News

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.

President Nechirvan Barzani meets with Foreign Minister of Qatar

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, October 16, 2021

On the first leg of his official visit to Qatar on Saturday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, in Doha.

The President and the Foreign Minister emphasized on boosting the relations of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq with Qatar, and highlighted investment opportunities for Qatari businesses in the Kurdistan Region and on to Iraq, especially in needed areas. They also discussed the latest on the opening of Qatar’s Consulate General in Erbil.

The developments in Iraq, the outcome of the Iraqi parliamentary elections, the political process in the country, latest developments in the wider region and other topics of mutual interest were highlighted.

President Nechirvan Barzani meets with UN Special Representative Plasschaert

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, October 14, 2021

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Ms. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, in Erbil on Thursday.

Discussions focused on the election process of Iraq’s Council of Representatives and the outcome, the latest developments in the country and the future of the political process.

Both sides expressed hope that the election results would lead to the formation of a government that is responsive to the will, hopes and expectations of all communities, promoting peace, stability and better public services for all Iraqis. Both sides also agreed that all complaints regarding the election results should be addressed within the judicial procedures.

For his part, the President thanked and commended Ms. Plasschaert and (UNAMI) for their important role in observing the election process and supporting Iraq.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-un-special-representative-plasschaert-4/

President Nechirvan Barzani’s message on the successful conclusion of parliamentary elections in Iraq

President Nechirvan Barzani: Everyone is a winner: unity, consensus and partnership

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, September 12, 2021

My fellow citizens,
Political parties and factions in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq,

I congratulate everyone on holding successful elections for the Council of Representatives. Iraq and the Kurdistan Region are now in a new phase and regardless of the final outcome of the elections, everyone is a winner. We need to come together and prepare ourselves for our collective duties, responsibilities and challenges ahead.

Unity, tolerance and partnership among all of us are the keys to success, which ensure the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region. It is the way we can protect our hard-won achievements, the federal system and political entity of the Kurdistan Region. All political parties and forces of Kurdistan need to come together in unity and common purpose, and fulfill our joint duty and responsibility. We need to work together for a better present and a promising future for the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. And for this purpose, we must cooperate with the Iraqi sides and parties.

It is our duty as Iraq’s political parties and factions to take serious steps towards resolving the problems of the country through realistic and new understanding and vision, and by drawing lessons from past errors. This is how we can work for a stable and prosperous Iraq in which the constitutional rights of all communities are ensured and safeguarded. And this is the Iraq that will bring us together in harmony, mutual trust, collaboration, common destiny, collective efforts, the public interest, genuine partnership, consensus and equality.

I thank citizens, all parties and institutions, the administrative and security apparatuses, the media and civil society institutions, which were supportive in holding calm election campaigns. I thank the efforts of Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission, local and foreign observers, the United Nations teams, especially the Head of the UNAMI team in Iraq, the European Union and the Arab League who monitored the election process. It is the right step on the right path. Our participation in the election of our representatives in Baghdad demonstrates our commitment to democratic values and principles.

At the same time, the voter turnout is a clear message from the citizens that they expect better livelihood and improved public services, which they are entitled to. This should be a lesson for all of us in the government and the political parties in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, encouraging us for serious reassessments and reestablishment of trust. It should also encourage us to work and serve more.

It is time now to work together and form a patriotic federal government which mirrors the will and expectations of the citizens; a government which implements the constitution, empowers state institutions, assumes control of the extrajudicial armed groups, corrects the political process based on the constitution and partnership of all Iraqi communities, and takes charge of the country towards a better future for everyone.

I wish everyone success.

Nechirvan Barzani
The President of the Kurdistan Region

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzanis-message-on-the-successful-conclusion-of-parliamentary-elections-in-iraq/

PM Masrour Barzani meets UNAMI chief

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (GOV.KRD) - Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday met UNAMI chief Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.

Both sides discussed the latest developments in Iraq including the elections, the role of international monitoring teams and the UN’s contribution to a successful poll.

They hoped the new Iraqi government will serve everyone fairly.

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

Variety, the reputable film magazine, and publish a news by independent international journalist, Mansour Jahani

Variety, the reputable film magazine, has published a news from Mansour Jahani, the independent international journalist, in regards to the success and achievements of Tehran International Short Film Festival among the Oscar Qualified festivals.

The important and incredible magazine, Variety, published this report under the title ‘“Tehran International Short Film Festival Named An Academy Award Qualified Festival”it’s been written: The Movie which will receive the main international prize at the Tehran Short Film Festival festival will be eligible to be introduce to Oscar directly.

The Tehran Intl. Short Film Festival is organized by the Iranian Youth Cinema Society (IYCS). Few other festivals in the region have received this honor - Egypt, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and India are the only nearby countries with Academy Award-qualifying festivals, according to IYCS and festival director Sadeq Musavi, who also said there are only 127 short film festivals worldwide that provide Oscar eligibility.

“At present, there are over 10,000 festivals being organized across the world. Most of them are unreliable. Meanwhile, the Tehran International Short Festival has a good status in the world. Although the festival is not decidedly familiar, it can be considered as the most important short film festival in West Asia,” Musavi said. “Free registration will be set aside after the restrictions on international payments are lifted, and, like other festivals, we will collect a registration fee from participants and the festival will be able to cover all its expenses.” Musavi also said that the festival is the only one in the region to offer a free admission program.

The Tehran short film festival takes place every year in October and is a member of Intl. Short Film Conference. The 2020 edition of the festival screened 55 films, which were produced across five different continents.

For more details:
https://variety.com/2021/film/news/film-news-in-brief-september-20-1235069493/

PM Masrour Barzani meets Head of EU office

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (GOV.KRD) - Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Sunday met Marie Paret, head of the EU’s Erbil Liaison Office.

The PM congratulated Marie Paret on her new role before addressing the ninth cabinet’s economic reforms and improved provision of services.

The EU official expressed the bloc’s wish to cooperate more with the KRG and boost bilateral ties.

Iraqi elections, monitoring mechanisms, and the relationship between Erbil and Baghdad were also discussed.

Kurdistan Region President receives Ambassador of Qatar

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, September 30, 2021

Kurdistan Region President received Mr. Khalid bin Hamad Al Sulaiti, the Ambassador of Qatar to Iraq, in Erbil on Thursday.

Discussions covered Iraq and the Kurdistan Region’s relations with Qatar and ways to strengthen bilateral ties, especially in economy and commerce, and encouraging Qatari investments in different areas in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Discussions also focused on the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership, the importance of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region’s relations with neighboring and regional countries, the upcoming Iraqi elections and other topics of mutual interest.

PM Masrour Barzani meets Swedish parliamentary delegation

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (GOV.KRD) - Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Sunday met a delegation of two Swedish MPs, Hakan Svenneling and Yasmine Posio.

They discussed the latest developments in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq’s upcoming elections.

The living conditions of all of Kurdistan Region’s diverse communities were discussed, along with the implementation of the Shingal agreement, refugees, IDPs and how to ease their return.