With the presence of Nazem Debbagh, the KRG representative in Tehran, Dr. Jegarkhowein (Muhammad Seddighgh Ahmad), the deputy-representative of KRG, Mohammad Majid Al-Sheikh the ambassador of Iraq in Tehran, Hiva Margei, Dr. Ramazan a member of KRG in Tehran, as well as several political, cultural and literary personification of Iraq and Iran, a number of Kurd members settling in the center, a number of stuff of KRG representative and a countless number of Phili Kurds settling in the center and different towns of Iran, 11^th anniversary of commemorative ceremonies of 22000 martyrs of Phili Kurd was held at 10 am on Friday, Khordad 2th (May 23^rd , 2014) at Agha Mahmud Mosque in Tehran.

At the beginning of the ceremony Mohammad Majid Al-Sheikh, the ambassador of Iraq in Iran gave a speech, and Mrs. Dr. Batul Meshkin Faam, so did the professor of Arab language and literature of the University of Al-Zahra, about the role and place of Phili Kurds, then Musa Bidaj, the kurdish outstanding poet and translator read a poem in Kurdish language.

Next Dr. Jegar Khavin, the deputy-representative of KRG in Tehran gave a speech about identical features of Phili Kurds of Iraq and the difficulties caused by Ba’ath regime of Iraq like mandatory traveling, disappearance of 20000 teens of Phili Kurds, destroy of the houses, …, Phili Kurds participation in volunteer activities of Kurd people, the legal aspects of mentioned crimes and finally the responsibility of new government for the victims.

In a part of the commemorative ceremony, Mohammad Heydari, the Kurdish poet read a poem with Phili Kurd dialect, then Engineer Mohammad Reza Morvarid, the governor of Kurd in Ilam, gave a speech about the role and place of Phili Kurds in the past and present, after that Majed Ghamaz, the representative of High Islamic Parliament of Iraq, gave a speech, at the end Seyyed Ahmad Musavi, a Phili Kurd settling in Denmark, read a say about genocide of Phili Kurds.

11^th anniversary of commemorative ceremony of 22000 martyrs of Phili Kurds, with the effort of Hosseini groups of Phili Kurd settling in the centre, Masoudieh, Alishirvan of Shoush, Gharchak and Bisim and Najaf was held by Adnan Javadi presentation.      

London, United Kingdom (gov.UK) - Foreign Secretary William Hague and Prime Minister Nechirvan Idris Barzani discussed relations between the UK and the Kurdistan Region, Iraq’s recent elections, and human rights issues.

Speaking after the meeting the Foreign Secretary said:

"I was pleased to welcome Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Barzani to London today. The Prime Minister’s visit is a chance to celebrate the warm relations between the UK and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, with links in areas as diverse as trade, education and culture, and to reaffirm the UK’s desire to remain the Region’s partner of choice on all of these issues."

"I congratulated the Prime Minister on the progress that has been made in the Kurdistan Region over recent years, and the relative stability and security that has been achieved despite the violence in other parts of Iraq, and in neighbouring Syria."

"We also discussed the recent elections in Iraq, and the next steps towards the formation of a new federal government. I encouraged the Prime Minister, and other Kurdish parties, to remain fully engaged in this process."

Rome, Italy (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani arrived in Rome on Wednesday to meet with the Pope and Italian government officials.

During his two-day visit, the President held separate meetings with the Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, President of the Italian Senate, Mr. Pietro Grasso, and with the chairman and members of the senate foreign relations committee.

The meetings focused on bilateral ties, the political developments in Iraq- particularly after the recent parliamentary elections, the Syrian refugees, and the situation of Christians in Iraq and in Kurdistan.
In the meeting with Foreign Minister Mogherini, she said she is pleased with the status of her country’s economic and political relations with the KRG and that her country will soon upgrade her country’s diplomatic representation to a full consulate general.

On the situation of refugees in Kurdistan, the foreign minister commended the KRG for taking in refugees not only from Syria, but also Arabs and Christians from other parts of Iraq. She expressed her country’s willingness to help the KRG in its efforts to support these refugees.

The two also discussed the political developments in Iraq and efforts to form a new government after the recent elections. In this regards, President Barzani said that the Kurdistan Region has formed a unified negotiation team for talks with other Iraqi parties. He stated that the people of Kurdistan cannot wait another ten years for their legitimate and constitutional demands to be addressed. If these demands are not addressed, then the KRG leadership would ask the people of Kurdistan through a referendum to decide on their future relationship with Baghdad.

Rome, Italy (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday.

At the outset of the meeting, Pope Francis said that he was aware of the situation of Kurds and of their tragedies in the past. He commended President Barzani and the people of Kurdistan for what they have achieved, particularly in offering the Kurdistan Region as a safe haven for Syrian refugees and for Christians fleeing violence in other parts of Iraq.

The Pope also praised President Barzani for KRG’s policy of promoting tolerance and peaceful co-existence among different religious communities. He expressed his hope that the KRG would continue to enjoy peace and prosperity.

For his part, President Barzani talked about tolerance in Kurdistan as a long-standing tradition that has popular support. He said that peoples of different religions have made sacrifices together in the past and now live side by side in peace and freedom.

On the situation of refugees and Christians who have sought refuge in Kurdistan, President Barzani said that the KRG would continue to provide assistance to them as a humanitarian duty.