President Nechirvan Barzani meets with Defense Minister of Estonia
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, August 2, 2023
President Nechirvan Barzani received Estonian Defense Minister, Mr. Hanno Pevkur, in Erbil this evening.
Their meeting highlighted the ongoing visit of the Estonian Defense Minister to his country’s forces in the Kurdistan Region, within the framework of the international coalition against ISIS, as well as the latest developments in the fight against terrorism and ISIS networks.
Both sides agreed on the need to continue the mission of the international coalition against ISIS to confront the threat of terrorism and to ensure the eradication of ISIS, which remains a serious threat to the security and stability in the wider region.
President Nechirvan Barzani expressed the Kurdistan Region’s gratitude for the participation and contributions of Estonia and its military forces in the Kurdistan Region and in the mission of the international coalition against ISIS, and stressed the importance of continued cooperation and joint coordination in this regard.
The developments in Iraq and the wider region and other issues of mutual interest were also discussed at the meeting.
https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-defense-minister-of-estonia/
Kurdistan Region President’s message on the anniversary of the genocidal Anfal campaign against Barzanis
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, July 31, 2023
Today, we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the genocidal Anfal campaigns against the Barzanis, and pay tribute to more than 8000 innocent Barzanis who were rounded up from the concentration camps in Erbil from late July to mid-August 1983, and sent to mass murder sites, never to see their families again.
Thousands of innocent Barzani families in Qushtapa, Bahrka, Harir, Soran and other places were left without fathers and brothers, and thousands of Barzani women remained widowed, facing an unknown and difficult fate, and enduring harsh suffering and deprivation. These brave women took the responsibility of raising their children in the absence of their fathers and brothers who never came back from the mass murder sites of southern deserts. I kiss the hands of these kind and devoted mothers.
The Anfal of Barzanis, like all the crimes committed against the people of Kurdistan, not only did not weaken the strength and determination of our people to fight against oppression and dictatorship, rather, it strengthened the spirit of confrontation and the will of the people of Kurdistan to continue their struggle with a stronger belief.
As we mark this notorious day, we salute the innocent Barzani victims of the Anfal; we pay tribute to all victims of the infamous Anfal campaigns and honor all the fallen heroes of Kurdistan. We applaud the people of Erbil, Harir and Batas, for their courageous roles in sheltering and assisting the families who were targeted in the Anfal campaign.
On this occasion, at a time when the Kurdistan Region is passing through a critical period, we reemphasize the unity and solidarity of all parties and communities in Kurdistan, which is the only path to prosperity and success.
Nechirvan Barzani
The President of the Kurdistan Region
https://presidency.gov.krd/en/kurdistan-region-presidents-message-on-the-anniversary-of-the-genocidal-anfal-campaign-against-barzanis/
President Nechirvan Barzani attends the funeral of the late Sheikh Saeed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Abu Dhabi, UAE, July 29, 2023
President Nechirvan Barzani attended the funeral of Sheikh Saeed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the late brother of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, in Abu Dhabi today.
The President conveyed the condolences of President Masoud Barzani, and offered his and the people of Kurdistan’s sympathies to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Al Nahyan family, and to the government and the people of the UAE. The President prayed that the Almighty God will bestow his mercy upon the late Sheikh Saeed Bin Zayed and grant patience and comfort to everyone.
The UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed his gratitude, and thanked President Nechirvan Barzani for attending the funeral and for his sympathies.
https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-attends-the-funeral-of-the-late-sheikh-saeed-bin-zayed-al-nahyan/
President Nechirvan Barzani receives Patriarch of Chaldean Catholic Church
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, July 25, 2023
President Nechirvan Barzani received Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, the Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, and his accompanying delegation in Erbil today.
In a meeting, on the recent revocation of an Iraqi presidential decree regarding the Chaldean Catholic Church, President Nechirvan Barzani reiterated the importance of Iraq including the Kurdistan Region to embrace all religious and ethnic communities, and expressed hope that the President of Iraq would resolve the issue soon.
President Nechirvan Barzani reaffirmed that coexistence and mutual acceptance are uncompromising values and principles, and that Iraq’s strength lies in remaining a country for all communities, and protecting the rights of all.
For his part, Cardinal Sako expressed his gratitude for the support of President Nechirvan Barzani and stressed that the Kurdistan Region is a land of coexistence and mutual acceptance and a source of pride for them. Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans reassured that the current situation will not prevent him from carrying out his commitments and duties or from continuing to protect Iraq and its peaceful coexistence.
The situation in the Nineveh Plains and other issues related to the status of the Church and the Christians were also highlighted during the meeting which was also attended by the Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs of the Kurdistan Regional Government.
President Nechirvan Barzani meets with Minister of Armed Forces of France
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, July 19, 2023
President Nechirvan Barzani received Mr. Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces of France and his accompanying delegation this evening.
The meeting discussed the latest developments in the fight against ISIS, the fight against terrorism and the security situation in Iraq, the Kurdistan Region and the wider region. Both sides agreed that ISIS remains an existing threat which necessitates the continued support of the international coalition and France to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
President Nechirvan Barzani expressed the Kurdistan Region’s gratitude for the support of France to the people of Kurdistan in the past, especially referring to the role of French President Mr. Emmanuel Macron, and stressed that the people of Kurdistan will never forget the solidarity and the support from France.
For his part, the French Minister of Armed Forces expressed delight to visit Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and stressed that his country will continue to support Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in order to maintain peace and stability in Iraq, the Kurdistan Region and the wider region countering the threats of terrorism and ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
The meeting, which was attended by the French Ambassador to Iraq and the French Consul General in the Kurdistan Region, highlighted Erbil-Baghdad relations, coordination between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi army to fight terrorism, the situation in the wider region in general and the war in Ukraine, it’s ramifications and other issues of common interest were discussed.
Later in a joint press conference, the two sides discussed the contents of their meeting.
The President said:
“I was very pleased to welcome Mr. Minister here in Erbil this evening. We warmly welcome him to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. His visit is an important message of France’s continued support and friendship with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. you are very welcome.
“We had a good meeting. We talked about the fight against ISIS and the fight against terrorism and extremism. We both agreed that ISIS is still a real threat to the security and stability of Iraq and the region, so the international coalition and France should continue to support Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
“We thanked France for its continued support and friendship with the Kurdistan Region. The people of Kurdistan will never forget the help and support of France at different stages. We reiterate our gratitude for the role of President Macron for his continued contact and support to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
“We support the understanding and agreements between Iraq and France. We expect the Kurdistan Region to benefit from it, especially in the field of assistance and training of the Peshmerga.
“We stressed the importance of continued coordination and cooperation between Iraq and the Kurdistan Region with France and the international community to maintain peace and stability and to meet this challenge in Iraq and the region.
“We discussed the situation in Sinjar, the Yezidis, Christians and other communities and the importance of paving the way for the return of the Yezidi refugees to their places. In this regard, we both agreed that it is important for this purpose to implement the agreement between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi Federal Government to normalize the situation in Sinjar.
“We thank the French Embassy in Baghdad and French Consulate General in Erbil for their efforts to promote French relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Welcome again to Erbil, Mr. Minister.”
Minister of the Armed Forces of France:
“Thank you, Mr. President Nechirvan Barzani, thank you for this warm welcome, thank you for these words of friendship and for the way the delegation I am leading was received and welcomed. I would like to thank the French Ambassador to Iraq and the French Consul General in Erbil.
“At a very special moment for the whole world, where there are many security challenges that we must face together, as we mentioned during our meeting, France is strengthening itself. In the parliament we voted for a law to approve an unprecedented budget.
“When I say unprecedented, it reminds us of General Charles de Gaulle’s measures in the 1960s to manage various crisis situations such as the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the return of rivalry of global powers. Current issues include climate change and security challenges on land and sea, with a very prominent topic on the table: terrorism.
“As I told you, France has a deeply special relationship with this subject, which is an emotional relationship, and it is regrettable that it has a relationship with its calamities as well. We have seen the bombings in Paris and Nice, and we know what the blood shed in France has to do with misery. In confronting terrorism France is not an ordinary Western country like others.
“This forces us to verify the results achieved here by our forces through Operation North, as well as the operations within the framework of the international coalition. The operations were carried out within the framework of bilateral relations. The results of these operations are visible here and are reassuring.
“At the very least, the fight against terrorism remains a challenge. As a constant challenge, as a very delicate challenge for every moment, and completely with radical Islam which is the Islamic State (ISIS), our task is not over. Therefore, we must continue to cooperate in the field of intelligence and training. As you mentioned, Mr. President, I will not go back to these issues, but these are the keys to the future in order to accelerate the issues related to security.
“Then we will have the opportunity to come to another global issue: Ukraine. This is an issue that French diplomacy has been very busy with in the past. It is also an opportunity to tell the media here, as well as various observers, that France is not short-sighted when it says that the Ukraine crisis has occupied a lot of Western energy. We know how much we owe to our friends and all our partners to meet all the challenges that are key to regional stability, as well as to the security of Iraqi Kurdistan and French citizens.
“This is the message of this visit, which is a message of friendship and loyalty, a message of gratitude for the work done so far, as well as for the projects. Projects for the future are about the challenges we face, the challenges we constantly face and must face together.
“Thank you very much again for this warm welcome. I am happy for my first visit to Erbil that I will never forget.”
President Nechirvan Barzani meets with commander of coalition forces in Iraq and Syria
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, July 19, 2023
President Nechirvan Barzani received General Matthew McFarlane, Commanding General of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, and his accompanying delegation, in Erbil today.
The meeting highlighted the reform process in the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, the unification and reorganization of the Peshmerga, the problems and obstacles facing the process and ways to address the issues.
Both sides agreed that the process of unification and reorganization of the Peshmerga and reform at the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs have not been carried out properly according to the program.
For his part, President Nechirvan Barzani stressed that despite the problems and obstacles, all efforts will continue to make the reform process and unification of the Peshmerga a success, and showed appreciation for the United States contributions and encouragement for the success of the process.
The meeting, which was attended by the US Consul General in the Kurdistan Region, discussed also Erbil-Baghdad relations, the situation in the wider region and other issues of mutual interest.
President Nechirvan Barzani and President Ilham Aliyev pledge to strengthen bilateral relations
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, July 18, 2023
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani was warmly received by President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan at the Presidential Palace in Baku, Tuesday.
During their friendly meeting, the two leaders pledged to deepen the bilateral relations of Azerbaijan with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in all areas, especially in the fields of economy, trade, tourism and energy. They also highlighted the investment opportunities for Azerbaijani companies in the Kurdistan Region and all of Iraq.
The two sides stressed the importance of opening the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in the Kurdistan Region, and discussed the procedures to open the consulate in the near future to promote bilateral relations and mutual cooperation between the two sides.
They further discussed the ongoing efforts to launch direct flights between Erbil and Baku, and between Baku and Baghdad and other parts of Iraq, and to facilitate the issuance of visas and exchange of delegations between the two sides.
President Nechirvan Barzani also attended a meeting with the delegations of both sides including Charge d’Affaires of the Iraqi Embassy in Baku. In that meeting, the channels of communication between the two sides, and procedures to follow up on the recommendations of the meeting of the two Presidents were highlighted.
President Nechirvan Barzani to visit the Republic of Azerbaijan
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, July 17, 2023
President Nechirvan Barzani is to arrive in Baku on Tuesday on an official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan, where he will hold a meeting with the President of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev.
President Nechirvan Barzani and President Ilham Aliyev are set to discuss the bilateral relations of Azerbaijan with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and ways to develop mutual cooperation.
https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-to-visit-the-republic-of-azerbaijan/
President Nechirvan Barzani bids farewell to outgoing Consul General of France
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, July 2, 2023
President Nechirvan Barzani received the outgoing French Consul General in the Kurdistan Region Mr. Olivier Decottignies on Sunday, who paid a farewell visit to the President upon completion of his term in office.
The President thanked Consul General Decottignies for his efforts to promote his country’s relations with the Kurdistan Region and wished him success in his upcoming assignment.
For his part, the French Consul General referred to his term in office in the Kurdistan Region and thanked the President and relevant parties for their support during his tenure, and hoped the cooperation and support to continue for his successor. Mr. Decottignies also expressed appreciation for the efforts and contributions of President Nechirvan Barzani to promote relations between the Kurdistan Region and France.
The two sides also discussed the development of French relations with the Kurdistan Region and other issues of common interest.
President Nechirvan Barzani’s message on Eid al-Adha
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, June 27, 2023
On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, I warmly congratulate all Muslims in Kurdistan, Iraq, and the world. I wish everyone a happy Eid.
On this day, let us embrace the messages of Eid on tolerance, peace, and reconciliation and turn it into an opportunity to renew friendship and to start a new chapter together.
Most of all, the people of Kurdistan expect the political parties to make this holiday an opportunity for unity and solidarity so that we can move towards a better future together. Let us all meet this expectation.
Happy holidays to all of you.
Nechirvan Barzani
The President of the Kurdistan Region
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President Nechirvan Barzani: Germany attaches importance to its relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region
President Nechirvan Barzani: Germany attaches importance to its relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region
President Nechirvan Barzani: Germany attaches importance to its relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region
President Nechirvan Barzani meets with the Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany
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