Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received a United States military and diplomatic delegation at his office today. The U.S. delegation was headed by General Joseph Votel, the Commander of the Special Operations Command as well as the U.S. ambassador to Iraq and other U.S. defense and state officials.

During the meeting President Barzani shared his perspective on the conflict with the terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and made reference to the liberated areas by the Peshmerga forces. President Barzani also took the opportunity to express his thanks to the allies' air support against the terrorists of I.S.I.S. and added that the Peshmerga forces are in need of continued support with the ultimate aim of ridding the Kurdistan Region of all I.S.I.S. terrorists.

The meeting was also attended by the Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council, Mr. Masrour Barzani who spoke of some of the details of the areas under Peshmerga control including the Mosul dam.

General Votel expressed, on behalf of President Obama his continued support to the Kurdistan Region in its efforts against the terrorists and added that the U.S. will remain committed to the operation against I.S.I.S. He also commended President Barzani and the Peshmerga forces for the latest military advances.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani strongly condemned the brutal murder of Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh by ISIS terrorists.

In a message addressed to Jordan’s King Abdullah, President Barzani said, “O behalf of myself and the people of Kurdistan, I express my condolences to your Majesty, the people of Jordan, and the family of Moaz al-Kasasbeh.  I condemn, in the strongest terms, this inhumane act by ISIS terrorists.  These terrorists will pay for their crimes, and their fate is defeat and annihilation.”

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani visited Munich, Germany, on Friday, to participate in the annual Munich Security Conference.

The President and an accompanying KRG delegation attended the opening ceremony of the Conference and held a number of bilateral meetings, including meeting Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, and Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic, and former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. In these meetings, the President shed light on the ongoing efforts by the peshmerga forces to defeat ISIS terrorists and the humanitarian situation of refugees and IDPS who fled to Kurdistan.

On the sidelines of the Conference, the President also took part in a roundtable meeting attended by a number of US and European politicians and officials. In this meeting, President Barzani talked about the fighting against ISIS and the need for more support for the peshmerga forces. He also discussed the plight of hundreds of thousands of refugees and IDPs who have fled to Kurdistan in recent months and years.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with Us Vice President Joe Biden in Munich on Sunday.

They discussed the fight against ISIS terrorists and the progress of the efforts to defeat this terror group. Mr. Biden praised the bravery and sacrifices made by the peshmerga forces in this fight and pledged more US support to Kurdistan.  

President Barzani thanked the US Vice President personally and the US government their continued support for Kurdistan.

On the same day, the President also met some members of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, lead by John McCain, chairman of the committee, to discuss the fight against ISIS and the military requirements of the peshmerga forces.

Concerning the changes in Kubani, Nazem Dabbagh had an interview with analysis-oriented news weekly of Seda whose important points follow:

In Dabbagh’s views defeating of ISIS in attacking Kurdistan Region and Shingal mount caused it think of Kubani. He knew it probable that attacking Kubani was to strengthen ISIS position to attack Baghdad. He added that all Kurdish Pishmega support to release Kubani has a special role. He acclaimed that to support Kubani many groups entered the battlefield. He also added Kubani was served by some help of which was military and medical from America. In addition one of America’s aids to Kubani was bombing ISIS positions by American fighters which were accompanied with much loss. He also said that I.R. of Iran from early days rushed to help people and offered his humanity and friendly military aids to Kurdistan Region of Iraq. But he claimed he had not been given any news ascertaining Iran’s help to Kubani, although he was not sure about. In a part of his phrases he deemed the phenomena of ISIS and terrorism as axis for endangered countries like Kurdistan region of Iraq, Iraq and Iran to get unified and it leads both sides relations warm.

Dabbagh claimed that international and regional support from Iraqi Kurds than Syrians was somewhat more whereas most countries of the world and region did not already have negative view toward ISIS. If ISIS dominated the Region, regarding the potentials of oil and energy in the Region, it would probably get greatly powerful. Thus Dabbagh believes that the importance of Kubani is not less than Kurdistan Region. He said ISIS thinks that to dominate Kubani is not such difficult.

About America’s announcement according to the priority of oil and refinery resources to Kubani, Nazem Dabbagh said that basically the USA’s policy is his benefits, so they pay more attention to the resources of the region. Furthermore if ISIS dominates oil resources it will be so powerful, thus America’s concern is aimed at oil wells and refineries.

As continuing his talking he criticized Turkey’s policy toward ISIS, however he appreciated Turkeys for changing his positions about the permission according to which Kurdish forces can go through his land. At last Dabbagh mentioned that the presence of ISIS in Iraq has indicated that if we are not allied and do not solve the domestic problems, it will lead nothing but ISIS presence; and he hopped the new government of Iraq with the participation of all political groups in Iraq would be formed.

Nazem Dabbagh the representative of Kurdistan region of Iraq in Tehran pointing out that Kurds believe to halt ISIS to grow in the region said: we prefer our friends (Iran) to be the forerunner of this.

Nazem Dabbagh the representative KRG in Iran talking with foreign policy and international reporter of Fars News Agency concerning the formation of a real coalition against ISIS said: to attack ISIS as a terrorist group is a general benefit. If these happens any point in the world, it will be good. In my opinion the difference between powers causes ISIS to penetrate deeper in the region. It is no different which the leader of the fighting against ISIS is America, Iran, Kurd or Arab. Their complete destruction is only important. He reminded: Kurds have tribal and geographical considerations in common and is close to this country and it is unchangeable. According to the close relationship with I.R of Iran we welcome this that I.R. of Iran takes more actions against ISIS. In current situations we support to attach ISIS and this is not different, and we have always emphasized that there is a good relation between Iran and Kurdistan Region and we witnessed this in Mr. Zarif news meeting when he was in Erbil concerning how to have bilateral cooperation.

He stated: what I am asking is that not to let these differences on concerns in the region causes ISIS grow. I prefer our friends (Iran) to be forerunner of this. There are Ba’ath and other group grown by Takfiri and it was they who created the Syrian and Iraqi government. Nazem Dabbagh also pointed out at the end: maybe now we witness them weakening but we get carless this weakness causes them to grow. I.R. of Iran, Europe and America have to do something till ISIS get destructed but weakened.  

Stockholm, Sweden (dfr.gov.krd) - Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Margot Wallstrom, today received Minister Falah Mustafa, Head of the KRG Foreign Relations, to discuss bilateral ties and latest humanitarian and security developments in Kurdistan and the wider region.

In welcoming Minister Mustafa and his accompanying delegation, Foreign Minister Wallstrom said, “We enjoy excellent relations with the Kurdistan Region and we are eager and willing to expand and further strengthen this relation for the benefit of both sides.”

Minister Mustafa thanked Foreign Minister Wallstrom for her hospitality and expressed the strong desire of the Kurdistan Regional Government to benefit form Sweden’s experience and knowledge in further advancing the Kurdistan Region.

The Minister briefed the foreign minister on the Peshmerga advances against the ISIS terrorists and the efforts of the Kurdistan Regional Government in dealing with nearly tow million refugees and internally displaced Persons.

Commending the KRG for the hospitality it continues to provide to the Syrian refugees and IDPs, the Foreign Minister pledged that Sweden will continue to provide humanitarian support to the IDPs and refugees in the Kurdistan Region.

Referring to the bravery of Peshmerga forces, the Foreign Minister stated, “Peshmerga forces have proven that they are a reliable force. They have been an important element in the fight against ISIS. There is an urgent need to address the problem of ISIS and to support the Peshmerga forces.”

She added, “The government of Sweden is exploring the possibility of sending military advisor to the Kurdistan Region to train Peshmerga forces.”

Both sides discussed the crimes committed against Yezidis and other minorities by the ISIS terrorists. Foreign Minister Wallstrom conveyed the support of Sweden for the KRG’ efforts in seeking international recognition of terrorist crimes committed against religious and ethnic minorities as acts of genocide.

Considering the strong historical ties and the need to further facilitate cooperation between Kurdistan and Sweden, the KRG Minister emphasized the necessity to upgrade the level of Swedish representation in Erbil to consulate general. The Minister extended an invitation to the Foreign Minister to visit the Kurdistan Region in a near future.

Pointing to the Region’s extensive economic potential, Minister Mustafa stated, “There is a golden opportunity for Swedish companies, our needs represent significant investment potential for your businesses.”

Talking about the role of Kurdish Diaspora in Sweden, both side stressed the importance to make use of all the knowledge and experience of the Kurdish Diaspora in Sweden in strengthening relations between Sweden and the Kurdistan Region.

The meeting was followed by a joint press conference where both ministers responded to questions from reporters.

Mr Karwan Jamal, Deputy Head of DFR, Mr. Shoresh Rahim, KRG Representative to Sweden, Mr. Robert Rydberg, Head of Department for Middle East and North Africa, and Laila Naraghi, political advisor to the minister of foreign affairs as well as other officials from both sides attended the meeting.

Minister Mustafa is on a three-day official visit to Stockholm.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with the US Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, General John Allen, in Salahaddin today.

General Allen congratulated the recent military successes by peshmerga forces against the ISIS terrorists and commended the leadership and personal supervision of President Barzani in these operations, in particular the breaking of the Mount Sinjar siege and the liberation of the towns of Zummar and Rabia. He added that other countries in the international coalition against ISIS are also all very impressed by the bravery and the sacrifices of the peshmerga forces in the fight against ISIS.

General Allen welcomed the recent military cooperation between Erbil and Baghdad, and reiterated that the United States would continue to support the peshmerga forces.

President Barzani thanked the Unites States, and other coalition countries, for their military support for the peshmerga forces, adding that the people of Kurdistan are very encouraged to have a good friend like the United States behind them. He said that the recent terror attacks in Paris prove that terrorist is a global threat and it needs a global response.

The President and the US Envoy, who was accompanied by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Brett McGurk and US Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones, also discussed ways of further cooperation in the fight against terrorism, and the military requirements of the peshmerga forces.