Stockholm, Sweden (dfr.gov.krd) - Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Margot Wallstrom, today received Minister Falah Mustafa, Head of the KRG Foreign Relations, to discuss bilateral ties and latest humanitarian and security developments in Kurdistan and the wider region.

In welcoming Minister Mustafa and his accompanying delegation, Foreign Minister Wallstrom said, “We enjoy excellent relations with the Kurdistan Region and we are eager and willing to expand and further strengthen this relation for the benefit of both sides.”

Minister Mustafa thanked Foreign Minister Wallstrom for her hospitality and expressed the strong desire of the Kurdistan Regional Government to benefit form Sweden’s experience and knowledge in further advancing the Kurdistan Region.

The Minister briefed the foreign minister on the Peshmerga advances against the ISIS terrorists and the efforts of the Kurdistan Regional Government in dealing with nearly tow million refugees and internally displaced Persons.

Commending the KRG for the hospitality it continues to provide to the Syrian refugees and IDPs, the Foreign Minister pledged that Sweden will continue to provide humanitarian support to the IDPs and refugees in the Kurdistan Region.

Referring to the bravery of Peshmerga forces, the Foreign Minister stated, “Peshmerga forces have proven that they are a reliable force. They have been an important element in the fight against ISIS. There is an urgent need to address the problem of ISIS and to support the Peshmerga forces.”

She added, “The government of Sweden is exploring the possibility of sending military advisor to the Kurdistan Region to train Peshmerga forces.”

Both sides discussed the crimes committed against Yezidis and other minorities by the ISIS terrorists. Foreign Minister Wallstrom conveyed the support of Sweden for the KRG’ efforts in seeking international recognition of terrorist crimes committed against religious and ethnic minorities as acts of genocide.

Considering the strong historical ties and the need to further facilitate cooperation between Kurdistan and Sweden, the KRG Minister emphasized the necessity to upgrade the level of Swedish representation in Erbil to consulate general. The Minister extended an invitation to the Foreign Minister to visit the Kurdistan Region in a near future.

Pointing to the Region’s extensive economic potential, Minister Mustafa stated, “There is a golden opportunity for Swedish companies, our needs represent significant investment potential for your businesses.”

Talking about the role of Kurdish Diaspora in Sweden, both side stressed the importance to make use of all the knowledge and experience of the Kurdish Diaspora in Sweden in strengthening relations between Sweden and the Kurdistan Region.

The meeting was followed by a joint press conference where both ministers responded to questions from reporters.

Mr Karwan Jamal, Deputy Head of DFR, Mr. Shoresh Rahim, KRG Representative to Sweden, Mr. Robert Rydberg, Head of Department for Middle East and North Africa, and Laila Naraghi, political advisor to the minister of foreign affairs as well as other officials from both sides attended the meeting.

Minister Mustafa is on a three-day official visit to Stockholm.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani today met with Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bidt and EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva.

In a meeting in his office in Salahaddin, President Barzani called for more humanitarian aid from the international community, saying that hosting and providing for the basic needs of more than 1.5 million IDPs and Syrian refugees in Kurdistan is beyond the capacity of the KRG. The President thanked political and humanitarian support from EU countries but added that much more needs to be done.

President Barzani also said that the visits by European officials and their public messages of support gives the people and government of Kurdistan hope and confidence to stand firm against ISIS terrorism and in providing aid and shelter for the IDPs.

Swedish Foreign Minister Bildt expressed his country’s full support for the KRG in its fight against the ISIS and said that all EU countries are intent to help the KRG in dealing with the large number of IDPs and that they have also agreed on a long-term strategy to confront the ISIS threat. He said that ISIS is a threat to the whole world.

EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva also praised the KRG for its generosity towards the IDPs and refugees and said that the EU would continue to provide humanitarian in Kurdistan for as long as it is necessary.

President Barzani agreed with Foreign Minister Bildt that forming a truly inclusive, representative government in Baghdad would constitute a major step forward to defeating the ISIS threat, but added that this is the last chance. He attributed the current dire state of affairs to the wrong policies of outgoing Prime Minister Noori Maliki. 

Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq (KRG.org) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani yesterday welcomed Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, the European Union’s Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Kristalina Georgieva, and a number of European Union officials to Kurdistan to review the current crisis.

Foreign Minister Bildt expressed the full solidarity of Sweden and the European Union with the Kurdistan Region in its fight against the terrorists. He said that he wished to be fully aware of the situation on the ground and to make it clear to everyone that Sweden and the European Union stand with the Kurdistan Region during this difficult time.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked the Foreign Minister for his visit, explaining that it sends a positive message to the people of Kurdistan and demonstrates that Kurds are not alone. He provided the delegation with a security update regarding the advances of the Peshmerga forces and said that the KRG is resolved to fight and defeat the terrorists. He stated that the Kurdistan Region’s forces need modern weapons, ammunition, and equipment in their fight against the terrorist group.

The Prime Minister spoke in detail about the dire humanitarian situation facing the internally displaced people and the refugees who have fled to the Kurdistan Region. The KRG seeks international assistance to support the displaced. He noted the KRG policy to fully support and protect all ethnic and religious minorities in the area to the greatest extent possible.

Commissioner Georgieva conveyed the European Union’s commendation for the efforts of the Kurdistan Region to respond to the needs of the internally displaced people and refugees despite the KRG not receiving its share of the federal budget from Baghdad. The support provided by the KRG thus far has proved that the Kurdistan Region deserves international support.

Finally, all parties expressed hope for a rejuvenated Iraqi political process, the formation of a new cabinet, and the beginning of a new political phase in Iraq. All agreed upon the need for an inclusive government that would represent all Iraqis and prompt genuine reform in the country’s political system. 

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq - (DFR.krg.org) – The Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations (DFR), Minister Falah Mustafa and the Assistant Head of the DFR, Siham Jabali met with the Swedish Ambassador to Iraq, Jörgen Lindström and the Head of the Sweden Section Office in Erbil, Jessica Svärdström today. They discussed different ways in which bilateral relations can be strengthened between Sweden and Kurdistan. In addition, they exchanged views on the latest political, economic and security developments in Kurdistan and Iraq.

Ambassador Lindström expressed his pleasure at Sweden’s role in helping further develop the health sector in Kurdistan through Swedish companies working in the region.

Both sides expressed their willingness to strengthen their business relations as more Swedish companies wish to invest in Kurdistan

Sweden has a large Kurdish community, and through the KRG Representation in Sweden and the Swedish office here, both sides are hopeful that bilateral relations will strengthen in the areas of education, health, cultural, and economic interaction.

Minister Mustafa went on to brief the Ambassador on the latest updates regarding the KRG’s government formation, and pointed out the challenges that any new democracy faces when attempting to establish a broad based government.

They also discussed the latest developments regarding the ongoing disputes between Erbil and Baghdad and the prospects for resolving the issues, in accordance with the constitution.

They also talked about the Iraqi parliamentary elections that are scheduled to take place at the end of April. Minister Mustafa said ’we need the support of the international community through international observers in order to ensure that elections are held on time and conducted in a free and fair manner.’

Finally they spoke about the ongoing crisis in Syria, its implications and the conditions of the Syrian refugees living in Kurdistan, where the Ambassador stated his country’s continued support in providing assistance to the refugees.

During his trip to Kurdistan, Ambassador Lindström also visited the governorates of Sulemani and Duhok where he held meetings with various officials.