Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received a delegation from Qatar headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Khalid bin Mohammad al-Attiyah. During the meeting President Barzani and Dr. al-Attiyah spoke of the latest political and security developments in Iraq and in the Kurdistan Region. President Barzani emphasized on the importance of a wide coalition against the terrorists of the Islamic State as such enemy ought to be defeated at all cost.

Dr. al-Attiyah highlighted the role of President Barzani in the global effort against the Islamic State and stated that Qatar will continue to support the efforts of he Kurdistan Region.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, made a statement on the occasion of the nuclear deal reached between representatives of 5 +1 group of countries, which include the five permanent members of the UN Security Council as well as Germany and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Following is the text of the statement:

On the occasion of the agreement reached between 5 +1 group of countries and the Islamic Republic of Iran, on the Iranian nuclear file, we extend our congratulations to the leader, the Presidency and the people of Iran. We hope that this agreement will mark the beginning of enhancing cooperation and coordination between the countries and peoples of the world, for the sake of achieving world peace and progress of humanity.

This agreement is the evidence that patience and perseverance in talks and negotiations, constitute the best way to bring about agreement between the nations in the world. On this occasion, we highly value the work achieved by all the negotiating delegations, their cooperation and the relentless efforts of the United Nations in maintaining coordination in order to preserve world peace.

With this in mind, I would like to highlight our friendly relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and we are confident that this agreement will be a factor of strengthening and further developing the relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Islamic Republic of Iran in all the fields.

Nechirvan Barzani
Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region
15 July 2015

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received the Italian Minister of Defence, Ms. Roberta Pinotti and her accompanying delegation, which included the Italian Consul General to the Kurdistan Region, the Italian army Chief of Staff and a number of diplomats and military officials.

In the meeting, which was also attended by Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, and a number of Kurdistan Regional Government Ministers and officials, Ms. Pinotti reaffirmed her government’s appreciation for the role played by the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga Forces in the fight against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, and in defending and  protecting the  various communities in the Kurdistan Region.

She said that the Kurdistan Region enjoys a high reputation at the global level as its Peshmerga Forces defend civilisation against barbarity.

While she praised the role of the Kurdistan Regional Government for having accommodated and offered assistance to a large number of refugees and displaced persons, who fled ISIS violent repression and took refuge in the Kurdistan Region, Ms. Roberta Pinotti expressed her country’s readiness to help this vulnerable population.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his gratitude to the Italian people and government for their continuous support, recalling Italian Prime Minister's visit last year, when ISIS began attacking Kurdistan.

The two sides discussed Italy’s military support to the Peshmerga Forces and humanitarian aid to the refugees and IDPs.

Ms. Pinotti and her accompanying delegation arrived Kurdistan Region last night and were received at Erbil International Airport by Mustafa Sayid Qadir, Minister for Peshmerga Affairs, Falah Mustafa, head of the Department of Foreign Relations and Rezan Qadir, KRG representative in Italy.

Diplomacy Irani: the Congress of America has recently passed the draft of the project of arming Pishmerga and Sunni group of Iraq which has created a big fuss. According to this project American government establish a direct connection with Kurds and Iraqi tribes and arm them. The Prime Minister of Iraq has insisted on opposing the project of America Congress arming directly Pishmerga and Sunni tribes. Concerning this we had a talk with Nazem Dabbagh the representative of Kurdistan Region in Tehran of which the main points as followed:

In Dabbagh’s point of view this project is being considered through both Kurdish and legal aspects. Firstly, if central government of Iraq is obedient to the Constitution in order to support Pishmerga to confront ISIS, there will be no need for such project from America. Secondly, in that project the Congress has made some conditions to deliver military aids to KRG including that these aids will be delivered by central government of Iraq, then if central government or Sunni groups do not help Pishmerga to confront ISIS, the military aids will be delivered directly. However in this project it has insisted that delivering the military aids to KRG do not need be effective on the concern of separating Iraq. Concerning the negative reaction of the central government of Iraq to this project Dabbagh said: it seems Iraqi government has been involved in suspicion. If not so, the pass of such project in congress would not have encountered their reaction. All of us even America are in the same position of fighting ISIS. If Iraq government trusted KRG, it instead of a negative reaction would have to declare that we were all Iraqi and united and Pishmerga was a part of defensive forces of Iraq. Thus, Dabbagh’s estimating is that this action of America for directly arming Kurdistan and Sunni tribes of Iraq is to strengthen his effect and presence in the region. Relating the effect of America’s action on the military cooperation of Iran and USA to fight against ISIS Dabbagh said: it seems that after Iran and USA’s closeness in nuclear case, the conditions have happened in a way that the closeness of Tehran-Washington gets more. Of course, the being conditioned of the Congress’s project should be considered specially, and if the government of Iraq is obedient to the Constitution, there will be no need for direct aid of America to Pishmerga.                

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

In the meeting, which was also attended by Quad Talabani, Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Kubiš expressed his satisfaction for the level of cooperation and coordination between the Kurdistan Regional Government institutions and United Nations agencies, and thanked the KRG for the assistance it has so far offered to refugees and internally displaced persons who fled violent repression of the Islamic State terrorist organisation and took refuge in the Kurdistan Region.

Mr. Kubiš also stressed that the United Nations supports KRG's efforts in settling its differences with Baghdad through dialogue, pointing out that they are willing to help the Kurdistan Region in this regard. He reiterated the need for all the parties to commit to the agreement reached between the two sides.

Prime Minister Barzani briefed the UN envoy about the latest developments in the relations between the KRG and Federal Government of Iraq, pointing out that the differences between the two sides, which have been going on since last year, have still not been addressed. Hence the Kurdistan Regional Government has been forced to take other measures to address its own urgent problems, particularly financial ones, occurred as the result of non-abidance of Baghdad by its agreement with the Erbil.

Meantime, Prime Minister Barzani reiterated that the KRG supports dialogue and talks with Baghdad in order to come up with appropriate solutions in the interest of the two sides. He commended the role played by the United Nations in this regard.

Nazem Dabbagh, the representative of Kurdistan Region of Iraq in Iran in Shargh annual meeting accompanied by Seyyed Ali Mujani (Iraq History Researcher), and Abbasali Mansuri Arani (a member of National Security Commision of Islamic Parliament of Iran) presented to discuss about the depth of Iran strategic.

Nazem Dabbagh, concerning the result of security shared concerns and historical-cultural joints and their reflection upon Iran’s place in Iraq, said: its root has to be observed in Iraq formation. To form this country, pieces of Iran, Turkey and Arabian lands got separated. This has caused many unsolved problems. Thus in my opinion Iran’s strategy’s in the region requires more study for the future, because in Iraq there are religious and tribal agitation. It can likely be said that is why there is a phenomena named ISIS affecting whole region; Iran, Iraq and Turkey’s security are conducted.

He mentioned Turk’s support form Sunni of Iraq which caused ISIS. From this point of view, in this crisis all players considered their benefits, however, Iran’s security is the region’s and contra versa, since countries’ security are interweaved. He insisted that firstly unity should not be destroyed in Iraq; secondly we have to be allied so that Shia can get stronger.

Following Mujani and Arani Dabbagh said: I believe that Iran has both influence and presence in Iraq. In his opinion policy comes out from oil pipelines thus economy, policy and security are interrelated. He said: I repeatedly stated that Turkey’s attitude toward Iraq is economic through which it wants to provide its benefits by economy.

Iran, according to religion, economy and security has to take such an action that it takes advantage of all these competences. In an answer to a question he replied that: the security is shared. In general if security is not established in Iran, insecurity will influence Iraq and contra versa. Similarly, if security is not established in Iraq, it will influence Syria.

Somewhere else Dabbagh said: Associated Press asked me about Iran’s presence I replied what right does USA have more than Iran as an Iraq’s neighbor? History has proved that you have come several times and gone, but Iran has remained and is presence from Shingal to Basra. We always say if Iran had not been, Baghdad would have fallen and Iraqis been homeless . . . . . since we altogether can protect security. Dabbagh stated: I want sincerity and friendship of I.R of Iran already offered to be continued and to be enjoyed. How to enjoy? I mean both our friend ship is preserved and our future is guaranteed. Dabbagh said: we have to pass some cases and do not sacrifice minor concerns to major ones. If we do not study past and present conditions perfectly, we will not be able to draw the future. 

Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- In a statement to King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and the people of Saudi Arabia, President Barzani expressed his condolences on the death of Saudi Arabia's former Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal.

Regarding Turkey’s policies toward Iraq, Tasnim News Agency with the presence of three experts of Turkey and Iraq affairs Nazem Dabbagh, the representative of KRG in Tehran, Jegarxwin, the Deputy-representative of KRG in Iran along with Dr. Ja’far Haghpanah, the analyzer of regional affairs and scholar, held a meeting concerning Ankara’s approach toward Baghdad of which the underlying points follow:

Dr. Ja’far Haghpanah believes that until Justice and development party and Ahmad Davoud Oghlu personally came to power, toward the Middle East’s affairs Turkey did not take any roles but security. Since Turkey has always desired to join the west, the policy which was pursued at the period of Justice and Development party. In Iraq, after Americans’ departure, Turkey tried to lead the Sunni groups and manage those fighting against central government. Haghpanah added that Turkey was opposed America’s strike to Iraq which was appreciated by some Saddam’s opponents. Therefore, the Middle East has reached peak of its critical point; and if the regional countries do not cooperate with each other, all will expose to this crisis.

To answer Haghpanah’s phrases, Nazem Dabbagh stated that even though Turkey wanted to join Europe, he failed to achieve this aim. Thus after America’s attack to Iraq made an attempt to increase its influence in Sunnis in Iraq. Despite of its advantages in Iraq changes, Turkey has begun to fall. When Baghdad government was established, Ankara tried to strengthen the Sunnis and Turkmens in Iraq and Kurdistan as opposition of Bafgdad. Dabbagh said: I believe that through economic approaches Turkey is about to control Kurdistan; although he could attract Saddam’s attention, and in order to create a security border entered the north of the country, which fortunately with Kurdistan’s rise we could somewhat control Turkey’s authority obtained after Saddam’s fall. They have involved in economy and oil of the north of the country, which is similar to double-edged blade. Concerning oil agreements of KRG with Turkey without the affirmation of central government Dabbagh said: when Baghdad treated with Kurds as before, we had no choice but to act according our benefits. Dabbagh stated that Iraq Kurds disagree with the presence of wearing black ISIS. He continued: we desire Federal Iraq in which everyone is obedient to the Constitution. Haghpanah added that the political position in the Middle East are heading to stability, thus Kurds’ position will be stabilized. So Turkey has to accept the stabilized position. Therefore, Turkey considers Kurdistan region as a tool and the justice and development party do not deem any identity for Kurds. However structurally it regards Copenhagen regulations to join European Union. He also said: I agree with Me. Dabbagh that Turkey has no more capacity to play with the regional affairs. For it confronts serious interior and exterior problems. Due to its special consideration toward ISIS, it is suspicioned by KRG. The center of the next discussions will be assigned to the future of Erbil-Ankara. Dr. Muhammad Seddigh Ahmad (Jegarxwin), in a response to this question said: KRG has a fairly independent existence accepted by regional and international countries. He continued that Erbil-Ankara relations are divided in political, social and economic fields. According to Turkey deeming the economic opportunities available in Kurdistan Region, economic relations have been developed, naturally these relations are so beneficial for Ankara, however in the fields of economy and security is growing more sensible. Turkeys concerns of managing the crisis of Kurds has risen, and in the direction of taking effective steps in order to accelerate its joining to Europe Union, Ankara has had to choose a new look and approaches to solve Kurds’ concern. Simultaneously these changes in Turkey and Iraq flexible policies have been taken toward Kurdistan.

These were all reasons that accelerate to develop multilateral relations, whereas in spite of new political atmosphere it seemed that Turkey has not achieved its desirable goals. Somewhere in his speeches concerning Turkey positions toward ISIS he said: regarding the new conditions Ankara as we expected did not serve any facilities to Kurdistan to dispatch Pishmergah to help Kurdish fighters to defend Kobani. Jegarxwin tried to study that policy taken. In his view, all regional, interior, international pressures caused turkey to try to take the most advantage of the present condition with the least risk. He added: as long as the both sides aim to remove problems through talking and for both nations’ happiness, to develop the Turkey-Iraq relations never disagree KRG’s benefits; and we are interested in relations to be strengthened. Dabbagh altogether agree with Jegarxwin and said: I insist that the condition of Kurds in the Middle East is positive. According to the constitution of Iraq we follow to solve our concern. New conditions have occurred in the region, Kurds has turned to the balance weight.

Haghpanah put a detailed discussion concerning the complicate position of identity in Iraq and described interior difference of Iraq based on this. To complete this, Dabbagh said the warranty of Kurds’ and Shias’ rights are two things: first Kurd-Kurd, Shia-Shia, and after that Shia-Kurd unity. According to this, Jegarxwin stated; I believe in moderate Sunni-Kurd-Shia unity.