Salahaddin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRP,org) – Since the start of the campaign by the terrorist group ISIS to attack the Kurdistan Region last week, many countries have expressed their support to the KRG in its fight against the terrorism, and have also offered humanitarian aid to the tens of thousands of IDPs who have sought refuge in Kurdistan. 

US Vice President Biden, Germany Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, and Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini all called President Barzani this week to show the support and solidarity of their countries for the Kurdistan Region in its fight against the terrorist group ISIS. 

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius visited Erbil on Sunday and met with President Barzani. In a joint press conference following their meeting, President Barzani thanked the Unites States and France and other countries that have offered their support to the Kurdistan Region.

Berlin, Germany (KRP.org) – The President of the Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani, met the German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin yesterday.

Foreign Minister Steinmeier welcomed President Barzani to Germany and spoke about his visit to Erbil back in 2008, highlighting his desire to visit Kurdistan again soon. He added that he was aware of the rapid developments happening in Kurdistan and reiterated Germany’s commitment to working closely with Kurdistan to further strengthen bilateral relations.

For his part, President Barzani expressed his pleasure at the opportunity of once again meeting Foreign Minister Steinmeier and expressed his hope that the Foreign Minister would indeed visit Kurdistan again soon to witness first-hand the developments in the region. He added that the Kurdistan Region views its ties with Germany with great importance.

President Barzani, briefed Minister Steinmeier on the current situation in Kurdistan, the recent security developments in the Anbar province, relations between Erbil and Baghdad, the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections in April, the issue of oil exports via Turkey and the impact of the Syrian crisis on Kurdistan and on Iraq.

On the political challenges facing Iraq and especially the security crisis in the Anbar province, the President said, “It is important that a comprehensive solution is found for the problems facing Iraq, and the real solution is for Iraq to be committed to a federal system, which is a basic principle in Iraq’s constitution.”

“It is equally important that all sides work together in the fight against terrorism, especially at a time when they have increasingly grown in strength and now constitute a real threat to the whole region.” He highlighted the roots of the security problems in Anbar and some of the other Iraqi provinces and said that this has become a source of instability to all Iraq.

The President stressed the importance that all political groups in Iraq remain committed to holding the parliamentary elections on time, scheduled in late April this year.

On the KRG policy of exporting oil via Turkey, the President reiterated that ties between Kurdistan and Turkey are based on mutual interests, and that these ties would also serve the interest of Iraq in general. In addition he highlighted the legality of the Kurdistan Region's hydrocarbon policies which are in adherence with Iraq’s constitution.

Finally both sides discussed the latest regarding the formation of a new government in Kurdistan with President Brazani emphasizing that the priorities for Kurdistan are to maintain its security and to continue developing the Region and its economic infrastructure to improve the standards of living for all the people of the region.

The meeting was also attended by the President’s Chief of Staff, Dr Fuad Hussein, the Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa and the KRG Representative to Germany, Dilshad Barzani.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq – (DFR.krg.org) – Claudia Roth, who is the Vice-President of the German Bundestag as well as a member of Germany’s Green Party, met with the Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations (DFR), Minister Falah Mustafa to discuss areas of mutual concern and bilateral relations.

The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Brita Wagener, the German Consul General, Alfred Simms-Protz, and the Assistant Head of the DFR, Siham Jabali also attended the meeting.

Minister Mustafa welcomed Vice-President Roth to the Kurdistan Region and congratulated her on her recent appointment as the Vice-President of the German Bundestag. He briefed her and the accompanying delegation on the situation in the region, the complexity of the Syria crisis, the recent developments in Iraq, as well as strengthening bilateral relations with the Federal Republic of Germany.

In regards to the Syrian refugee crisis, Ms Roth was impressed by KRG’s level of cooperation and commitment to the large influx of Syrian refugees crossing the border into the Kurdistan Region, and thanked the people and the government of Kurdistan for their response.

Minister Mustafa expressed the KRG’s appreciation for the German Government’s response and efforts in alleviating the suffering of the refugees and urged for further assistance from the international community given that the number of refugees is expected to rise.

Both sides exchanged views on the Geneva II peace talks with Minister Mustafa emphasizing that the KRG should have been among those invited to the conference given that the region is being directly affected by the conflict. He added that at this point, there is no military solution to the Syrian crisis; we must rather focus on political settlements.

The Minister went on to brief Vice-President Roth about the recent security developments in the Anbar province, which has resulted in a number of IDPs fleeing the violence into Kurdistan. They also exchanged views on Iraq’s forthcoming parliamentary elections and the importance of elections being held on time. 

The KRG enjoys friendly relations with the Federal Republic of Germany and wishes to further enhance these relations. Both sides discussed ways of consolidating these bilateral ties through the KRG representation in Germany and German institutions in the Kurdistan Region. Minister Mustafa concluded by asking Vice-President Roth for her support in the German Parliament for the recognition of Genocide against the Kurdish people and promoting Kurdish friendship within in the German Parliament.