Italian News Agency carried out a talk with Nazem Dabbagh of which main points follow. Before answering the questions he declared: I, Nazem Dabbagh,am on my behalf not Representation of Kurdistan Region Government, put my views.

About the presidency of the Region Nazem Dabbagh Said: this has two sides, one is the reformation and the rules of Regional presidency, and another is the extension of the presidency of the Region for one extra round. He added that in September 17, 2015 two suggestions were offered Mr. Barezani and Democrat party on the behalf of four other parties of the Region about which Democrat Party will reveal his opinion. Another issue is whether Mr. Barezani can be candidate for presidency or not.

In a response to another question concerning the position of Islamic Republic of Iran about Iraq and the Region, Mr. Dabbagh said: I.R. of Iran’s view- Haj Qassem Soleimani was that the security and peace of Iraq and Kurdistan Region matter to Iran and it requires to be protected. That is why to solve interior problems of the Region and the concerns among parties is necessary and important. He went on: Iran believes that trough respecting each other it is possible to reach agreement and it disagrees to impose and force one by another. Coalition government needs agreement, Iranians has not reached to a point yet to support a special side. At last Iranian delegations were just listeners, and insisted on their views to solve the problems through agreement and agree with unity of Iraq and Kurdistan Region.

Relating to Kurds of Turkey Dabbagh stated: it is evident that Turkish Kurds is a part of Turkey now, and it is several years that armed fighting has begun, and at several times, especially at the time of Turgot Ouzal and Mam Jalal Talibani, for the first time the process of peace and peacefully solving the concerns between Kurds and Turkey was put. Of course, since 1986 up to now, more than 25 armed strikes have been conducted from Turkey Army against P.K.K. and Kurds. As a result of that, three years ago peace process according to set of promises and threats which Erdogan made to Kurds and Masoud Barezani and mam Jalal Talibani supported it got started. He added: I personally condemn the killing of polices and the massacre of Sorouc. He who decided to start a nationwide war was Erdogan and Turkey not Turkish Kurds. He continued: some have put phrases that they would not give up until they vanished P.K.K. Former Iraqi’s regimes also said such sayings, until the great defeat happened as a result of Al-Geria Agreement. All Kurds put their guns down and many got homeless. We witnessed Mam Jalal and Kak Masoud, which Iraqis land and water were called illegal to them, continued fighting. One grew the President of Iraq and the other the president of Kurdistan Region.

About the relations of some countries with Patriotic Unity of Kurdistan he stated: I believe that these relations is natural provided that interior regulations and the Constitution are respected. These relations are not just limited to Patriotic of Kurdistan, so do many organizations and parties of Kurds, Syria and Turkey. Thus he insisted that this must not lead to penetrate into interior affairs.

another concern by Dabbagh was to strength HDP party and those agreeing with the agreement in Turkey followed by the recent changes of Erdogan Government, to establish Kurdish-Syrian party offices in Erbil, Soleimanieh and Dohuk, the role of Patriotic Unity about peace, PYD’s right to establish relation with other countries, the possibility to unify Kurds and be supported by great powers, inefficiency of building border wall in order to prevent Kurdish refugees to Turkey, necessity of noticing refugees’ needs and finally the unity of Pishmerga and to create unity in parties and Kurdish groups.   

Link:

http://www.notiziegeopolitiche.net/?p=56604

Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received an Italian delegation headed by the Minister of Defense, Ms. Roberta Piontti. President Barzani and Ms. Pinotti reviewed a number of topics including the latest security and military developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region insofar as the war against the terrorists of the Islamic State is concerned. The two sides also spoke of future operations against the Islamic State and Italy's role in supporting the Peshmerga forces against the terrorists of the Islamic State.

Minister Pinotti stated the Peshmerga forces play a crucial role in the global effort against the terrorists of the Islamic State, and for that, the support for the Peshmerga forces should continue from all coalition members.

President Barzani expressed his appreciation for Italy's support and added that that support will continue to be in the memory of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Ms. Pinotti stated that Italy will continue to support the Peshmerga forces against the brutality of the Islamic State, adding that I.S., as a common enemy poses a threat against the free world in its entirety.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received the Italian Minister of Defence, Ms. Roberta Pinotti and her accompanying delegation, which included the Italian Consul General to the Kurdistan Region, the Italian army Chief of Staff and a number of diplomats and military officials.

In the meeting, which was also attended by Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, and a number of Kurdistan Regional Government Ministers and officials, Ms. Pinotti reaffirmed her government’s appreciation for the role played by the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga Forces in the fight against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, and in defending and  protecting the  various communities in the Kurdistan Region.

She said that the Kurdistan Region enjoys a high reputation at the global level as its Peshmerga Forces defend civilisation against barbarity.

While she praised the role of the Kurdistan Regional Government for having accommodated and offered assistance to a large number of refugees and displaced persons, who fled ISIS violent repression and took refuge in the Kurdistan Region, Ms. Roberta Pinotti expressed her country’s readiness to help this vulnerable population.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his gratitude to the Italian people and government for their continuous support, recalling Italian Prime Minister's visit last year, when ISIS began attacking Kurdistan.

The two sides discussed Italy’s military support to the Peshmerga Forces and humanitarian aid to the refugees and IDPs.

Ms. Pinotti and her accompanying delegation arrived Kurdistan Region last night and were received at Erbil International Airport by Mustafa Sayid Qadir, Minister for Peshmerga Affairs, Falah Mustafa, head of the Department of Foreign Relations and Rezan Qadir, KRG representative in Italy.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received Italian Ambassador to Iraq, Marco Carnelos, and his accompanying delegation.

Ambassador Carnelos praised the role of the Peshmerga forces who confront the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, on behalf of the entire world, reiterating his government’s support to Kurdistan Region in the war against terrorism.

He stressed that he will work to strengthen the relations between Italy and Kurdistan Region in all fields, particularly in military, humanitarian, and economic domains.

Ambassador Carnelos reiterated his support for the settlement of the issues between Kurdistan Region and Baghdad.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked Ambassador Carnelos for his visit, saying “It is an honour for the Kurdistan Region that its Peshmerga forces fight ISIS on behalf of the entire world.”

He expressed his gratitude to the Italian government, as it was among the countries that had helped the Kurdistan Region since the early days when it started confronting ISIS. He said the visit by Italian Prime Minister was the best support.

Regarding relations between Kurdistan Region and Baghdad, Prime Minister Barzani stressed the necessity of  settling the issues through dialog and negotiations.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received Italy's Ambassador to Iraq, Massimo Moratti and his accompanying delegation, who visited Prime Minister Barzani on the occasion of ending his duties in Iraq.     

Mr Morrati pointed to the assistance that the Italian government provides to the people and government of Kurdistan Region, particularly humanitarian assistance and training of the Peshmerga forces, stressing that Italy’s assistance to the Kurdistan Region will continue.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked Mr. Morrati and praised his role as Italy’s ambassador to Iraq, who has been able to contribute to the establishment of solid relations between Kurdistan Region and Italy, and deliver the true image of the Region to his and European countries. He wished success to Mr. Morrati in his future position.

Prime Minister Barzani recalled that those visits by Italian senior delegations to Kurdistan Region, particularly during difficult times, are being highly appreciated.

He reiterated that the threat of the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, has not been eliminated, which is why it is essential to continue cooperation between the two sides.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (gov.krd) - Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, received yesterday in Rome a Kurdistan Regional Government delegation, headed by Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed the gratitude of the people and government of the Kurdistan Region to Italy for its provision of essential humanitarian and military assistance to the Kurdistan Region and for the visit last summer by the Italian Prime Minister to Erbil, which Prime Minister Barzani described as excellently timed as it helped show that the Kurdistan Region was supported, while facing serious terrorist threat.

He briefed the Italian Prime Minister about the latest developments in the Kurdistan Region and the continuous progress marked by the Peshmerga forces on the frontline against the Islamic terrorist organisation, ISIS. He also highlighted the situation of the displaced people from the rest of Iraq and the Syrian refugees who constitute a heavy burden on the Kurdistan Regional Government, stressing that they desperately need further assistance.

Italian Prime Minister Renzi reiterated that his government “will continue to provide humanitarian and military assistance to the Kurdistan Region, and in order to eradicate terrorism we will stand side by side with the Kurdistan Region in every way possible.” He also expressed his respect to the courage of the Peshmerga Forces in their fight against terrorism.

Mr. Renzi expressed his concern for the spread of terrorist organisations in other parts of the world, stressing the need to confront terrorism all together.

He added that Italy will support the Kurdistan Region because it has a strategic position, considering Italy as Kurdistan people’s friend.

Prime Minister Renzi stated that Italy has decided to upgrade its diplomatic representation in Erbil to Consulate General, considering that this move will send a message to the world that the situation in the Kurdistan Region is better than before. He stated, “It is important for us that Kurdistan Region’s stability continues.”

Both sides also discussed the relationship between Erbil and Baghdad, the situation in Mosul, political developments in Iraq and the importance of including all the components of Iraqi society in governance. They also discussed the situation in Syria and its repercussion on the situation in Iraq and the wider region. The two sides reiterated that a political solution is needed for the Syrian crisis.

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.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (gov.krd) - On the second day of its official visit to Italy, Kurdistan Regional Government delegation was received yesterday by the Italian Foreign Minister, Paolo Gentiloni.

The two sides discussed bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and Italy, the latest developments in the war against Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, and the recent victories achieved by the Peshmerga Forces.

The liberation of the city of Mosul and the importance of including various Iraqi ethnic and religious groups in the operation in coordination with the international coalition forces, were highlighted in the talks.

The situation of the displaced Iraqis and Syrian refugees who fled ISIS violence and took refuge in the Kurdistan Region, the agreement reached between Erbil and Baghdad last December and the crisis in Syria and its repercussion on the neighbouring countries, were topics also discussed in the meeting.

Foreign Minister Gentiloni stressed his country’s commitment to provide humanitarian and military assistance to the Kurdistan Region. He reiterated what the Italian Prime Minister had announced the day earlier regarding upgrading Italy’s diplomatic representation to Consulate General. He added that this decision was the evidence of the importance that Rome places in its relationship with Erbil.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his gratitude to the Italian government for supporting the Kurdistan Region in its fight against terrorism and for its decision to upgrade the level of its diplomatic representation in Erbil to Consulate General.

Regarding the relationship with Baghdad, Prime Minister said the Kurdistan Regional Government remains fully committed to the agreement that it signed with the federal Iraqi government, adding that the Kurdistan Regional Government was always ready to settle all the issues with Baghdad through dialogue and mutual understanding.

The meeting was also attended by KRG 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.

Salahaddin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRP,org) – Since the start of the campaign by the terrorist group ISIS to attack the Kurdistan Region last week, many countries have expressed their support to the KRG in its fight against the terrorism, and have also offered humanitarian aid to the tens of thousands of IDPs who have sought refuge in Kurdistan. 

US Vice President Biden, Germany Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, and Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini all called President Barzani this week to show the support and solidarity of their countries for the Kurdistan Region in its fight against the terrorist group ISIS. 

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius visited Erbil on Sunday and met with President Barzani. In a joint press conference following their meeting, President Barzani thanked the Unites States and France and other countries that have offered their support to the Kurdistan Region.