Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received a United Nations delegation headed by Mr. Adama Dieng, the U.N. Secretary General's special adviser on prevention of genocide. During the meeting President Barzani and Mr. Dieng reviewed the latest updates on the war against the terrorists of the Islamic State and the role of the Peshmerga forces in battling this cruel enemy which poses a threat to the entirety of the civilization. President Barzani stated that the inevitability of victory against this enemy stems from the fact that this war is existential.

Mr. Dieng expressed the United Nations' appreciation for the Kurdistan Region and their role in providing assistance to the refugees from Syria and IDPs from within Iraq. He added that the United Nations will continue to support the Kurdistan Region as it strives towards the complete annihilation of the barbaric enemy of the Kurdistan Region.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani today met with US Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL Ambassador Brett McGurk and US Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones, to discuss the progress of the fight against ISIS terrorists and challenges facing the KRG.

The President and the US officials lauded the strong partnership between the peshmerga forces and the US military, especially in light of the recent successful operation by joint special forces that led to the rescuing of 69 hostages from ISIS in the town of Hawija, south of Kirkuk. 

Ambassador McGurk described this successful operation as yet another indication of the strong relationship between the peshmerga forces and the US forces, and commended the leadership role of President Barzani. He added that the US would continue to offer support to the peshmerga forces in the fight against ISIS.
President Barzani thanked the United States for its steadfast support to Kurdistan and to the peshmerga forces. 

President Barzani and the visiting US officials also discussed preparations for the liberation of Mosul from ISIS and political and security developments in the country.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani welcomed the Iraq envoy of the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Jan Kubis, During the meeting President Barzani and Mr. Kubis discussed the latest developments in the war between the free world and the terrorists of the Islamic State in which the Peshmerga forces are a critical part. President Barzani spoke of the progress that has been made against the terrorists and the future plans to completely rid the Kurdistan Region and the entirety of Iraq of the terrorists.

The two sides also spoke of the internal issues in the Kurdistan Region following the events earlier this week where peaceful protests were politicized and were turned into acts of violence against the Kurdistan Democratic Party in the towns of Qaladize, Sayd Sadiq and Kalar. Mr. Kubis stated that those who were responsible for the violence which unfortunately led to life loss and property damages must be faced with justice and added that the political situation in the Kurdistan Region should be solved very soon especially because of the fact that the Kurdistan Region in particular and the Middle East region in general is facing a major threat from the terrorists which should be everyone's priority.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received a United States delegation headed by Senate Majority leader Senator Mitch McConnell and a number of other senators and members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The delegation also included State and Defense department delegates. During the meeting President Barzani and the U.S. guests spoke of a number of topics, most importantly the current war on the terrorists of the Islamic State.

President Barzani reiterated the appreciation of the Kurdistan Region for the United States air support which, over the past year has, with the assistance of other coalition members heavily weakened the terrorists. Senator McConnell stated that the United States congress acknowledges the role of the Peshmerga forces in this global effort against the terrorists of the Islamic State and that role is highly essential and appreciated by the United States government.

President Barzani and the delegation also spoke of the relations between Erbil and Baghdad and spoke of the importance of strengthening that relationship for the sake of speedier riddance of the threat of terrorism in Iraq, the Kurdistan Region and much beyond. The two sides also discussed the economic situation in the Kurdistan Region and how critical it is to resolve the economic issues facing Erbil.

They also discussed Russia’s latest involvement in the war on the Islamic State. Additionally they spoke of the operations against the terrorists of the Islamic State which shall result in the liberation of the city of Musol.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani issued the following statement on the recent events and protests in Kurdistan:

Following the events of recent days and the tensions in the town of Qaladize, I have asked KRG security and administrative authorities and political parties to prevent further escalation of the situation. I have also called on all relevant authorities to show restraint and do everything they can to calm the situation. All those responsible must face justice. 

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani welcomed Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó today.  In a meeting between the two held in the city of Duhok, the President and the Hungarian Foreign Minister discussed the plight of internally displaced people and refuges in Kurdistan, and migrants and refugees heading to Europe from the region. The also discussed the efforts to defeat ISIS terrorists, and Hungarian contribution to this campaign. 

The Hungarian Foreign Minister reiterated his country’s support to Kurdistan peshmerga forces with providing military assistance and training. 

President Barzani thanked Hungary for its support to the peshmerga forces. On the refugee and migrant crisis, the President said that the root causes of this issue must be addressed. He said the threat of terrorism and economic challenges are two of the main causes forcing people to leave their countries. 

On the fight against ISIS, President Barzani said the bulk of this fighting on the ground is on the shoulders of the peshmerga forces, adding that the world has yet to face this threat in a serious way. 

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani welcomed Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó today.  In a meeting between the two held in the city of Duhok, the President and the Hungarian Foreign Minister discussed the plight of internally displaced people and refuges in Kurdistan, and migrants and refugees heading to Europe from the region. The also discussed the efforts to defeat ISIS terrorists, and Hungarian contribution to this campaign. 

The Hungarian Foreign Minister reiterated his country’s support to Kurdistan peshmerga forces with providing military assistance and training. 

President Barzani thanked Hungary for its support to the peshmerga forces. On the refugee and migrant crisis, the President said that the root causes of this issue must be addressed. He said the threat of terrorism and economic challenges are two of the main causes forcing people to leave their countries. 

On the fight against ISIS, President Barzani said the bulk of this fighting on the ground is on the shoulders of the peshmerga forces, adding that the world has yet to face this threat in a serious way. 

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) – On the sideline of the consecration ceremony of His Holiness Patriarch Gawergis Sliwa, the new Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani responded to questions from journalists pertaining to the current situation.

Prime Minister Barzani described the return of the Chair of the Patriarch of Assyrian Church of the East to Erbil, after eighty years, as a significant and historic event for the Kurdistan Region. This is, he said, due to peaceful coexistence among all religious and ethnic communities, which prevails in the Region. He said, “The return of the Chair of the Patriarch of Assyrian Church of the East to Erbil is an important start and an honour for the Kurdistan Region.”

Regarding the issue of displaced people, Prime Minister Barzani said, “Around 1.7 million refugees and IDPs have been accommodated in the Region. The Kurdistan Regional Government has done and will do whatever it can to assist them, despite the fact that the Region faces a very difficult financial situation.”

Commenting on the oil issue, Prime Minister Barzani said, “the sole route of exporting the Kurdistan Region’s oil to the international market is through Turkey, and if the pipeline is sabotaged or damaged, it would cause significant losses for the Region.” He called upon those responsible to cease their destructive actions, saying the pipeline is the main source of the Kurdistan Region’s livelihood. Prime Minister Barzani reaffirmed that in the meetings with Turkish officials, the KRG has asked for further security tightening of the Kurdistan-Ceyhan pipeline.

On the Kurdistan Region Presidency issue, Prime Minister Barzani said, “The message of Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani was clear, and all sides must work to reach an agreement over the issue.”

Answering a question about the four parties’ proposal to elect the Region’s President either by the parliament or by the people’s direct vote, Prime Minister Barzani said that the proposal is not coherent, as the parties suggest that the president, when elected by the people’s direct vote, must hold less power than when he is elected by the parliament, while it should be the opposite.

Prime Minister Barzani said that the issue of the Kurdistan Region presidency is not related to President Masoud Barzani and “in his latest message he urged the political sides to reach a realistic solution which is in the interest of the Kurdistan people.”

He expressed his hope that political parties will adopt a realistic approach and that the next meeting on 6 October 2015 will bring a resolution in the interest of the people of the Kurdistan Region.

Regarding institutional reforms, Prime Minister Barzani said that since the formation of the eighth cabinet, the KRG has undertaken reform tasks at KRG ministries and institutions. He reiterated that reform efforts must continue.

He also shed light on the possible liberation of Mosul, saying that “liberation of Mosul is very important for the security of the Kurdistan Region, but until now there is no serious plan.  When such a plan is ready, the Kurdistan Region will decide to engage its Peshmerga forces or not.”