Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received United Kingdom Minister of State for International Development, Mr. Desmond Angus Swayne and his accompanying delegation.

Kurdistan Regional Government Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, Minister of Interior Karim Sinjari, and Chaldean Archbishop, Bashar Warda were also in attendance.

Minister Swayne expressed appreciation to the Kurdistan Region’s people and government for accommodating and assisting hundreds of thousands of displaced people in the midst of a financial crisis and active fight against terrorism.

He discussed efforts to provide additional assistance in health and education. He reaffirmed the UK Government’s interest in furthering relations with the Kurdistan Region.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his government's gratitude for the assistance the UK has been offering the Kurdistan Region. He welcomed further development of relations with the UK, including economic ties, and stressed the urgent need for additional assistance from the international community.

He explained the Region’s response in accomodating displaced people seeking refuge in Kurdistan Region, the war situation against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS and the effectiveness of Peshmerga forces, as well as the financial crisis due to the failure of Baghdad to provide Kurdistan Region's full share from the federal budget as agreed with Erbil.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani received United Kingdom Government Cabinet Office Minister, Oliver Letwin and his accompanying delegation.

Mr. Letwin praised the role of the Peshmerga forces in their fight against Islamic State terrorist organization, ISIS, as well as the Region’s interior forces that have been able to protect security of Kurdistan citizens regardless their ethnic and religious background.

He reiterated his government’s support to the people, government and Peshmerga forces of Kurdistan Region particularly in the war against ISIS. He noted that the UK government values its relations with Kurdistan Region.

He also commended the Kurdistan Region for being able to accommodate and provide assistance to a large number of Internally displaced people, IDPs and refugees who have fled terrorist threats and sought safety in Kurdistan.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his gratitude to the UK Government, which has been supporting Kurdistan Region since ISIS started its campaigns against the Kurdistan Region.

Prime Minister Barzani, meantime, noted that the people and government of Kurdistan Region expect further and continuous UK assistance particularly in providing Peshmerga forces with ammunitions, artillery and training.

He also stressed that Kurdistan Region needs continuous support from the international community, directly or through the United Nation agencies, in order to offer further assistance to the IDPs and refugees.

The two sides also discussed the political situation in Iraq and the relations between Erbil and Baghdad.

Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received the United Kingdom's ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Frank Baker. President Barzani and Ambassador Baker spoke of the latest military updates against the terrorists of the Islamic State both in the Kurdistan Region and the rest of Iraq. The two sides also spoke of the current political situation in Iraq. 

Ambassador Baker also spoke of the role of the United Kingdom in the coalition against the terrorists of the Islamic State and added that Britian will continue to support Iraq and the Kurdistan Region as they collectively attempt to eradicate the threats of terrorism. On his part President Barzani stated that the Kurdistan Region will remain grateful for the support of the United Kingdom during these difficult times.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krg) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received Ambassador Frank Baker, United Kingdom ambassador to Iraq and his accompanying delegation.

Ambassador Baker highlighted bilateral relations between Kurdistan Region and United Kingdom in all the fields, particularly the commercial and economic areas.

The two sides discussed the situation in Iraq in general and the fight against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, in particular.
Ambassador Baker reiterated UK support for the Peshmerga Forces in the war against terrorism, praising their role and that of the people and government of Kurdistan Region in confronting and repulsing the terrorist threat.

He also pointed to the differences between Kurdistan Region and Iraqi Federal Government, as well as the Region’s internal issues, particularly the Kurdistan Region Presidency Law, stressing the need for solving those issues through dialog, common understanding, and consensus.

Ambassador Baker expressed his support and collaboration for the settlement of these issues.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked the UK delegation for the visit, expressing his hope that bilateral relations between Kurdistan Region and United Kingdom will witness further development in all the fields.

He highlighted the continuous victories marked by the Peshmerga Forces in the war against ISIS. Meantime, he called for further military aid for Peshmerga forces from European countries, particularly the United Kingdom.

Regarding the differences with the Iraqi Federal Government, Prime Minister Barzani reiterated that Kurdistan Regional Government aims to solve the issues through dialog and negotiations.

Regarding the issue of the Kurdistan Region Presidency Law, he reiterated that it should be settled on the basis of consensus and mutual understanding, and that all the political sides should reach an outcome that is in the general interests of the Kurdistan Region.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani attended the 89th birthday ceremony of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The ceremony was arranged by the Consulate General of the United Kingdom and was attended by a number of diplomats and KRG officials.

During the ceremony President Barzani reiterated his gratitude for the role of the United Kingdom in the current war against the terrorists of the Islamic State and wished a happy and meaningful birthday to her Majesty.

Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received a military delegation from the United Kingdom headed by Mr. Michael Fallon, the Secretary of State for Defense. During the meeting President Barzani and Secretary Fallon spoke of the latest military and security developments in the Kurdistan Region and their impact on the larger Middle East region and the world.

President Barzani expressed his gratitude to the government of the United Kingdom for their supportive stances both generally and following the ISIS crisis particularly, adding that the Kurdistan Region is in need of all international support as it fights the terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Secretary Fallon stated that the government of the United Kingdom will continue to assist the Kurdistan Region with military aid as it fights ISIS and that the war against ISIS is indeed a larger idealogical conflict between the free world and radicalism.

President Barzani and Secretary Fallon also spoke of the latest political developments between the the Federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region and how all outstanding issues must be resolved as soon as possible.

Erbil, Kurdistan (KRG.org) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani yesterday received the United Kingdom’s new Consul General to the Kurdistan Region, Mr. Angus McKee. They discussed the relationship between the United Kingdom and the KRG as well as current political issues.

The Prime Minister congratulated the Consul General and wished him success in his new position. Consul General McKee expressed his pleasure in taking up his post in Kurdistan.

United Kingdom – Kurdistan Region relations

The Consul General discussed the relationship between the Kurdistan Region and the United Kingdom, explaining that Prime Minister Barzani’s visit to London and British Foreign Secretary William Hague’s visit to Erbil will help solidify strong, mutually beneficial ties, including between the two governments and among private companies, universities, and citizens.

Mr. McKee indicated that the Prime Minister’s visit to London would serve as a catalyst to foster stronger relations, expressing hope that both sides remain dedicated to the development of the relationship. He assured the Prime Minister that the United Kingdom is committed to the agreements made during that visit.

Prime Minister Barzani highlighted the Kurdistan Region’s strategic relationship with the United Kingdom, also pointing to the importance of the exchange of high-level visits. He reaffirmed that the KRG attaches special consideration to its ties with the United Kingdom and remains committed to developing and bolstering relations.

Political issues

The new Consul General applauded the broad-based character of the KRG’s eighth cabinet, evidence that the Kurdistan Region is heading in the right direction.

During the meeting both sides pointed to the latest developments in Iraq, including the political process. Prime Minister Barzani emphasised that everything has changed in the last several weeks, and in light of these developments, relations between Erbil and Baghdad must be viewed in a different manner. He explained that the KRG supports the political process in Iraq, which needs to progress so that a framework for coexistence and a mechanism to define future relations between Erbil and Baghdad can be established.

The Prime Minister added that the threat of terrorism presents a grave danger to all sides. He stated that Iraq is today witnessing the beginning of a new phase and that the nature of the issues at stake has changed. This must be taken into account when considering the current situation.

Both sides discussed the situation of the internally displaced people who have fled Mosul and other parts of Iraq to seek safe haven in Kurdistan. The Consul General reaffirmed that his country has in the past provided assistance to refugees and internally displaced and would continue to cooperate in order to help the displaced people through logistical assistance and through the transfer of expertise and experience in coping with the crisis.