Within Mohammad Javad Zarif’s travel to Iraq and his visit to Iraqi and Kurdish authorities, Arman Press had an interview with Dr. Ahmad the deputy-representative of KRG of Iraq in Iran. In this interview he mentioned some aspects of the travel as followed:

About the decision made by the foreign minister of Iran to travel Kurdistan Region and its accomplishments he said Mr. Zarif’s travel is considerable for establishing a consensus between Kurdistan and the central government to confront with ISIS. Mentioning Masoud Barzani’s statements he said Iran has always supported the people, the government and Kurdistan Region of Iraq in tough days.

Dr. Ahmad concerning the charge brought by some foreign countries about Iran’s military interference in Iraq to confront ISIS said as far as he knows such a request has not been made from Iran. In addition Kurdistan region forces of Iraq especially Mr. Barzani announced that they need military weapons help and it was Iran the first country which helped. ‘As per the current situations in the region and the type of ISIS confrontation with KR of Iraq we do not need Iran to interfere’ he said.

About the option of military like Syria to confront ISIS he said basically the condition of Iraq is different with Syria. The crisis of Iraq has political root and Syria does security and military. Nevertheless Dr. Ahmad knows the root of these problems in mismanagements of Mr. Maliki. He continued to say that he does not think that military interference can solve the problem. International communities can confront this terrorist group by controlling the financial sources, commuting and their accessibilities of equipment.

In a response to question about the countries trying to fan Iranophobia he answered this roots in regional competition and the difference of countries’ benefits. Therefore he believes that if Iran can make a balance between political forces in Iraq it will be more successful. Accordance with the official policy of Iran the government preferred by Iraqi people, Kurdistan Region and any kind of agreements between both sides are supported by Iran which should be appreciated.

As the groundwork for common and interactive cooperation of Iran and regional Arabian countries laid Nazem Dabbagh the representative of KRG of Iraq in Tehran believes that the key role of Iran in the Middle East has been uncovered to all more than ever.

Nazem Dabbagh in the talk with Name News reporter concerning the recent phrases of the secretary-general of Persian Gulf Cooperative Council of about the necessity to Iran’s attention by regional Arabian countries with aim of Iran’s taking part in drawing a regional strategies Said: the current conditions of the region as compared to the conditions of the Middle East in recent years have been highly different.

Now Tehran by itself has been able to change to a key and central actor in the region by playing a constructive and positive role in Syria and Iraq. Relating to this he added: the current conditions of the region demands that countries are allied to repel the common enemies. By standing against ISIS in initial days of this group’s strike to Iraq and before by supporting Bashar Assad Iran could prove that he has an undeniable presence in the region and that is why now Arabian countries specially after positive nuclear negotiations between Iran and the west are in a way looking for common cooperative work ground with Iran. 

The representative KRG of Iraq in Iran said as well: when the authorities of regional Arabian countries say Iran has to catch regional countries’ trust, they have to regard this that this matter is a bilateral case and means that has the regional countries has to do so.             

When Saddam ruling Iraq Ba’athists were on power. There were thoughts of Ba’ath party growing and in Syria also Salafist and Takfirist got united as a special organization; those thoughts of Ba’ath dominated this unity and caused a singularity between terrorists and Syria and called themselves Iraq and Syria Islamic Government, namely, ISIS.

The representative of Kurdistan Region of Iraq, describing the reasons and roots of the formation of ISIS terrorists group, considered the coalition against terrorists as a pretext to reenter Iraq. He believes that the USA has experienced three strategies to enter Iraq: the first experience was Persian Gulf War against Saddam, the second was getting out the Nuri Al-Maliki from Iraq and the third was to attack ISIS.

Nazem Omar Dabbagh the representative of KRG of Iraq in Iran in talk with ILNA News Agency reporter about the hidden goals of ISIS to appear said: ISIS is not something to emerge suddenly but there were factors to support ISIS and there was an atmosphere in which it could grow. In Syria and Iraq this appropriate atmosphere was prepared. Emphasizing that in the history such concerns are obviously mentioned he added as Justice and Development party coming to power in Turkey, it has formed especial closeness between this country with Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Relating bombing ISIS positions by America he said ILNA: it is benefit to America to use air raid rather than disembarking his forces to reduce expenditures since in his view. America public reflections cannot accept their soldiers to be killed in Iraq.

Dabbagh shortened Turkey’s policy change in two cases. The first is to take advantage by letting medicines and altruism aids pass from his country and the second was that through being a member of NATO and accepting some commitments and being asked by the members to make his role against ISIS clear he had to change his policy.

In addition he believes that some countries allied with America in fight against ISIS also support this group have vague role. Stating that the coalition and allying to uproot ISIS in the region have to be serious Dabbagh said: to vanish ISIS in the region this group must be destroyed to the core like to cut the financial and human resources and stop supporting it.   

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.

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.   

Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (krp.org)- The Kurdistan Region Presidency strongly condemns the cowardly act of beheading the American journalist, James Foley, by the terrorists of ISIS. This shameful act serves as a reminder of the cruelty of the terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.  The Kurdistan Region Presidency is hereby extending, on behalf of the people of the Kurdistan Region, condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Foley and the government of the United States of America.

Kuwait City, Kuwait – (DFR.krg.org) – A delegation from Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, led by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari attended the Second International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria in which 68 countries and 24 international organisations participated.

Minister Zebari was accompanied by the representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Head of the Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa.

The aim of the donor conference was to gain further humanitarian assistance for the Syrian refugees and internally displaced people who have been affected since the start of the conflict in March 2011.

The conference was opened by the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and chaired by the UN Secretary-General  Ban Ki-moon. As the host of the conference, the Emir urged the international community to get together in order to help those who have been affected by the Syrian conflict and pledged $500 million to the cause.

Mr Ban thanked the Emir of Kuwait for his generosity and hospitality, and encouraged the international community to continue providing humanitarian assistance to the refugees who have paid the biggest price for the ongoing war in Syria.

During his opening speech, the UN Secretary-General thanked all countries and international organisations for their presence and active participation.

Valerie Amos, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Antonio Gutierrez, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and others addressed the conference and urged countries to make donations to meet UN’s $6.5 billion appeal for Syria.

Minister Zebari emphasised that  military intervention was not the  solution to the conflict in Syria, pinning hopes on the Geneva II Conference which is set to take place later this month.

This year Iraq pledged $13 million in addition to the $58 million it has already contributed in relief funds to the Syrian refugees and IDPs in Iraq.

The Kurdistan Region has seen a large influx of Syrian refugees in addition to the thousands of Iraqi families that have fled to the Region as violence continues in other parts of Iraq. There are currently over 250,000 Syrian refugees in Iraq, including those who are registered and non-registered. The vast majority are in Kurdistan.

The KRG has so far provided $70 million in relief funds including the provision of basic needs such as food, shelter, clean water and sanitation, as well as emergency health care. However, the KRG is overstretched and has been calling for urgent international assistance.

Minister Mustafa, highlighted the importance of the conference as well as the role Kuwait and the UN have played in helping the vulnerable people fleeing Syria. 'The KRG is committed to helping the refugees and appreciates any contributions made,' he said, adding that the need to end the violence is of paramount importance.

The United States of America was among the most generous donors, contributing $380 million.

The one-day conference concluded with donor countries pledging a total of $2.4 billion to help the Syrian refugees. This exceeds the $1.5 billion raised during last year's International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria.

In the margins of the conference, the Iraqi delegation, led by Minister Zebari and including KRG Minister Mustafa, met with the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati, and Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, to discuss bilateral relations, the Syrian crisis and the Geneva II Conference. 

 Salahaddin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani today chaired a meeting of the Syrian Kurdish parties in an effort to help the Kurdish groups in Syria to unify their positions in the run-up to the planned Geneva II conference on Syria.

Representatives from both Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Kurdish National Council attended today’s meeting in Salahaddin. The two parties agreed to hold a bilateral meeting on Tuesday, 17 December 2013, with the aim of unifying their position.