Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in Salahaddin today. The President and the EU’s foreign policy chief discussed the fight against ISIS terrorists, including recent peshmerga gains in Sinjar, and the plight of hundreds of thousands of IDPs in Kurdistan.

Following their meeting, the two held a joint press conference, in which Federica Mogherini congratulated President Barzani for the recent victories by the peshmerga against the ISIS terrorists, especially in Sinjar district. She said the purpose of her visit to Kurdistan is to find out how the EU can further support Kurdistan in this fight, adding that the EU would ask its member states to continue to provide both military and humanitarian aid to Kurdistan.

The EU High Representative said that Kurdistan has scored three victories: the recent military successes against the ISIS terrorists, a psychological victory that ISIS can be defeated, and thirdly that Kurdistan has shown to the world that it is possible for different communities to live together in peace.

President Barzani thanked the EU and the international coalition countries for their military and humanitarian support for Kurdistan, and added that this support further strengthens the resolve of the peshmerga forces in their fight against the biggest and most vicious terrorist organization. The President said that it is a source of pride for the peshmerga to be fighting this terrorist organization on behalf of the whole world.

Link to their joint press conference.

Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp,org)- President Masoud Barzani held a meeting today with members of the Kurdistan Parliament from the different ethnic and religious components of Kurdistan, including Turkmans, Chaldeans, Assyrians and Armenians. During the meeting the Kurdistan Parliamentarians who collectively make up the different ethnic and religious components of th Kurdistan society, expressed their objection on the latest establishment of an electoral commission for the Kurdistan Region by the Parliament. The objection stemmed from the fact that the commission will only have representatives from the major political parties inside the Parliament.

President Barzani warmly welcomed the Parliamentary delegation and added that the mosaic of the Kurdistan society can only become more complete with further political participation of all components of the society regardless of how large or small the number of each component may be. The President also shared the delegation's concerns over lack of representation in the new electoral commission and vowed to make every effort to amend the law so that there is representation inside the electoral commission for Chaldeans, Assyrians, Turkmamans and Armenians.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (KRG.org) The Kurdistan Regional Government Council of Ministers has appointed the current KRG Representative to the United Kingdom, Ms. Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, as the new KRG Representative to the United States of America.

Commenting on this decision, the Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa said, “Based on the KRG’s policy to develop its foreign relations and under the recommendation of the President of the Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani, as well as the fact that this important post has been vacant for a period of time, Ms. Rahman has been appointed as the KRG’s new Representative to the United States of America.”

The Kurdistan Regional Government currently has 14 representation offices abroad.

Under the auspices of Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, Syrian Kurds agreed today to jointly run the Kurdish areas in Syria, with joint leadership council and a unified military force.

Following this announcement in a meeting in the city of Duhok, President Barzani congratulated the people of Kurdistan and the people of Syrian Kurdistan in particular, on this historic achievement. The President reiterated Kurdistan Region’s continued support and backing to the Kurdish people in Syria.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with the commander of the United States Central Command General Lloyd Austin and the US Ambassador to Iraq Mr. Stuart Jones in Erbil on Tuesday.

The President and the US general discussed the military campaign currently underway against the ISIS terrorists and the military support of the US to the peshmerga forces. President Barzani thanked the United States and other coalition countries for their military support for the KRG. He also thanked the United States for its military support for the people of the besieged Syrian Kurdish city of Kobani, who have been bravely fighting off the ISIS terrorists.

General Austin recognized the role of the peshmerga forces in the fight against the ISIS terrorists and reaffirmed continued US support for the peshmerga. In particular, he praised the military successes and gains made by the peshmerga forces around Mosul in recent weeks.

President Barzani and General Austin discussed the requirements and needs for the peshmerga and they both underline the need for continued support for the people of Kobani.

Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received a military delegation from the United Kingdom headed by Mr. Michael Fallon, the Secretary of State for Defense. During the meeting President Barzani and Secretary Fallon spoke of the latest military and security developments in the Kurdistan Region and their impact on the larger Middle East region and the world.

President Barzani expressed his gratitude to the government of the United Kingdom for their supportive stances both generally and following the ISIS crisis particularly, adding that the Kurdistan Region is in need of all international support as it fights the terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Secretary Fallon stated that the government of the United Kingdom will continue to assist the Kurdistan Region with military aid as it fights ISIS and that the war against ISIS is indeed a larger idealogical conflict between the free world and radicalism.

President Barzani and Secretary Fallon also spoke of the latest political developments between the the Federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region and how all outstanding issues must be resolved as soon as possible.

The representative of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq in Iran said: Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Iran are allies and have never kept it a secret.

Nazem Dabbagh the representative of KRG in talk with Levin about Kurdistan Region parties and Iran relations stated: Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Iran are allies and have never hidden it.

He also said: the Patriotic Union and Iran are allies and in addition Iran desires it to be a strong ally and to collaborate with other political parties and groups of Kurdistan in order to establish security and improvement in new Iraq.

Nazem Dabbagh in other part of his speech about Iran relations with Democrat Party of Kurdistan under Masoud Barzani leadership the president of Kurdistan region said: in spite of current rumors Democrat Party of KRG has a good relationship with Iran.

He also described Nechirvan Barzani recent travel to Iran as a distinctive sample of strong relation Party and Iran and continued to state: furthermore of Kurdistan Region like Socialist, Zahamatkeshan(Laboursit), Islamic Group, and the Move of Change (Guran) have good relations with Iran as well.

Ardeshir Pashang from Iranian Diplomacy conducted an interview with Mohammad Seddiq Ahmad, the deputy-representative of KRG of Iraq in Iran concerning military confrontation of KRG with ISIS (ISIL) of which important lines as followed:

Mohammad Seddiq Ahmad (Jegarkhowein) the deputy-representative of KRG of Iraq while mentioning that presently the war conditions indicate the strength and sturdiness of the deployment of Pishmerga military forces and their being strengthened with heavy weapon announced superiority Pishmega forces in conflict front with extremist terrorists and Takfiri of ISIS in present condition and said: the will and the ability of Pishmerga forces to defend Kurdistan, Kurdish and Iraqi people are so strong; these forces have lots of experiences of classic and specially guerilla wars; therefore the broad area of over 1500km of fronts and confrontation with suicidal attacks require special situations that luckily Pishmerga forces have gained the power. Whereas I should say this news that during recent days Kurdish Pishmerga have been able to inflict the most hit and human losses on ISIS which has been so considerable as compared with late couple weeks.

He continued to say by Mr. Barzani’s order to call backup forces to support military operation against ISIS and then added that military operation of USA could inflict great hit on ISIS and we hope it to be continued.

Dr. Ahmad continued that in spite of public, military and political power KRG is not such powerful in economic and presently cannot accept refugees over 1000000. He went on that all Iraq’s and the Region’s friends and allies including Iran have helped this government.  Some Kurdish authorities appreciated Tehran due to these aides. In addition Dr. Ahmad while mentioning Mr. Yunosi’s talk, special assistant of the president of Iran in tribal and religious affairs said: I am so pleased that he as the representative of Iran government announced his position and opinion about sustained losses against Kurds and following dangers and this support has caused us to be happy and warm.

The deputy-representative of KRG of Iraq in Iran about the soon fall of Shengal and Zumar said first these two towns were under the control of Iraq army secondly Pishmerga forces presence was limited in these towns and at last unusual kind of ISIL attack typically accompanied with unrecorded violence and cruelty against civilians was considered the reason of the fall.

He said major withdraws of KRG were in the regions which regarding military geography was less important and were carried out on a completely limited level and according to definite military tactics to save civilians’ lives. At last he deemed the civilians’ conditions of Shengal mounts so painful and bitter and said about the emergence of human disaster of Izadi Kurdish refugees in this mount.  He added that this disastrous condition had a nationwide reflection; and even followed the announcement of Security Council. He said many of aged people and children have lost their lives for killing heat, thirstiness and hungriness. Now most of them due to air-aiding on the behalf of the USA and Iraq forces have been transferred to a safe place.