President Nechirvan Barzani received today in Erbil the incoming US Consul General, Mr. Mark Straw. The President welcomed the new Consul General to the Kurdistan Region, wished him success, and expressed support for his mission. The President also expressed the Kurdistan Region’s keenness to develop relations with the United States.

For his part, Consul General Straw reiterated the US commitment to promoting relations with the Kurdistan Region and to developing mutual cooperation.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-receives-the-new-consul-general-of-the-us/

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, August 23, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani received today in Erbil, the United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Security, Mr. Tom Tugendhat, and his accompanying delegation.

In the meeting, attended by the UK Ambassador to Iraq and the UK Consul General in the Kurdistan Region, the latest developments in the fight against terrorism and the threat of ISIS, the upcoming elections and the internal situation in the Kurdistan Region, Erbil-Baghdad relations, illegal immigration to the UK, and the fight against drugs were discussed.

Both sides stressed the importance of the UK’s joint cooperation with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to reduce illegal immigration and to combat organized crimes. They agreed that joint regional cooperation is necessary to prevent the spread of drugs in the region. In this regard, they also discussed a memorandum of understanding to be signed between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the UK Government.

Regarding the internal situation in the Kurdistan Region, both sides agreed on the necessity of strengthening solidarity and unity and the importance of holding elections. With regards to the elections, the President stressed that the Kurdistan Region is committed to holding general elections which grants legitimacy to the Kurdistan Region.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-the-uk-secretary-of-state-for-security-affairs/

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, August 22, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani received today in Erbil, the incoming Consul General of India, Mr. Madan Gopal, and his accompanying delegation. The President welcomed the new Consul General and expressed support for his mission to further promote the bilateral relations of India with the Kurdistan Region.

President Nechirvan Barzani underscored the multifaceted potential that India, as a nation, holds for the collective advancement of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The significance of facilitating direct air travel between the Kurdistan Region and India also resonated as a pivotal consideration.

Consul General Madan Gopal, for his part, expressed his profound contentment in embarking upon his responsibilities in the Kurdistan Region. He affirmed his commitment to promote the bilateral relations between his country and the Kurdistan Region.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, August 13, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani received the outgoing US Consul General in the Kurdistan Region, Mr. Irvin Hicks Jr., who paid a farewell visit to the President upon completion of his term in office.

In the meeting, President Nechirvan Barzani expressed the Kurdistan Region’s gratitude to the US Consul General for the services he provided during his work in the Kurdistan Region to promote bilateral relations between the United States and the Kurdistan Region, and wished him success in his new assignments.

For his part, Mr. Irvin Hicks Jr. referred to his time in office in the Kurdistan Region, and thanked President Nechirvan Barzani and the relevant parties in the Kurdistan Region for their assistance and support, and wished the people of the Kurdistan Region progress and success.

President Nechirvan Barzani received, today in Erbil, the Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Mr. David Burger.

During their meeting, relations between Erbil and Baghdad and the ongoing talks between the two sides to resolve the outstanding problems were highlighted. Discussions also focused on the situation in the Kurdistan Region and the importance of resolving the differences; the upcoming parliamentary elections of the Kurdistan Region, the situation in Sinjar, and the status of religious communities in the country were also discussed.

Mr. Burger commended and welcomed the setting of the date for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections. President Nechirvan Barzani, for his part, reaffirmed the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to holding the elections, and expressed appreciation for the US support in this regards.

Both sides agreed on the importance of the agreement between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi federal government to normalize the situation in Sinjar and the need to protect the religious communities in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

The developments in the wider region and other issues of mutual interest were also discussed.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, August 8, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani received today in Erbil the new Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Iraq, Mr Stephen Charles Hitchen.

The President congratulated the new Ambassador on assuming the office, wished him success, and expressed the support of the Kurdistan Region for his work and mission.

The two sides discussed Erbil-Baghdad relations, the internal situation of the Kurdistan Region and the upcoming Kurdistan parliamentary elections. They also highlighted the opportunities and challenges facing Iraq with regards to security, economy and institutions, and stressed the importance of seizing the opportunities for the benefit of the country.

The situation in the wider region and other issues of common interest were also highlighted during the meeting, which was attended by Ms. Rosie Cave, the UK Consul General in the Kurdistan Region.

President Nechirvan Barzani received UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk, and his accompanying delegation in Erbil today.

The meeting highlighted the delegation’s visit to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, their first such visit to the country, as well as the situation of human rights and liberties, the working environment and activities of civil society organizations and freedom of the press. They also discussed the opportunities and obstacles of journalism in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

In this context, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights shared his observations on a number of areas of human rights, liberties and the work of civil society organizations in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

President Nechirvan Barzani, for his part, described the visit as important, and underlined the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to protecting and promoting democracy, human rights and liberties, freedom of expression, and equality and justice.

In this regard, the President called on the UN agencies in these fields to assist the relevant parties in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, especially as Iraq and the Kurdistan Region are in transition and need assistance and support to develop and strengthen these areas.