Peshmerga training centres in Soran district, adding that Turkey will further develop the training centres and that his government will continue to provide humanitarian and military assistance to the Kurdistan Region.

Turkish Defence Minister also pointed out that they look at the security of the Kurdistan Region the same way they look at their own security and consider the danger ISIS poses as a threat to Turkey as well.

Deputy Prime Minister Talabani expressed his gratitude to the Turkish government for its assistance, expressing his pleasure at the level of relations between both sides which has witnessed significant progress over the past few years.

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.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (gov.krd) - Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday in Erbil met members of the Iraqi Parliament’s Oil and Gas Committee.

During the meeting, which was also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani and a number of ministers, both sides discussed the agreement reached last December between the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government on oil export. They also discussed issues related to oil and gas law, the role of the Committee in following up and monitoring the latest agreement as well as all other oil and gas issues in Iraq.

The Prime Minister reiterated that the Kurdistan Region deals with hydrocarbon file in line with the rights enshrined for the Region in Iraq’s Federal Constitution. He said that the Kurdistan Regional Government, throughout the phases of exploration, production and export of its oil, has not committed any unconstitutional act. He pointed out that Kurdistan Region oil policy is fully based on the Region’s constitutional rights. For this reason, he urged the Committee to monitor, observe and follow up the entire process in the Kurdistan Region.

Prime Minister Barzani stressed KRG’s commitment to the agreement reached with the Federal Government of Iraq, hoping to reach a full agreement with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi on settling all the outstanding issues between the two sides. The Prime Minister urged that the Iraqi Parliament’s Oil and Gas Committee to play a role as a third party, monitoring the implementation of the agreement. He expressed Kurdistan Regional Government’s willingness to cooperate and coordinate with the Committee in any manner that it deems appropriate.

The Head and members of the Iraqi Parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee expressed their pleasure for visiting Kurdistan Region, where they held a number of meetings. They called for greater cooperation and coordination between their committee and the Kurdistan Parliament Oil and Gas Committee as well as the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Natural Resources and other relevant bodies. They stressed that the Committee will play an efficient role in helping resolve the outstanding issues between both regional and federal governments in order to serve the public interest of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (gov.krd) – Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, Nechrivan Barzani, heading a KRG delegation, arrived in Dubai yesterday for an official visit.

The Kurdistan Regional Government was invited by United Arab Emirates to attend the 2015 Dubai Government Summit, where over 100 global speakers, including United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon and a number of international institutions representatives are expected to attend the event.

The Summit will discuss a number of issues related to good governance, public administration and their development. It is scheduled to last three days, where several meetings are expected to be held on the sidelines of this Summit.

The KRG delegation, which includes Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, Minister of Natural Resources, Ashti Hawrami, Minister of Planning, Ali Sindi, Minister of Finance and Economy, Rebaz Mohammad and KRG spokesperson, Minister Safeen Dizayee, is scheduled to hold a number of meetings with senior UAE officials during this visit.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (gov.krd) - United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, yesterday received Kurdistan Regional Government Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani.

The two sides discussed bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and United Arab Emirates, stressing both sides’ intention to develop relations in various fields.

Deputy Prime Minister Talabani expressed the gratitude of the people and government of the Kurdistan Region to the people and government of United Arab Emirates for the humanitarian assistance that they have been providing to the displaced people and refugees who fled the violent repression of the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, and took refuge in Kurdistan Region.

He said that he hopes the Kurdistan Regional Government’s participation in Dubai Government Summit would help to build bridges between the Kurdistan Region and United Arab Emirates.

Latest political and military developments in the region, particularly the war against ISIS, were highlighted in the meeting. Deputy Prime Minister Talabani hoped that the current deterioration of security situation in the Middle East will not slow down the relations between the Kurdistan Region and United Arab Emirates.

The meeting was also attended by KRG Minister of Planning, Ali Sindi, KRG Minister of Finance and Economy, Rebaz Mohammad and KRG spokesperson, Minister Safeen Dizayee.