Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received Croatia's Ambassador to Iraq, Ambassador Jerko Vukas and his accompanying delegation.

Ambassador Vukas expressed his appreciation for the victories achieved by Kurdistan Region Peshmerga forces on the battlefield against terrorism.

He expressed his country's desire to open its diplomatic mission in the Kurdistan Region and develop diplomatic, economic, commercial and cultural relations with the Kurdistan Region.

In this regard, Ambassador Vukas handed a formal invitation from his government to Prime Minister Barzani to visit Croatia.

For his part, Prime Minister Barzani reaffirmed that the Kurdistan Region desires developing and strengthening bilateral relations with the government and people of Croatia.

He accepted the invitation, stressing that he will pay an official visit to Croatia in a near future.

Prime Minister Barzani recalled the visit by the Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs to the Kurdistan Region earlier this year, which, he said, marked developing bilateral relations.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister yesterday received United Nations Special Representative for Iraq, Ján Kubiš and his accompanying delegation.

The meeting focused on the agreement, signed last December, between Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, and the Federal Government of Iraq on oil export and budget, as well as Iraq’s 2015 Budget Law. It highlighted Kurdistan Region’s commitment to the agreement.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his concern for the fact that the Federal Government of Iraq has not been honouring its commitment to the agreement with Kurdistan Region.

He pointed out that the agreement was reached following appeal and support from United Nations, United States and United Kingdom. He urged the three sides to play their role and urge Baghdad to meet its obligations under the agreement and the Budget Law.

In another part of the meeting, the two sides emphasised on further cooperation between United Nation agencies and Kurdistan Regional Government, particularly in dealing with possible increase in numbers of internally displaced people.

They reaffirmed the necessity of further commitment of the international community in assisting Kurdistan Region relevant institutions and United Nations agencies, particularly those which work in humanitarian fields.

The two sides also discussed the latest developments in Iraq, the situation in Anbar Province, and the security situation in the region in general. 

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received Italy's Ambassador to Iraq, Massimo Moratti and his accompanying delegation, who visited Prime Minister Barzani on the occasion of ending his duties in Iraq.     

Mr Morrati pointed to the assistance that the Italian government provides to the people and government of Kurdistan Region, particularly humanitarian assistance and training of the Peshmerga forces, stressing that Italy’s assistance to the Kurdistan Region will continue.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked Mr. Morrati and praised his role as Italy’s ambassador to Iraq, who has been able to contribute to the establishment of solid relations between Kurdistan Region and Italy, and deliver the true image of the Region to his and European countries. He wished success to Mr. Morrati in his future position.

Prime Minister Barzani recalled that those visits by Italian senior delegations to Kurdistan Region, particularly during difficult times, are being highly appreciated.

He reiterated that the threat of the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, has not been eliminated, which is why it is essential to continue cooperation between the two sides.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received the Defence Senior Advisor Middle East in the UK Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant General Tom Beckett, and his accompanying delegation.

General Beckett discussed the latest security developments in the region in general and in the Kurdistan Region in particular. He also discussed continuing and increasing trainings for Peshmerga forces by the UK military.

He commended the Peshmerga forces who courageously confront the Islamic State terrorist organization, ISIS. He lauded the protection they provide to all people in the Kurdistan Region regardless of their ethnic and religious backgrounds.

He informed the Prime Minister that the Peshmerga forces are successful in the training programmes and they satisfactorily fulfilled their tasks.

General Beckett also discussed the situation in the areas under the control of ISIS.  He stressed the need for cooperation and coordination among all forces, including Iraqi and Kurdistan forces, in order to defeat the terrorists.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked the UK government for supporting and assisting the Kurdistan Region since the terrorist threat emerged. He expressed his wish that training programmes for the Peshmerga forces continue and increase.

He hoped that the ongoing satisfactory coordination and cooperation between coalition forces and the Kurdistan Region would continue and expand, which are vital to eliminate terrorist threats. 

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani yesterday received the Egyptian Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Ahmad Hassan Darwish, and his accompanying delegation.

Ambassador Darwish highlighted historical relations between Kurdistan and the Egyptian people, hoping to expand those relations particularly in the economic fields of trade and investment. He pointed out that Egyptian investors are keen to boost investment in Iraq in general and in the Kurdistan Region in particular.

He praised the determination of Peshmerga forces in their fight against the Islamic State terrorist organization, ISIS. He also commended the Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, and the people of Kurdistan for accommodating and offering assistance to over 1.7 million refugees and internally displaced people, IDPs, who fled ISIS repression and took refuge in the Kurdistan Region.

Regarding relations between the KRG and the Iraq Federal Government, Mr. Darwish expressed his wishes for the settlement of differences through dialog on the basis of the federal Constitution.

Prime Minister Barzani reiterated the historic relations between the two nations, expressing the KRG’s readiness to develop and strengthen bilateral relations and provide assistance to Egyptian investors.  He highlighted continuing victories by Peshmerga forces in the war against ISIS and mentioned the anticipated military operation to liberate Mosul.

On relations with Baghdad, he emphasized that the Iraq Constitution must be implemented fully, and expressed the Kurdistan Region’s desire to settle issues with Baghdad through negotiations.

Regarding the issue of displaced people, Prime Minister Barzani affirmed that his government and the people of the Kurdistan Region will continue to do their best to assist and accommodate refugees and internally displeased people.

It was exactly short time ago that the domestic disputes made Iraq exposed to be separated. However these days the phenomena of ISIS, the special conditions and necessities of Iraq have caused Iraq to be convergent. Recently Nechrivan Barezani the Prime Minister of Kurdistan Region of Iraq has traveled to Baghdad and has signed an agreement draft to dissolve the disputes. Then Hushiar Zibari in a talk with Al-Arabieh stating that the time to operate to free Mosul had arrived announced the basic role of Kurdish Pishmerga besides Iraq Army against ISIS in this operation. Concerning this Neshan On-Line conducted an interview with Nazem Dabbagh the representative of KRG of Iraq in Tehran as followed.

In the response to the first question relating to the formation of national unity in Iraq he answered: after having traveled of Mr. Nechirvan Barezani and the accompanying delegation to Baghdad, agreements about the budget, how to sell oil etc. were made. Presently we hope and wait these agreements to be met. The advancement and performance of the agreements make the conditions of Iraq better.

 He also considered Hushiar Zibari’s speeches about Pishmerga forces’ cooperation with Iraq army as an indication of the effects of between agreements and added: when we, Kurds, say Pishmerga forces must be of military and security of Iraq we indeed mean that missions should involve all forces including Pishmerga and they take part in defending Iraq. He also considered the cooperation between Iraq army and Pishmerga pleasant but deemed the development of collaborations in the fields of defending and supporting requires new negotiation.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani hailed the private sector for its effective contributions to the Kurdistan Region economy since approval of the Investment Law in 2004.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed satisfaction with the expansion of investment in the sectors of agriculture and industry. His statements were made during last week’s visit to Dohuk Governorate, where he opened the Zakho International Football Stadium and the Rixos Hotel in the city of Dohuk.

During the opening ceremony of Zakho International Stadium, Prime Minister Barzani affirmed it as another indication of Kurdistan people’s quest for life, progress, and prosperity in the midst of adversity caused by war, terrorist threats, and oppression.

“No obstacle, embargo, or budget cutting can weaken Kurdistan people’s will for progress, reconstruction, and success,” he said.

He praised the role of Kurdish entrepreneurs for the support and assistance they have been offering voluntarily to the Peshmerga forces in their fight against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, also known as ISIS.

Meeting Peshmerga commanders

In a meeting with commanders of Peshmerga forces in Dohuk, Prime Minister Barzani was updated about the latest developments on the battlefront against ISIS in the Duhok-Mosul sector.

Prime Minister Barzani spoke at length about the significant role the Peshmerga forces play in the fight against terrorism and the protection of the Region.

He pointed out, “The international community values the role of the Peshmerga forces in protecting the Region and also protecting all ethnic and religious groups who have been directly exposed to terrorism.”

In order to adequately confront terrorism, he reiterated that the Kurdistan Regional Government continuously seeks to ensure that the needs of the Peshmerga forces are met by the Federal Government of Iraq and the international coalition.

Relations with Baghdad and the IDPs issue

In his meeting with the Dohuk Governorate Council, Prime Minister Barzani reassured that the Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, has intensified its effort to resolve the problems of Dohuk Governorate, particularly those related to providing assistance to meet the needs of refugees and internally displaced persons, IDPs.  Duhok Governorate hosts the largest number of refugees and IDPs both in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

On various occasions during his visit, Prime Minister Barzani discussed the problems between the KRG and Iraqi Federal Government, emphasising  that the KRG is committed to meeting the requirements of the Iraq Federal Budget Law 2015, as well as to the agreement reached last December between the two sides on budget and oil export issues. He reaffirmed that the KRG desires to solve the financial and budget problems through negotiations and mutual understanding.

“The Kurdistan Region’s priority is to solve the financial and budget problems with Baghdad, but if Baghdad continues its non-abidance of the agreement, then the KRG has to resort to other options,” he said.

Prime Minister Barzani said, “Baghdad neglects the Kurdistan Region’s rights. Turning to other options never has been a political issue. Our policy is to help Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi, as was our policy in the past. These issues are economic issues. If mutual understanding of Kurdistan Region’s economic issues is not attained, we shall have to resort to other solutions.”

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received Belgian Government Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders and his accompanying delegation.

Mr. Reynders introduced Belgium’s new Ambassador to Iraq, who will begin his duties in December.

Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Reynders indicated his country aims to implement several projects in the fields of energy and water in the Kurdistan Region as its Investment Law offers attractive assistance and incentives to foreign investors. 

Prime Minister Barzani highlighted the Region’s economic difficulties that emerged after Baghdad withheld Kurdistan Region’s budget since early 2014, leading to suspension of many public service projects. He stated, however, that private sector projects are maintaining momentum. Foreign investors and business owners are regaining confidence that the Region is secure and offers significant incentives and opportunities.

Regarding the situation of refugees and internally displaced persons, IDPs, Prime Minister Barzani pointed out that international assistance addresses only emergency needs while the KRG struggles to other essential needs. He noted that UN agencies have been unable to satisfactorily meet the requirements.

Prime Minister Barzani emphasised that Peshmerga forces are fighting a most barbaric terrorist organization on behalf of the entire world.

Regarding the relations between Erbil and Baghdad, Prime Minister Barzani said the current Iraq Government attitude towards the Kurdistan Region is the same as that of the former Iraqi cabinet.  It continues to withhold the Kurdistan Region’s budget that includes civil servant salaries.  It avoids including Kurdistan Region representatives in international conferences, held on the Iraq situation and the war against the Islamic State terrorist organization. He warned that this situation is not sustainable.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his wishes that Belgium’s new Ambassador to Iraq will be successful in his duty, reiterating his government’s full support and cooperation.