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