Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (gov.krd) - As part of the Kurdistan Regional Government delegation’s visit to the Vatican, Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and his accompanying delegation yesterday met the Vatican Foreign Minister, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.

The two sides discussed bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Vatican. Foreign Minister Archbishop Gallagher said that the Vatican closely observes and follows up the situation in the Kurdistan and the wider region. He added that he is glad to hear about the situation in the Kurdistan Region and the wider Middle East from the KRG delegation.

The talks focused on the current war against the Islamic State terrorist organization, ISIS, and Kurdistan Peshmerga Forces progress on the frontline. The situation of Iraqi internally displaced people and Syrian refugees, who fled the violent repression of ISIS and took refuge in the Kurdistan Region, was also highlighted in the meeting.

The Prime Minister reiterated that further assistance from donor countries and the international community are needed to help the refugees and IDPs.

The Vatican’s Foreign Minister praised Kurdistan Regional Government for providing shelter and assistance to the displaced people and refugees. He also praised the role played by the Peshmerga Forces in defending all the people of the region, regardless of their ethnicity or religion, against terrorism.

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.

Rome, Italy (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday.

At the outset of the meeting, Pope Francis said that he was aware of the situation of Kurds and of their tragedies in the past. He commended President Barzani and the people of Kurdistan for what they have achieved, particularly in offering the Kurdistan Region as a safe haven for Syrian refugees and for Christians fleeing violence in other parts of Iraq.

The Pope also praised President Barzani for KRG’s policy of promoting tolerance and peaceful co-existence among different religious communities. He expressed his hope that the KRG would continue to enjoy peace and prosperity.

For his part, President Barzani talked about tolerance in Kurdistan as a long-standing tradition that has popular support. He said that peoples of different religions have made sacrifices together in the past and now live side by side in peace and freedom.

On the situation of refugees and Christians who have sought refuge in Kurdistan, President Barzani said that the KRG would continue to provide assistance to them as a humanitarian duty.