On 26^th Dec, 2014 the president of Kurdistan parliament, In an interview received,  Ali Larijani, head of the Iranian Consultative Council , who was delighted to visit the Kurdistan Parliament and met with the President of the Parliament and the heads of parliamentary blocs of Kurdistan Parliament, stressing on the historical relations between the two sides and the Iranian assistance to the Kurdish people, especially during the period of dictatorship rule in Iraq, referring to the aid provided by the republic Islamic to Kurdish people during and after the fall of the dictatorial regime to establish a democratic system, the head of the Iranian Consultative Council insist on the need to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two sides during the coming period, and about the threat of terrorism organize ISIS terrorist.

For his part, Dr. Yousef Mohammad Sadiq President of the Kurdistan Parliament showed his happiness for visiting the Iranian parliament to the Kurdistan region and builds strong bilateral relations between the two sides, hoping this relation between the Kurdistan Parliament and Iranian Parliament.

Istanbul, Turkey (KRG.org) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani yesterday met Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul on the sidelines of a World Economic Forum event.

In the meeting both sides discussed the latest political and military developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, the process of forming a new government in Iraq, the participation of the Kurdistan Region in the new cabinet in Baghdad, and the situation in the Middle East in general.

The Peshmerga forces' fight against ISIS terrorist militants, the importance of the formation of an international coalition to attack and destroy the terrorists, and international support for the Peshmerga forces in the war against the terrorists were also discussed in detail.

The humanitarian situation and the condition of Iraq’s displaced people and Syrian refugees sheltered in the Kurdistan Region were also topics in the meeting, with special attention to the provision of aid by the people and the government of the Kurdistan Region and from the international community. Prime Minister Barzani highlighted the need for the Iraqi Government and the international community to pay more attention to the plight of the refugees and the displaced. He lauded Turkey for the aid and humanitarian support provided thus far, while reiterating that the Kurdistan Region expects further humanitarian assistance from Turkey.

Both prime ministers pointed to the importance of a strong bilateral relationship between Erbil and Ankara, stressing a common goal to promote economic, commercial, and political relations as well as expanded cooperation and coordination in the energy and natural resources sector. Both sides expressed their readiness to provide all the needed facilities in this regard.

Prime Minister Barzani’s accompanying delegation included Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, Minister of Natural Resources Dr Ashti Hawrami, Minister of Finance and Economy Rebaz Mohammad Hamalan, Minister of Planning Dr Ali Sindi, Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations Minister Falah Mustafa and KRG Spokesperson Minister Safeen Dizayee. The delegation participated in a number of different sessions and panels at the second day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) event.

Prime Minister Barzani headed the KRG delegation to Istanbul to participate in the WEF event upon an official invitation from Prime Minister Davutoglu and WEF Chairman Professor Klaus Schwab. Prime Minister Barzani and the delegation met Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Professor Schwab in separate meetings.

The delegation also met with a number of heads of state and senior officials from across the world and attended a dinner hosted by President Erdogan in honour of the participants of the WEF event.

Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq (KRG.org) – Today marks the 13th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. These attacks targeted innocent civilians and shocked the world, and the world responded with widespread condemnation and action. The United States reacted by showing its might and the resolve of its proud nation.

The US-led international war against Al-Qaeda targeted terrorists wherever they were, ultimately resulting in the capture and death of many of the organisation’s leaders, including Osama Bin Laden.

Today, a group with the same ideology that spawned Al-Qaeda, employing extreme and barbaric tactics, is targeting the people of Syria, Iraq and the entire region, as well as attempting to disrupt the peace and stability of Kurdistan. Whereas Al-Qaeda hid in caves and was based underground, members of the so-called Islamic State, which is neither Islamic nor a State, walk freely in cities inside Iraq and Syria, causing mayhem, terrorising people and threatening civilians and states alike.

On this occasion, I would like to praise President Barack Obama for the powerful speech he delivered yesterday in which he explicitly stated that with the help of its allies, the United States will destroy this terrorist group. The Kurdistan Region attaches great importance to its friendship and partnership with the United States. After the September 11th attacks and throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom, the people and the government of the Kurdistan Region have stood firmly and proudly with our American allies. We extend the same hand of friendship today in this new campaign to eradicate a serious threat to regional and international security.

We have made clear our intention to work with the United States to bring about a democratic and federal Iraq as outlined by the Iraqi Constitution. At the same time, we reaffirm our commitment to the United States to combat the scourge of terrorism. Today we are proud to be fighting terrorism on the front lines, on behalf of the world, and we stand ready to continue this fight for the sake of peace and stability.

We once again express our condolences to the families of those killed in the heinous acts of September 11th, and to those who have lost their lives fighting for freedom and democracy – Iraqi, Kurdish, American, British, or of any other nationality. We pay tribute to those who have sacrificed their sons and daughters so that others may enjoy better, safer lives.

We reassure the American people that just as the United States has stood with us during our most difficult times, we will stand with you in the global fight against the culture of barbarism, ignorance, and intolerance that defines terrorism.

Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani
Kurdistan Regional Government
11 September 2014

Nazem Dabbagh the representative of KRG of Iraq in Iran in an interview with Nasim Bidary Monthly, concerning current situation in Iraq, resulting from the attack and occupation of Mosul made by ISIS, gave some speeches of which main phrases as followed:

In a response to the first question he answered that one of our concerns with Mr. Maliki dates back to his employing security and intelligence forces of Ba’ath in the body of the Army of Iraq and its security constructions. He said that KRG authorities along with some Shia political personifications about this warned Mr. Maliki many times, but he underestimated our warning.

Dabbagh continued to introduce ISIS and considered it derived from Ba’ath. Since just the same as Ba’ath he would follow to unify Iraq and Syria. Dabbagh added that 13 terrorist groups came to an agreement to occupy Mosul. He said the former officers of Ba’ath regime were employed in military and information positions who separated from the Army and joined ISIS.

Also Dabbagh stated that witnesses denote that ISIS forces were only 3000 when they attacked to Mosul. But the sleeping kernels including those 13 groups join ISIS. Thus Mosul with two millions only within six hours was under ISIS’s control. In a response to a question Dabbagh mentioned the three main political groups of Iraq including Kurds, Sunni and Shia and recited the interior grouping concisely. Furthermore he said that before ISIS attacking to Mosul nobody said he was a Kurd, Shia or Sunni. Presently such phrases no longer are made. He frankly said now Iraq has divided into three federals.

Additionally he said that after ISIS attacking to Mosul Pishmerga forces approached the regions in dispute between Iraq and KR, they did this to prevent this region from being occupied by ISIS and took the control of the posts. Another concern between the central government and KR is Kirkuk. In his view Kirkuk itself matters so much to Kurds but its oil. To prove that whether this area is a part of Kurds or not, the maps and historical documents should be referred.

About the Army fall against ISIS he added that in spite of Maliki’s spending $27 billion for the Army it did not put up any resistances against ISIS forces just having Kalashnikov and R.P.G. the reason was that the people was dissatisfied with the government and the authority did not believe in the central government.

He said presently ISIS has taken the control of three million people in a wide area that is larger KR and central government country. To control the people and the regions increasing day by day ISIS needs a budget. Thus the attempt to Kirkuk having oil and Biji having refinery is possible.

Dabbagh said adopting non-democratic policy from Maliki caused Sunni and Kurdish political groups were not such encouraged to collaborate with the government. Their cooperation with the government is just accordance with the benefits based on the number of seats of the parliament. In a such situation it is possible for Sunni and Shia to fight. In this fighting we will just preserve our region and will not support neither sides.

He continued to say the cases in dispute with Baghdad such as the regions under quarrel and oil in special in Kirkuk and added that Maliki’s second government was basically founded in Erbil, but then after being formed of the government they neglected all agreements and he know the reason as Baghdad concern for the Region’s getting power through oil sources.

Concerning Ms. Clinton’s charge of Iraq government’s being affected by Iran he said presently both the USA and Iran support Iraq government, nevertheless the concern of Iraq now is Mr. Maliki’s being unsuccessful in the post of Prime Ministry of Iraq. Dabbagh turned down the loss of a national personification and said Mr. Talibani is national one for all Iraqis. Additionally the president of KRG cannot act as the chairman of the parliament or as the president of the government.

The past indicates that Mr. Talibani’s policies were convergent with the policy of unity maintenance. He said now Iraq needs a Gandhi. He added that after eight years of having the reign it is better Mr. Maliki give this up and somebody else from the same party substitutes for him. At last Mr. Dabbagh said presently in Iraq there are national personifications, the politicians who have fought during history, they can be employed provided that they want Iraq to be preserved.        

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services in the US Senate, Carl Levin on Wednesday.

In their meeting in Salahaddin, President Barzani and Senator Levin discussed the fight against ISIS terrorists and the political process to form a new government in Baghdad.

Senator Levin said that the people of America admire and feel very close to the Kurdish people, and expressed their support for the Kurdistan Region peshmerga forces in fighting terrorists. He also expressed his admiration for the KRG for protecting Yezidi, Christian and other minorities, and for the traditions of peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance that exist in Kurdistan.

For his part, President Barzani thanked the US President, government and people for their military and humanitarian support in this fight and stressed that the Peshmerga forces are capable to take the fight to ISIS terrorists provided they are supplied with the right weapons. He said that with the support of the US military air strikes, the Peshmerga have made several gains recently and they would continue to push the terrorists back.

Both sides agreed that defeating terrorists needs collective action and cooperation by all sides and that political progress in Baghdad has the potential to offer an opportunity for peace and stability in the country.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird in Salahaddin today.

The President and the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister discussed Canada’s humanitarian and military support for the KRG, the fight against the ISIS terrorists, and the political process in Baghdad.

Foreign Minister Baird praised the leadership of President Barzani and the role of the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga forces for standing up to ISIS terrorists and said that Canada stands shoulder to shoulder with the KRG in this fight. He added that his country would continue to support the KRG with humanitarian aid and military equipment. Mr. Baird also paid tribute to the peshmerga for their sacrifices in protecting and saving Yezidi, Christian, and other minorities and for offering a safe refuge for them. He said the world appreciates the KRG and its leadership for their generosity towards the IDPs and refuges.

President Barzani thanked Foreign Minister Baird for visiting Kurdistan, saying that the visit in itself is a strong message support and solidarity to our people. The President also thanked Canada and all other countries for their humanitarian and military support and for standing by the people and government of Kurdistan.

Both the President and the Canadian Foreign Minister agreed that the ISIS terrorists pose a threat to the whole world and confronting them needs cooperation and collective action by all sides.

They also discussed efforts to form an inclusive government in Baghdad. President Barzani said that the KRG would do its best to ensure a genuinely inclusive government is formed in Baghdad.

Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq (KRG.org) – Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani and senior KRG officials yesterday met with a high-level British delegation in Erbil aimed at expediting humanitarian aid delivery and coordination.

The UK Secretary of State for International Development, Justine Greening, and the Minister for the Middle East, Tobias Ellwood, arrived in Erbil to accelerate provision of humanitarian support for displaced families sheltered in the Kurdistan Region.

Both sides discussed educational, health, and humanitarian challenges facing Iraqi internally displaced people (IDPs) and Syrian refugees now residing in the Kurdistan Region. The KRG, with help from the international community, is providing for the needs of these families. The British delegation noted a decision to increase humanitarian aid and coordinate directly with the KRG and non-governmental organisations in Kurdistan. The delegation also noted the importance of working closely with the relevant United Nations agencies.

Deputy Prime Minister Talabani emphasised that the Kurdistan Regional Government, despite enormous financial difficulty, has managed to come to the rescue of displaced people and refugees who have sought shelter in the Kurdistan Region. He stressed that the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) terrorist organisation cannot be allowed a foothold anywhere in Iraq, calling for further coordination between the KRG and Baghdad in combating the terrorists and providing humanitarian aid for IDPs in Kurdistan, where Baghdad should take on a more active role.

Minister of Interior Karim Sinjari, Minister of Planning Dr Ali Sindi, Minister of Health Dr Rekawt Rashid, Head of Foreign Relations Minister Falah Mustafa, and KRG Representative to the UK Bayan Rahman also attended the meeting on behalf of the KRG.

President Masoud Barzani met with the visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamad Javad Zarif in Erbil on Tuesday. The two discussed the fight against ISIS terrorists, government formation process in Baghdad and other issues of mutual concern.

Foreign Minister Zarif stated that the Islamic Republic would always stand by the Iraqis, including the people of Kurdistan, against terrorism, adding that the terrorism is a threat everyone, be it Shia, Sunni or Kurds. He further added that it is in the interest of Iran to fight terrorism.

President Barzani expressed his gratitude to the Islamic Republic for their support in the fight against terrorism, and hope that relations between the two sides would continue to grow. He added that terrorism is a threat to all, and that cooperation is needed by all sides to address this threat.

On government formation in Baghdad, Mr Zarif expressed his country’s desire to see an inclusive government formed in Baghdad and urged the Kurds to actively play their role to help form such a government. He said the Islamic Republic would support any agreement reached between Baghdad and Erbil.

President Barzani stated that he supports the efforts to form an inclusive government in Baghdad, adding that there must be guarantees regarding any agreements reached between Erbil and Baghdad.