Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (gov.krd) - Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received the Japanese Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Kazuya Nashida.

The Japanese Ambassador thanked the Kurdistan Regional Government for its stance and support following the murder of the Japanese citizen in Syria at the hands of the Islamic State terrorist organization, known as ISIS. He conveyed his condolences to the families of the Peshmerga forces who have been martyred in the fight against terrorism.

In another part of the meeting, Ambassador Nashida pointed out that, as part of Japan’s assistance to Iraq, his government will fund an infrastructural project related to the sewage system in Erbil city, which will be officially announced soon. He reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to continuing to help the Kurdistan Region.

The two sides discussed the latest developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, particularly the situation in various battlefields. Prime Minister Barzani highlighted Kurdistan Region’s needs and requirements in its war against ISIS.

They also discussed the latest visit by a Kurdistan Regional Government delegation to Baghdad and the agreement reached last December between Baghdad and Erbil. Prime Minister Barzani told the Japanese Ambassador that Baghdad had officially informed the Kurdistan Region that the lack of liquidity in Iraq is the reason that Iraq is unable to send the Kurdistan Region its allocated share from the federal budget as was finalised in the agreement, last December.

The Prime Minister Barzani thanked the Japanese government for having funded several projects in the Kurdistan Region.

Nazem Dabbagh the representative of KRG of Iraq in Tehran met Hajime Ueda the political counselor of Japan Embassy in Iran. Hajime Ueda visited the office of Kurdistan region in Tehran on Monday, July 7, 2014 and was welcomed by Nazem Dabbagh the representative of KRG in Tehran.

Hajime Ueda visited the office of Kurdistan region of Iraq in Tehran in order to begin his job as new counselor of Japan Embassy in Tehran and to get to know more and to introduce himself; and along with Nazem Dabbagh concerning in between relations of both sides as well as present position and future situation of Iraq exchanged ideas.

Political counselor of Japan Embassy in Tehran in this meeting appreciated Masoud Barzani efforts and Kurdistan region government, as deputy-foreign minister of Japan travelled to this country, for his collaborations to help refugees of Syria and to cooperate with them.

In this visit the representative of KRG of Iraq in Tehran insisting on good collaborations with Kurdistan region with Syrian refugees announced a large number of refugees of central towns of Iraq sought asylum Kurdistan region meanwhile.

Nazem Dabbagh to dissolve the current problem of Iraq and to have good prospects for this country emphasized this point that the future government of Iraq has gotten to include all groups, parties, tribes and religions of the countries.