News

President Nechirvan Barzani meets with US delegation

MUNICH, Germany, February 17, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani met separately with the US Senator, Mr. Chris Van Hollen and a US Congressional delegation led by Mr. Mike Turner, the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference today in Germany.

The meetings focused on the bilateral relations of the US with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and ways to further strengthen ties. The US delegation reaffirmed the United States’ continued support to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in the fight against terrorism and the challenges that currently face Iraq.

Discussions also covered the reform process within the Peshmarga Ministry and the unification of the Peshmerga forces. In this regard, President Nechirvan Barzani reiterated Kurdistan Region’s commitment to continuing and completing the process with the US assistance. The President also expressed the Kurdistan Region’s gratitude for the US support to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

The developments in the wider region and other topics of mutual interest were also highlighted during the two meetings.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-us-delegation-2/

President Nechirvan Barzani meets with Prime Minister of Armenia

MUNICH, Germany, February 17, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani met with Armenian Prime Minister, Mr. Nikol Pashinyan Friday evening, on the sidelines of the Munich Security conference in Germany.

Discussions focused on Armenia’s relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in all fields, emphasizing the need to expand trade exchanges between the two countries and highlighting job and investment opportunities.

The two sides also highlighted the situation of the Kurdish Diaspora in Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora in the Kurdistan Region. The ancient relations between the two sides, as well as the challenges facing Kurdistan, Armenia and the wider region were also discussed.

Regarding the security situation and stability of the region, the President of the Kurdistan Region and the Prime Minister of Armenia stressed the importance of making efforts and working comprehensively to resolve all issues peacefully through dialogue and negotiations.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-prime-minister-of-armenia/

President Nechirvan Barzani meets with Foreign Minister of Qatar

MUNICH, Germany, February 17, 2023

Continuing his meetings in Germany on the sidelines of Munich Security Conference, President Nechirvan Barzani met with His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar.

The meeting focused on Qatar’s relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and their joint cooperation to further expand their bilateral relations.

His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani reiterated Qatar’s willingness to expand job and investment opportunities in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and expressed hope that greater opportunities for Qatari private sectors emerge in the Kurdistan Region. The President offered the support of all relevant institutions in the Kurdistan Region for Qatari business and investment ventures.

Both sides agreed on the importance of working to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East and reaffirmed the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully. In this context, they also discussed the constructive standing and role of both sides in the wider region.

President Nechirvan Barzani meets with US Assistant Secretary of State

MUNICH, Germany, February 17, 2023

Continuing his meetings on the sidelines of Munich Security Conference in Germany today, President Nechirvan Barzani met with Ms. Celeste Wallander, the US Assistant Secretary of Defense for international security affairs.

During the meeting, the security situation in Iraq, the Kurdistan Region and the wider region were discussed and the latest developments in the war against terrorism was highlighted.

Ms. Wallander reaffirmed the continued US support to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region within the framework of Strategic Dialogue, especially in the fight to eliminate the ISIS terror networks.

The President reiterated the appreciation of the Kurdistan Region for the US support in the fight against terrorism and valued the continued US support for the reform process withing the Peshmarga Ministry including the unification of the Peshmarga forces.

The latest developments in the wider region, collective efforts to ensure regional security and stability and other topics of mutual interest were also discussed.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-us-assistant-secretary-of-state-2/

President Nechirvan Barzani meets with Yezidi activist Ms. Nadiya Murad

MUNICH, Germany, February 17, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani met with Ms. Nadiya Murad, the Yezidi humanitarian and Nobel laureate in Germany today on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The latest about the status of the Yezidis, the Shingal district and the continuing efforts to free abducted Yezidis were highlighted at the meeting.

The two sides also discussed the situation of the Yezidi refugees and reiterated the importance of the status of Shingal, its reconstruction, the safe return of the displaced, and the international assistance to the Yezidis and Shingal district.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-yezidi-activist-ms-nadiya-murad/

President Nechirvan Barzani meets with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan

MUNICH, Germany, February 18, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani met with Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan Republic today on the sidelines of Munich Security Conference in Germany.

During their meeting, both sides expressed their mutual willingness to develop bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and Azerbaijan Republic including partnerships in trade and commerce and also establishing official visits between the two sides.

In this context, President Aliyev announced his country’s plans to open a consulate general in Erbil and invited President Nechirvan Barzani to visit Baku.

Discussions also covered other issues of common interest including regional stability and security.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-president-ilham-aliyev-of-azerbaijan/

President Nechirvan Barzani meets with Vice President of European Commission

MUNICH, Germany, February 18, 2023

Continuing his meetings in Germany on the second day of Munich Security Conference, President Nechirvan Barzani met with Mr. Josep Borrel, the Vice President of European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The meeting discussed the latest political and security developments in Iraq, the relations between Erbil and Baghdad, the war on terror, the relations of Iraq and Kurdistan Region with the EU member states and the opportunities to expand collective cooperation.

Mr. Borrel emphasized the continued support of the European Union for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in the fight against terrorism, and in the process of building the state institutions, and expressed support for the ongoing talks between Erbil and Baghdad aimed at resolving their differences. Mr. Borrel stressed that the peace, stability and welfare of Iraq is of importance to the European Union.

For his part, President Nechirvan Barzani thanked the EU for its political, humanitarian and military support to Iraq and Kurdistan and reiterated the willingness of the Kurdistan Region to further expanding relations with the EU countries in all areas including security and economic partnerships.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-vice-president-of-european-commission/

President Nechirvan Barzani welcomes new Japanese Ambassador

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, February 15, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani received today in Erbil the incoming Japanese Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Futoshi Matsumoto.

The meeting focused on the relations of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region with Japan, and ways to further strengthen bilateral ties.

President Nechirvan Barzani congratulated Ambassador Futoshi on assuming the office and expressed the Kurdistan Region’s appreciation for the works and projects of the Japanese agencies and organizations in the Kurdistan Region. The President noted that there is a favorable environment for Japanese investments in the country.

Ambassador Futoshi presented an overview of the activities of the Japanese private sector and companies in Kurdistan, reiterating his country’s willingness to develop relations and joint cooperation with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The Ambassador also expressed the readiness of his country to invest and expand their activities in Iraq and the Kurdistan.

The two leaders also discussed the political situation in Iraq, relations between Erbil and Baghdad, and the latest developments in the wider region.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-welcomes-new-japanese-ambassador/

President Nechirvan Barzani receives a Chinese delegation

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, February 13, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani received a delegation from the People’s Republic of China headed by Mr. Zhu Rui, the Assistant Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

At the meeting attended by the Chinese Ambassador to Baghdad and officials at the Consulate General of China in Erbil, China’s relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, the situation in Iraq, the challenges facing the relations between Erbil and Baghdad, and discussions to resolve their pending issues were highlighted.

It was emphasized that both sides attach great importance to the bilateral relations of China with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and expressed their readiness to expand cooperation between the two countries, especially in the fields of trade and culture. They also discussed the works and projects of Chinese companies in Iraq.

Regarding the issues between Erbil and Baghdad, President Nechirvan Barzani stressed that the implementation of the federal system in Iraq and the resolution of issues on the basis of the Constitution will lead to stability and further economic development. The President also reiterated that the Kurdistan Region looks forward to benefiting from the projects carried out by China in Iraq.

The two sides also discussed the relations between Iraq and the Kurdistan Region with the neighboring and regional countries, the fight against terrorism and the latest developments in the wider region.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-receives-a-chinese-delegation/

Prime Minister meets with Georgian counterpart in Dubai

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Monday met with his counterpart Irakli Garibashvili of Georgia on the sidelines of the 2023 World Countries Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

In the meeting, the two discussed ways of strengthening bilateral ties and increasing cooperation on issues that are significant for both sides.

Discussions also focused on opportunities for opening of Georgia’s consulate in the Kurdistan Region as well as operating direct flights between Tbilisi and Erbil.