Salahaddin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRP.org) - Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani today welcomed Turkish Kurdish members of parliament Layla Zana and Siri Suraya Onder in his office in Salahaddin.

The two members of parliament delivered a letter from Abdula Ocalan to President Barzani. In his letter, Mr. Ocalan expresses his support for the peace process in Turkey and asks for the cooperation of all sides for this process to succeed. He also underlines the importance of coordination among all Kurdish sides.

 Tuesday, 11 Feb 2014

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (KRG.org) – In keeping with the Kurdistan Regional Government’s policy of strengthening relations with members of the international community, the Head of the Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa along with the Assistant Head of the DFR, Siham Jabali, received the Ambassadors of Bangladesh, Thailand and Hungary during their recent visits to Kurdistan.

The Ambassador of Bangladesh to Iraq, Mr Rezanur Rahman Khan, was visiting the region officially for the first time since his appointment in Baghdad and praised the developments he had witnessed in Kurdistan. He said, ‘This my first time here and it will not be my last time. I look forward to continue our relationship and extend it further.’

Minister Mustafa conveyed to the Ambassador the KRG’s hope to build relations with countries from the international community including Bangladesh. The meeting focused on potential fields of mutual cooperation in the fields of labour and agriculture particularly given the demand for expertise and experience for both here in Kurdistan.

In his meeting with the Ambassador of Thailand, Piriya Khempon, Minister Mustafa reiterated the importance KRG places on extending its relations with the international community and spoke about his hopes that Thailand would open a representative office in Kurdistan in the near future to help ensure the strengthening of bilateral relations.

Both sides discussed areas of mutual interest, focusing on tourism, culture, business and agriculture, with Ambassador Khempon briefing Minister Mustafa on the delegation’s visit to the region as well as the wide range of opportunities for mutual cooperation particularly in tourism and agriculture, which are two of the three sectors prioritized by the KRG in terms of development. The Ambassador was accompanied by a delegation from the Tourism Authority of Thailand who during their visit conducted market surveys and meetings with local companies and travel agencies.

In the third of these bilateral meetings, Minister Mustafa met with the Hungarian Ambassador, Tibor Tamari, who spoke about the latest progress in the opening of the Hungarian Consulate General in Erbil. They also discussed the importance of expanding educational and cultural cooperation and this will be made easier with the opening of the new Consulate General, a lot of progress is expected in relations between both sides.

The Bangladeshi Ambassador had met with the KRG Ministries of Interior, Agriculture and Water Resources, Labour and Social Affairs during his visit, whilst Thailand’s Ambassador met with the KRG Board of Investment and the Chambers of Commerce in Erbil and Slemani. The Hungarian Ambassador met with the KRG Ministers of Natural Resources, Trade and Industry, and Higher Education on his visit.

 Wednesday, 12 Feb 2014

 Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq - (DFR.krg.org) – The Italian Consul in Erbil, Mr Carmelo Ficarra, met today with the Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa, and was accompanied by a large delegation of Italian businessmen. The delegation included representatives from companies already working in Kurdistan and others planning on working here in the near future.

Minister Mustafa welcomed the delegation on behalf of the DFR and conveyed his appreciation to Mr Ficarra on the efforts he and his colleagues at the Italian Consular Office are making to ensure these types of visits continue to increase. He outlined the current business conditions in Kurdistan, highlighting the security and stability as well as laws and regulations as important factors that have resulted in real business opportunities and increased interest from companies worldwide.

The Italian delegation briefed Minister Mustafa on the different areas and sectors in which they operate in, which include key sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and architecture. Minister Mustafa said, ‘According to figures from the KRG Ministry of Planning, US $32 billion is needed in investment to help meet Kurdistan’s infrastructural needs. Hence we welcome you all and we hope to see more Italian companies visiting Kurdistan.’

Mr Ficarra thanked the Department of Foreign Relations for their assistance in facilitating the visit of these companies and spoke about the importance that Italy places to its relationship with the Kurdistan Region. He added that further events were in the pipeline to help strengthen economic relations between both sides.

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Head of the DFR, Karwan Jamal.

 Monday, 10 Feb 2014

Berlin, Germany (KRP.org) – The President of the Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani, met the German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin yesterday.

Foreign Minister Steinmeier welcomed President Barzani to Germany and spoke about his visit to Erbil back in 2008, highlighting his desire to visit Kurdistan again soon. He added that he was aware of the rapid developments happening in Kurdistan and reiterated Germany’s commitment to working closely with Kurdistan to further strengthen bilateral relations.

For his part, President Barzani expressed his pleasure at the opportunity of once again meeting Foreign Minister Steinmeier and expressed his hope that the Foreign Minister would indeed visit Kurdistan again soon to witness first-hand the developments in the region. He added that the Kurdistan Region views its ties with Germany with great importance.

President Barzani, briefed Minister Steinmeier on the current situation in Kurdistan, the recent security developments in the Anbar province, relations between Erbil and Baghdad, the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections in April, the issue of oil exports via Turkey and the impact of the Syrian crisis on Kurdistan and on Iraq.

On the political challenges facing Iraq and especially the security crisis in the Anbar province, the President said, “It is important that a comprehensive solution is found for the problems facing Iraq, and the real solution is for Iraq to be committed to a federal system, which is a basic principle in Iraq’s constitution.”

“It is equally important that all sides work together in the fight against terrorism, especially at a time when they have increasingly grown in strength and now constitute a real threat to the whole region.” He highlighted the roots of the security problems in Anbar and some of the other Iraqi provinces and said that this has become a source of instability to all Iraq.

The President stressed the importance that all political groups in Iraq remain committed to holding the parliamentary elections on time, scheduled in late April this year.

On the KRG policy of exporting oil via Turkey, the President reiterated that ties between Kurdistan and Turkey are based on mutual interests, and that these ties would also serve the interest of Iraq in general. In addition he highlighted the legality of the Kurdistan Region's hydrocarbon policies which are in adherence with Iraq’s constitution.

Finally both sides discussed the latest regarding the formation of a new government in Kurdistan with President Brazani emphasizing that the priorities for Kurdistan are to maintain its security and to continue developing the Region and its economic infrastructure to improve the standards of living for all the people of the region.

The meeting was also attended by the President’s Chief of Staff, Dr Fuad Hussein, the Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa and the KRG Representative to Germany, Dilshad Barzani.

Nazem Dabbagh

 In recent month Iraq has confronted changes and divergences. Following writing by Nazem Dabbagh is about current approach and attitude of Kurdistan region toward domestic events and foreign relations of Iraq.

Key words: Kurdistan region’s attitude toward domestic events of Iraq, Iraq Kurdistan region’s approach toward domestic events of Iraq, the relations between Iraq and Iraq government.

 Kurdistan region and domestic issues of Iraq:

Having start taking actions especially in Iraq and Kuwait fight, Al-Qaeda and terror spread and extended day by day. Besides Taliban regime in Afghanistan and Ba’ath regime in Iraq fell; but the remains of their forces tried to defend themselves and expanded in the region. After revolutions in a few Arabian countries after each other so-called Arabian Spring (also can be called Fall Spring) Muslims Brotherhood (Ekhvan-Al-Moslemin) related forces, Al-Qaeda and Salafi possessed these upraises in most of these countries and spread in a different approach. At last in the name of opposition they rose against Syria and ant in the name of An-Nosrah Front, Al-Qaeda and The Army of Liberty entered the battleground. In this direction the region countries and a few Arabian countries like Turkey and Saudi Arabia cooperated with them. Turkey’s aim was not only to destroy Syria but also to weaken and to exterminate Kurd national move in Syria and then to create a style of Sunnism with the cooperation of Saudi Arabia and Qatar to fight against Alavis and Shias in the region. Thanks to these cooperation and campaign against Syria, An-Nosrah, AL-Qaeda and Salafi forces grew. It is evident that they did not consider it sufficient, Al-Qaeda in Syria and Iraq altogether incorporated Islamic government of Iraq and Syria called Islamic State Iraq and Sham (ISIS) that had forces in both countries. Meanwhile Syria government and Iran support heavily squeezed on ISIS and An-Nosrah. We should not discard that Kurds could shrewdly take this opportunity to defend his regions against Syria and prevent Nosrah and Al-Qaeda to penetrate.

Three years ago turkey and other countries believed that Bashar Asad would have fallen within one month; but it did not came about after three years. I should point out here that in Iraq it was only Jalal Talibani, the President of Iraq, who anticipated Syria would not fall and alarmed the threat of Al-Qaeda and Salafi. In addition to put the issue of using chemical weapon from Syria and super-power countries’ threatening and applying force against Syria, and the threat of Salafi, terror and Al-Qaeda changed a kind of problems for Syria’s benefit, particularly with cooperation of Russia, Syria agreed to vanish chemical weapons in this country. These all caused that the battleground and ISIS’s rebellion spread from Syria to Iraq and the ground was prepared due to Al-Qaeda and ISIS in Iraq. Additionally benefiting this security disorder in Iraq and the disharmony and difference among religious, political and governmental sides made ISIS, terror and Al-Qaeda strength; it caused that America and foreign powers nourished another approach in their mind to support Syria opposition and An-Nosrah forces and the Army of Liberty. Namely extremists of Al-Qaeda and An-Nosrah are more dangerous. For this, if we want to stand up against terror, we have to prevent ISIS to spread. It is necessary that Iraq government first of all cope with right needs of people such as welfare, prosperity and security safeguarding compatriot. This important thing will be fulfilled by political intellectual agreement and solving problems engaged in talking and correlating political forces and religious movements; and this will be met by a federal, unified and democrat in which there will be a government composed of sides and groups far from egotism, personal and side benefits. So we should return to principles which we were obligated at the beginning of incorporating the new Iraq with allies of Kurds, Shia and Sunny brothers incurring a lot of losses due to their fighting at the time of Ba’ath, The unification that was formed between Kurds and Arabs to safeguard Iraq. It is evident that the Iraq and Kurd unification for safeguarding Iraq today and future plays an important role and this is preserved by Shias and Kurdish sides and groups. So I believe that any disorder forming in this ally, the present differences will end Kurd and Shia’s enemies’ benefits.

The perspective of the place of Iraq presidency

The new Iraq was composed by attempt and aid of Kurd, Shia and a part of Sonnies; and the main posts were divided among Kurds, Shias and Sonnies according to the place of political sides and the constitutes of Iraq. As the post of presidency of Iraq was possessed by Jalal Talibani and he even took this post among Kurds as well, this refers to their view to defend unity of Iraq and relation between Kurds and Arabs. It is necessary to assign this post just to Kurds; the loss of Mum Jalal is well felt. There has been a change in the place of Kurds in Iraq and Baghdad, and the problems between Iraq and Kurdistan region is added day by day. For this a Kurdish president is needed for Iraq to solve the problems and keep unity of Iraq.

The relations between Kurdistan and Baghdad government

Upon disagreement on the law of oil, (Pishmargeh ), budget and the article 150 between two sides, the way of Kurdistan region and central government of Iraq connection shows that the disagreements on the Law of Oil is more prominent than any other problems of both sides the can be solved through political talking and the constitute. For this, in emergency situations, the board of Kurdistan region government travels to Baghdad and try frequently to come up with a solution for this through talking and discussion.

Kurdistan Region, protests and objections in the Sunnite regions of the west of Iraq

Kurdistan region government has a cooperation and responsible view to problems. Nowadays, especially, in Iraq in opposition to the government, dissatisfactory and opposition can be observed, these show us two things; firstly, people needs for supplying welfare and prosperity and the unification of political behavior of Iraq supported; secondly, separating absolute and real desire of people from terror and violence in which ISIS and Al-Qaeda and Salafi are on top. Thus, we definitely stand up against it; therefore, it is better that Iraq government realize and distinguish them.

Kurdistan region government’s view to foreign relations of Iraq

Kurdistan region government’s view concerning its relations, generally is a way in which it has understand the liberalism movement of Kurd nation has understood this necessity that it should have good relationship with its neighbors whether Iran, Turkey or Syria and also international relations with other countries in the world according to its geographical position. However, it is met by safeguarding the dependency and considering the interests. So we can say that nowadays Kurdistan region government according to the law and strategy of Federal Iraq as well as the vital and national interests of Iraq has a god relation with neighbors and the world outside.

Iraq role in Syria and Kurdistan of Syria

Kurdistan region government is obligated to its interests in the frame of federal Iraq and never interferes in other countries affairs whether in national or regional form. What nowadays has come about in Syria has spread to Iraq as well and it is expected it spreads to Kurdistan, so we should not hesitate to confront terror and Al-Qaeda, this is why Iraq has a role in this frame. Here a question arises that what is the role of Kurdistan region government on Syria Kurds? It is evident that the only role we play meanwhile is to spiritually and humanly cooperate and to show the way how to defend and to unify them against terror and Al-Qaeda; and At last it is the who come up with a solution for it in the frame of the constitute.

Iraq relations with Arabian countries

Unfortunately we cannot say that Iraq relations with other Arabian countries are in a normal position. Iraq is trying to develop the relation and return it to its pleasant and standard position, unfortunately religious and national attitudes have influenced it as of a yet, though. To develop this relation, in my view, almost all Arabian countries behave like collapsed Ba’ath regime of Iraq, and they pretend that Kurd and Shiite have seized the power in Iraq and has fringed Sunnite and believe that the country should be governed by the minority of Sunnite, and once more again Iraq comes backward, while a federal, democratic and multipolicity, but a maverick and dictator can stand on its own foot.

The relation with great power and the United States

As it has been said for Iraq and Kurdistan region, foreign communications in the frame of the constitutes of Iraq and a determined strategy besides safeguarding the dependency, strengthening and developing all kinds of equal relations with powerful countries, the united States and neighbors have its own place and special importance. As with all cooperation new Iraq has been formed and Ba’ath regime of Saddam was collapsed. Because of this, for animate and reconstruct Iraq, prosperity and safeguarding calm and security of the region, an equal relationship with neighbors the out world is important and vital.

Salahaddin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRP.org) – In response to inaccurate media reports about the postponement of President Barzani’s visit to Washington, D.C., Kurdistan Region Presidency Spokesman Omed Sabah said in a statement that it was President Barzani who decided to postpone the visit to a more convenient date.

“In fact all preparations were already made by the U.S. Administration, and dates were set for meetings with senior Administration officials and the U.S. President. But President Barzani made the decision to postpone his visit to a more convenient time. This was a subject of discussion in the telephone conversation between the U.S. Vice President and the Kurdistan Region President on Friday,” said the statement

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq - (DFR.krg.org) – The Head of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Department of Foreign Relations (DFR), Minister Falah Mustafa welcomed the nonresident Canadian Ambassador to Iraq and Jordan, Mr Bruno Saccomani today to discuss the future of bilateral relations between Canada and the KRG.

This visit comes as a follow-up of the Ambassador's visit to the DFR in early October 2013 where the newly appointed Ambassador announced his six months plan to strengthen bilateral ties with the Kurdistan Region and its Government.

Minister Mustafa welcomed Ambassador Saccomani’s efforts and his support and dedication to the Kurdistan Region.

Ambassador Saccomani assured Minister Mustafa that he sees great potential in Kurdistan and is willing to put Kurdistan as well as Iraq on the forefront of Canada’s foreign policy.

Canada is due to sending a Trade delegation of a number of companies to visit the Kurdistan Region and explore its endless opportunities for investment.

Minister Mustafa briefed the Ambassador on the Syrian Refugee crisis and of the increased number of IDPs who have fled to the Kurdistan Region as violence continues in the Anbar province.

Ambassador Saccomani was accompanied by the Canadian Charge d'affairs in Baghdad, Ms Stephanie Duhaime and Senior Trade Commissioner, Jean-Philippe Tachdjian.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq – (DFR.krg.org) – Claudia Roth, who is the Vice-President of the German Bundestag as well as a member of Germany’s Green Party, met with the Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations (DFR), Minister Falah Mustafa to discuss areas of mutual concern and bilateral relations.

The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Brita Wagener, the German Consul General, Alfred Simms-Protz, and the Assistant Head of the DFR, Siham Jabali also attended the meeting.

Minister Mustafa welcomed Vice-President Roth to the Kurdistan Region and congratulated her on her recent appointment as the Vice-President of the German Bundestag. He briefed her and the accompanying delegation on the situation in the region, the complexity of the Syria crisis, the recent developments in Iraq, as well as strengthening bilateral relations with the Federal Republic of Germany.

In regards to the Syrian refugee crisis, Ms Roth was impressed by KRG’s level of cooperation and commitment to the large influx of Syrian refugees crossing the border into the Kurdistan Region, and thanked the people and the government of Kurdistan for their response.

Minister Mustafa expressed the KRG’s appreciation for the German Government’s response and efforts in alleviating the suffering of the refugees and urged for further assistance from the international community given that the number of refugees is expected to rise.

Both sides exchanged views on the Geneva II peace talks with Minister Mustafa emphasizing that the KRG should have been among those invited to the conference given that the region is being directly affected by the conflict. He added that at this point, there is no military solution to the Syrian crisis; we must rather focus on political settlements.

The Minister went on to brief Vice-President Roth about the recent security developments in the Anbar province, which has resulted in a number of IDPs fleeing the violence into Kurdistan. They also exchanged views on Iraq’s forthcoming parliamentary elections and the importance of elections being held on time. 

The KRG enjoys friendly relations with the Federal Republic of Germany and wishes to further enhance these relations. Both sides discussed ways of consolidating these bilateral ties through the KRG representation in Germany and German institutions in the Kurdistan Region. Minister Mustafa concluded by asking Vice-President Roth for her support in the German Parliament for the recognition of Genocide against the Kurdish people and promoting Kurdish friendship within in the German Parliament.