Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq (DFR.krg.org) – The Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa, today welcomed Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Lapo Pistelli and his delegation to discuss the latest security, humanitarian, and political developments in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

Minister Mustafa thanked the Deputy Minister for his visit and the attention that the government of Italy has paid to the recent developments in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

The Minister highlighted the latest developments and expressed the KRG’s disappointment in the lack of humanitarian and military support offered by the international community. He said, “We expected more than expressions of gratitude and appreciation. The international community is turning a blind eye to the urgent security and humanitarian challenges facing the people of Kurdistan.” 

He spoke of the security threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), stating, “Kurdish Peshmerga forces are facing a terrorist organization with members across the globe. This is a serious situation. Peshmerga forces are left alone and are fighting on behalf of the entire international community. ISIS poses a global threat; therefore, the international community has a moral responsibility to actively support the Kurdish Peshmerga forces in fighting ISIS militants.” 

Deputy Foreign Minister Pistelli praised the role of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces and the KRG in response to recent security and humanitarian developments. He also condemned in strongest terms the violence perpetrated against Christians and Yezidis, lamenting the plight of these communities. He said, “The world is fully aware of the humanitarian assistance provided by the KRG to the refugees and IDPs, and the Kurdish Peshmerga forces are doing an excellent job.”

In response to the KRG’s call for urgent humanitarian and military assistance, the Deputy Minister stated, “I will convey the message of the Kurdistan Regional Government to the government of Italy and the European Union. We understand the situation in the Kurdistan Region. You are shouldering a heavy burden on behalf of the international community, and you can not be left alone.”

Minister Mustafa reiterated the determination of the Kurdish leadership and Kurdish Peshmerga forces to continue to fight ISIS terrorists.

Italy’s Ambassador to Iraq, Massimo Moratti, and the Head of the Foreign Ministry’s Iraq Desk, Alessandro Motti, also attended the meeting. Deputy Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, Karwan Jamal, and KRG Representative to Italy Rezan Kadir participated as well.

Nazem Dabbagh, the representative of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq in Iran, said: while Iraqi groups got unified to destroy Saddam, so they do to oust Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (SIS) from Iraq.

Nazem Dabbagh, the representative of KRG in talk with foreign policy reporter of Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) added: unluckily ISIS forces are about to consolidate themselves in Iraq in Sunni places in special.

Mentioning Kurdistan region conditions he declared: Pishmerga forces keep both the region located in Kurdistan and those out of the article 140 of constitute under their control as whole. A number of ISIS forces have been killed and some were arrested by Pishmerga forces.

Concerning the unity among Iraqi people stating that it acts as antitoxin against ISIS, Dabbagh added: the current condition of Iraq results from lack of unity of political leaders. The loss of the unity among political leaders and groups of the country on security and forces and army has a negative effect, in addition, it has made unsatisfactory between people and the government. 

While some of the residents from Sunni regions do not favor ISIS, but for reacting to Maliki government they have cooperated with them and it is an undeniable case.

The representative of KRG of Iraq in Tehran added: if the army resisted in the occupied regions, they would not fallen down too soon. A large number of army and security forces submitted their weapons to ISIS Troops by themselves. Meanwhile considerable heavy weapons have been sent to Syria from these regions.

He specified: establishing unity among political groups and identity validation for the nation of the country in a way they feel Iraqi, but Sunni, Shia and Kurd, is the most important present concern.

Regarding the role of strange interferes in Iraq condition he stated: all extra-regional and regional powers’ interests are affected by the resent changes of Iraq. To strengthen ISIS relies on strange factors and it is absolutely inevitable.

Nazem Dabbagh specified: as Iraqi groups became unified to destroy Saddam, they have to join forces. In such conditions political groups have got to give up their political personal and band interests to national ones of Iraq so that a real federal government and cooperative manners establish. 

Tehran-IRNA- Nazem Dabbagh the representative of Kordistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq in Islamic Republic of Iran stated: in our view Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) is a dangerous terrorist complex …. We deem it our duty to defend our regions and whole Iraq against this terrorist squad action.

He continued: we are in favor of Iraq Army to this terrorist complex and deem to defend Iraq our duty, but we have received no demand of help on behalf of the Army.

Presently Kurdish Pishmerga forces are watching out all regions of Kurd like Senjar and Jula, as strengthening our position, we have established a defend line against possible attacks of ISIS so that we can stop their possible progressing, he said.

According to current reports he continued: in the progress of these attacks the number of ISIS forces amounted to over 100000 people; however they could take up several central regions of Iraq.