MUNICH, Germany, February 19, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani concluded his participation in the three-day Munich Security Conference today. The conference was held from 17 to 19 of February.

During the three days of the conference, President Nechirvan Barzani met with a number of leaders, ministers of foreign affairs, and high officials, including: The President of Azerbaijan, the Prime Ministers of Poland, Armenia, Iraq, and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the US, the UK, Italy, the Vatican, Norway, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, the President of the European Commission, the Deputy President and Chief of Foreign Affairs and Security System of the European Union, two delegations from the US Congress, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for the International Security Affairs, the Secretary of State at the German Ministry of Economic Coordination and Development, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Affairs and a German Parliamentary Delegation, a delegation of the German parliamentary party of SPD, and many other officials who were present at the conference.

The discussions in President Nechirvan Barzani’s meetings covered the political, security, and economic situation of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, the relations between Erbil and Baghdad and the negotiations to solve the issues, the bilateral relations of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region with the neighboring countries and developing cooperation and coordination, the situation in the Middle East and the wider region, and the importance of maintaining peace and stability while solving the differences, the issues of energy and security, the confrontation of terrorism, and other topics of mutual interest.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-concludes-productive-participation-at-59th-session-of-the-munich-security-conference/

MUNICH, Germany, February 17, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani met separately with the US Senator, Mr. Chris Van Hollen and a US Congressional delegation led by Mr. Mike Turner, the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference today in Germany.

The meetings focused on the bilateral relations of the US with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and ways to further strengthen ties. The US delegation reaffirmed the United States’ continued support to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in the fight against terrorism and the challenges that currently face Iraq.

Discussions also covered the reform process within the Peshmarga Ministry and the unification of the Peshmerga forces. In this regard, President Nechirvan Barzani reiterated Kurdistan Region’s commitment to continuing and completing the process with the US assistance. The President also expressed the Kurdistan Region’s gratitude for the US support to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

The developments in the wider region and other topics of mutual interest were also highlighted during the two meetings.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-us-delegation-2/

MUNICH, Germany, February 17, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani met with Armenian Prime Minister, Mr. Nikol Pashinyan Friday evening, on the sidelines of the Munich Security conference in Germany.

Discussions focused on Armenia’s relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in all fields, emphasizing the need to expand trade exchanges between the two countries and highlighting job and investment opportunities.

The two sides also highlighted the situation of the Kurdish Diaspora in Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora in the Kurdistan Region. The ancient relations between the two sides, as well as the challenges facing Kurdistan, Armenia and the wider region were also discussed.

Regarding the security situation and stability of the region, the President of the Kurdistan Region and the Prime Minister of Armenia stressed the importance of making efforts and working comprehensively to resolve all issues peacefully through dialogue and negotiations.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-prime-minister-of-armenia/

MUNICH, Germany, February 17, 2023

Continuing his meetings in Germany on the sidelines of Munich Security Conference, President Nechirvan Barzani met with His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar.

The meeting focused on Qatar’s relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and their joint cooperation to further expand their bilateral relations.

His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thani reiterated Qatar’s willingness to expand job and investment opportunities in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and expressed hope that greater opportunities for Qatari private sectors emerge in the Kurdistan Region. The President offered the support of all relevant institutions in the Kurdistan Region for Qatari business and investment ventures.

Both sides agreed on the importance of working to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East and reaffirmed the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully. In this context, they also discussed the constructive standing and role of both sides in the wider region.

MUNICH, Germany, February 17, 2023

Continuing his meetings on the sidelines of Munich Security Conference in Germany today, President Nechirvan Barzani met with Ms. Celeste Wallander, the US Assistant Secretary of Defense for international security affairs.

During the meeting, the security situation in Iraq, the Kurdistan Region and the wider region were discussed and the latest developments in the war against terrorism was highlighted.

Ms. Wallander reaffirmed the continued US support to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region within the framework of Strategic Dialogue, especially in the fight to eliminate the ISIS terror networks.

The President reiterated the appreciation of the Kurdistan Region for the US support in the fight against terrorism and valued the continued US support for the reform process withing the Peshmarga Ministry including the unification of the Peshmarga forces.

The latest developments in the wider region, collective efforts to ensure regional security and stability and other topics of mutual interest were also discussed.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-us-assistant-secretary-of-state-2/

MUNICH, Germany, February 17, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani met with Ms. Nadiya Murad, the Yezidi humanitarian and Nobel laureate in Germany today on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The latest about the status of the Yezidis, the Shingal district and the continuing efforts to free abducted Yezidis were highlighted at the meeting.

The two sides also discussed the situation of the Yezidi refugees and reiterated the importance of the status of Shingal, its reconstruction, the safe return of the displaced, and the international assistance to the Yezidis and Shingal district.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-yezidi-activist-ms-nadiya-murad/

MUNICH, Germany, February 18, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani met with Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan Republic today on the sidelines of Munich Security Conference in Germany.

During their meeting, both sides expressed their mutual willingness to develop bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and Azerbaijan Republic including partnerships in trade and commerce and also establishing official visits between the two sides.

In this context, President Aliyev announced his country’s plans to open a consulate general in Erbil and invited President Nechirvan Barzani to visit Baku.

Discussions also covered other issues of common interest including regional stability and security.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-president-ilham-aliyev-of-azerbaijan/

MUNICH, Germany, February 18, 2023

Continuing his meetings in Germany on the second day of Munich Security Conference, President Nechirvan Barzani met with Mr. Josep Borrel, the Vice President of European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The meeting discussed the latest political and security developments in Iraq, the relations between Erbil and Baghdad, the war on terror, the relations of Iraq and Kurdistan Region with the EU member states and the opportunities to expand collective cooperation.

Mr. Borrel emphasized the continued support of the European Union for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in the fight against terrorism, and in the process of building the state institutions, and expressed support for the ongoing talks between Erbil and Baghdad aimed at resolving their differences. Mr. Borrel stressed that the peace, stability and welfare of Iraq is of importance to the European Union.

For his part, President Nechirvan Barzani thanked the EU for its political, humanitarian and military support to Iraq and Kurdistan and reiterated the willingness of the Kurdistan Region to further expanding relations with the EU countries in all areas including security and economic partnerships.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-vice-president-of-european-commission/