News

Kurdistan Region President receives Consul General of Hungary

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, October 28, 2021

President Nechirvan Barzani received Mr. Attila Toth, the Consul General of Hungary in Erbil on Thursday.

The President congratulated Mr. Toth on assuming the office, wished him success in his duties in the Kurdistan Region and expressed support for his new mission. The President offered his gratitude to Hungary for its support to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq within the International Coalition against ISIS. The President also thanked Hungary for its humanitarian assistance to refugees and displaced people in the Kurdistan Region and reaffirmed Kurdistan Region’s willingness to strengthen bilateral ties.

Consul General Toth expressed delight over his new mission, reiterating his country’s commitment to expand ties with the Kurdistan Region, especially economic relations, and seeking greater opportunities for partnership.

Discussions also focused on Iraq’s elections, the future of the political process in the country, efforts to form the next Iraqi government and the war on terrorism.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/kurdistan-region-president-receives-consul-general-of-hungary/

PM Masrour Barzani meets American LDS organisation

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (GOV.KRD) - Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday met delegates from the American LDS organisation.

The Premier thanked the delegation which has helped the Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) with aid to displaced and poor people.

They praised the Kurdistan Region for taking over a million displaced people, despite the financial crisis, and discussed the importance of returning Yezidis to their hometown Shingal.

https://gov.krd/english/government/the-prime-minister/activities/posts/2021/october/pm-masrour-barzani-meets-american-lds-organisation/

PM Masrour Barzani meets German Ambassador to Iraq

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (GOV.KRD) - Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday met Martin Jaegar, the new German ambassador to Iraq.

Prime Minister Barzani congratulated ambassador Jaegar and hoped for further links between Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and Germany.

The ambassador thanked the KRG for its cooperation and expressed Germany’s wish for greater ties.

Both sides also discussed the recent Iraq and German elections, and the KRG’s reform process, along with continued support for the Peshmerga.

https://gov.krd/english/government/the-prime-minister/activities/posts/2021/october/pm-masrour-barzani-meets-german-ambassador-to-iraq/

PM Masrour Barzani meets Turkish Ambassador to Iraq

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (GOV.KRD) - Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Wednesday met Ali Reza Guney, Turkey’s ambassador to Iraq.

Also present was the Turkish consul general in Erbil and both sides discussed developing relations between Turkey, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region.

They emphasised bilateral cooperation, especially in trade and commerce.

https://gov.krd/english/government/the-prime-minister/activities/posts/2021/october/pm-masrour-barzani-meets-turkish-ambassador-to-iraq/

Kurdistan Region President meets with UK Ambassador

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, October 21, 2021

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with Mr. Mark Bryson-Richardson, the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Iraq, in Erbil on Thursday.

At the meeting, attended by the UK Consul General in Erbil, the relations of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq with the United Kingdom, the latest developments in the country, the parliamentary elections in Iraq, the improvement in process from previous elections, and the importance of settling any disputes through the appropriate legal channels were highlighted.

Discussions also covered the Erbil-Baghdad relations, President Nechirvan Barzani’s recent visit to London, the ongoing efforts to contain COVID-19 pandemic, the war on terrorism and confronting ISIS.

President Nechirvan Barzani and Ambassador Richardson reaffirmed commitment to strengthen relations and agreed that Iraq’s future government should be responsive to the will and expectations of its citizens. In regards to confronting COVID-19 and its wide ranging implications especially for schools, education and the economy, it was affirmed that the vaccination process needs to be expanded. Both sides also expressed delight over the coordination between the Peshmarga forces and the Iraqi army with support from the International Coalition to confront ISIS.

The President reiterated the importance of unity among Kurdistani factions in Baghdad and the efforts of the Kurdistan Region Presidency to achieve this. The President also offered his appreciation for the UK support and assistance to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and referred to his recent visit to London, his meetings with UK Prime Minister and other officials in the United Kingdom, and the outcome of the meetings there. The President commended the role of the UK Embassy and Consulate General in Baghdad and Erbi in this regard.

Discussions also covered the developments in the wider region and other topics of mutual interest.

Kurdistan Region President meets with Ambassador of Sweden

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, October 21, 2021

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received Mr. Jonas Lovèn, the incoming Ambassador of Sweden to Iraq, in Erbil on Thursday.

The President congratulated Ambassador Lovèn on assuming office, wished him success in his new mission, and expressed full support for his assignment. The President also commended Sweden’s aid to the Kurdistan Region.

Ambassador Lovèn referred to the importance that Sweden attaches to its relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in all areas of cooperation, encouraging Swedish businesses to invest in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

The President voiced Kurdistan Region’s willingness to welcome and support Swedish investments, gave a brief overview of the election law in Iraq, the voting process and the outcome of the elections. The President expressed his appreciation for the cooperation of the UNAMI, the European Union and their global partners with Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission.

Boosting relations, the developments in the wider region, the impacts of global warming especially on Iraq, the works and activities of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Representative in Sweden, and the status of the Kurdistani community in Sweden were highlighted.

PM Masrour Barzani meets UK ambassador to Iraq

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (GOV.KRD) - Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday met Mark Bryson, UK Ambassador to Iraq.

They discussed post-election Iraq and the Kurdistan Region’s relationship with the UK.

The Premier hoped the election results will help stability in Iraq and ease problems between Erbil and Baghdad.

Peshmerga reforms, terrorism, and the Shingal agreement were also discussed.

https://gov.krd/english/government/the-prime-minister/activities/posts/2021/october/pm-masrour-barzani-meets-uk-ambassador-to-iraq/

PM Masrour Barzani meets new Swedish Ambassador to Iraq

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (GOV.KRD) - Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday met Jonas Loven, the new Swedish ambassador to Iraq.

The Premier congratulated him and hoped for better relations between Iraq, Sweden, and the Kurdistan Region.

The ambassador thanked the Kurdistan Regional Government for its cooperation and expressed Sweden’s readiness for stronger ties.

https://gov.krd/english/government/the-prime-minister/activities/posts/2021/october/pm-masrour-barzani-meets-new-swedish-ambassador-to-iraq/

Kurdistan Region President meets with Emir of Qatar

Doha, Qatar, October 17, 2021

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, in Doha on Sunday.

At the meeting, His Highness the Emir reaffirmed that Qatar attaches importance to its relations with Iraq and values peace and stability in the country. His Highness expressed Qatar’s readiness to further develop relations with the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, especially in areas of investments, commerce and economic partnership.

The Emir expressed delight that the elections in Iraq were held peacefully, reiterating his country’s willingness to expand cooperation with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. His Highness shared observations on his recent visit to Baghdad and hoped to visit the Kurdistan Region in his next trip to Iraq.

For his part, President Nechirvan Barzani referred to the role and influence of Qatar, and voiced the Kurdistan Region’s willingness to further develop relations with Qatar in all areas. The President reaffirmed that the Kurdistan Region is willing to facilitate and fully support Qatari investments, describing the investment laws in the Kurdistan Region as encouraging and supportive.

President Nechirvan Barzani reiterated that the Kurdistan Region will remain a factor of peace and stability in Iraq and the wider region. The President gave a brief overview of the Iraqi parliamentary elections and the preliminary results, and hoped that the elections would lead to formation of a government that ensures improved public services and better livelihood for all Iraqi communities.

The President and the Emir exchanged views on the regional developments and reaffirmed the importance of partnership for maintaining peace and stability.

Kurdistan Region President meets with Prime Minister of Qatar

Doha, Qatar, October 17, 2021

Continuing his official visit to Qatar, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Qatar, in Doha on Sunday.

Discussions covered a wide range of issues including Iraq’s parliamentary elections, the future of the political process in Iraq, boosting Kurdistan Region and Iraq’s relations with Qatar, particularly in areas of commerce, agriculture, tourism and economic relations. The COVID-19 pandemic, its implications and the ongoing vaccination efforts in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and the direct flights of Qatar Airways to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq were discussed.

Both sides reaffirmed support for boosting Kurdistan Region and Iraq’s relations with Qatar, highlighting the investment opportunities for Qatari businesses in the wide emerging markets of the Kurdistan Region and the rest of Iraq, especially in areas and sectors where Iraq and the Kurdistan Region need support. The President and the Prime Minister also discussed the steps taken so far to open the Qatari Consul General in Erbil.

Discussions also focused on the threats posed by ISIS, ways to confront terrorism and countering extremism, the status of the refugees in Al-Hawl Camp in Syria, the latest developments in the wider region and other topics of mutual interest.