Nazem Dabbagh the representative of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iran while appreciating for inaugurating Kurdish Language Service of Mehr News Agency Said: this News Agency is the messenger of more peace, intimacy and cooperation for Kurds in the region.

At the beginning of the meeting while appreciating the executive of News Agency for inaugurating Kurdish Language Service Dabbagh said: actually this was an important job which an official news agency has carried out in Iran and I hope the mangers of Mehr to support this and strongly continue it. He added: I also as the representative of the Region and as a Kurd, appreciate this act of Mehr News Agency and undoubtedly this will greatly influence Kurdish areas. Dabbagh said: undoubtedly presently Medias can cause intimacy and unity and unquestionably Mehr News can be the messenger of these positive features. 

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani today met with US Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL Ambassador Brett McGurk and US Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones, to discuss the progress of the fight against ISIS terrorists and challenges facing the KRG.

The President and the US officials lauded the strong partnership between the peshmerga forces and the US military, especially in light of the recent successful operation by joint special forces that led to the rescuing of 69 hostages from ISIS in the town of Hawija, south of Kirkuk. 

Ambassador McGurk described this successful operation as yet another indication of the strong relationship between the peshmerga forces and the US forces, and commended the leadership role of President Barzani. He added that the US would continue to offer support to the peshmerga forces in the fight against ISIS.
President Barzani thanked the United States for its steadfast support to Kurdistan and to the peshmerga forces. 

President Barzani and the visiting US officials also discussed preparations for the liberation of Mosul from ISIS and political and security developments in the country.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani welcomed the Iraq envoy of the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Jan Kubis, During the meeting President Barzani and Mr. Kubis discussed the latest developments in the war between the free world and the terrorists of the Islamic State in which the Peshmerga forces are a critical part. President Barzani spoke of the progress that has been made against the terrorists and the future plans to completely rid the Kurdistan Region and the entirety of Iraq of the terrorists.

The two sides also spoke of the internal issues in the Kurdistan Region following the events earlier this week where peaceful protests were politicized and were turned into acts of violence against the Kurdistan Democratic Party in the towns of Qaladize, Sayd Sadiq and Kalar. Mr. Kubis stated that those who were responsible for the violence which unfortunately led to life loss and property damages must be faced with justice and added that the political situation in the Kurdistan Region should be solved very soon especially because of the fact that the Kurdistan Region in particular and the Middle East region in general is facing a major threat from the terrorists which should be everyone's priority.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received a United States delegation headed by Senate Majority leader Senator Mitch McConnell and a number of other senators and members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The delegation also included State and Defense department delegates. During the meeting President Barzani and the U.S. guests spoke of a number of topics, most importantly the current war on the terrorists of the Islamic State.

President Barzani reiterated the appreciation of the Kurdistan Region for the United States air support which, over the past year has, with the assistance of other coalition members heavily weakened the terrorists. Senator McConnell stated that the United States congress acknowledges the role of the Peshmerga forces in this global effort against the terrorists of the Islamic State and that role is highly essential and appreciated by the United States government.

President Barzani and the delegation also spoke of the relations between Erbil and Baghdad and spoke of the importance of strengthening that relationship for the sake of speedier riddance of the threat of terrorism in Iraq, the Kurdistan Region and much beyond. The two sides also discussed the economic situation in the Kurdistan Region and how critical it is to resolve the economic issues facing Erbil.

They also discussed Russia’s latest involvement in the war on the Islamic State. Additionally they spoke of the operations against the terrorists of the Islamic State which shall result in the liberation of the city of Musol.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Following an official invitation to attend the Munich Security Conference, MSC, which will be held in Tehran, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, will visit Tehran on 17 October.

The gathering will be co-hosted with the Institute for Political and International Studies, and held in cooperation with the governments of Germany and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

It will be held as part of MSC Core Group Meeting series, which will focus on “the implementation of the agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, Iran's regional role, the security architecture in the Middle East as well as the economic and energy policy implications of the Vienna agreement”, Munich Security Conference website stated.

Besides German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Zarif, “participants also include the Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, the Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government Nechirvan Idris Barzani, the United Nations Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, the Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service Helga Schmid, the President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly Élisabeth Guigou and the Chairman of the German Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee Norbert Röttgen, as well as governmental representatives from various Arab states, numerous parliamentarians from European countries and NGO representatives”, said MSC website.

In a statement to Kurdistan Regional Government website, Sami Ergoushi, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister’s press officer said, “It is expected that Prime Minister Barzani will meet, during his visit, a number of officials in the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

In a statement issued by the Kurdistan Region Presidency, the terrorist attacks in Ankara, Turkey at a peace rally of the People's Democratic Party, HDP was strongly condemned. The statement wished for speedy recovery for the wounded and expressed, on behalf of the people of the Kurdistan Region, heartfelt condolences for the families and loved ones of those who were killed in the attack. The statement also made reference to how terrorism indiscriminately targets all people, therefore, all efforts should go towards the complete extermination of the threat.

We strongly condemn the terrorist attack, occured today in the Turkish capital, Ankara, which targeted a gathering held by several organizations, killing and injuring a large number of civilians who were preparing for a peaceful rally.

We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, the government and people of the Republic of Turkey, and wish prompt recovery for the injured.

While the rise in terrorist attacks indicates the development of terrorist activities to comprise larger areas in the region, it is also the evidence that the regional countries and the international community in general need to work together and increase their cooperation to fight terrorism and eradicate it.

We hope that the perpetrators of this terrorist attack will be captured and brought to justice. 

We also hope that this crime will not lead to tensions and problems to affect the democratic process and the forthcoming general elections in Turkey.

Kurdistan Region Council of Ministers
10 October 2015

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani issued the following statement on the recent events and protests in Kurdistan:

Following the events of recent days and the tensions in the town of Qaladize, I have asked KRG security and administrative authorities and political parties to prevent further escalation of the situation. I have also called on all relevant authorities to show restraint and do everything they can to calm the situation. All those responsible must face justice.