On 17 August 2014 Dr. Yusif Muhammad Sadiq, Kurdistan parliament president, visited the fronts of battle against ISIS in Khanaqin and Jalawla. Dr. Yusif said that the purpose of his visit is to learn about the needs of Peshmarga forces and to see the situation life of the refugees in the region as well. He thanked Peshmarga forces and promised that Kurdistan parliament tries to equalize their rights with the military forces in Baghdad.

The president of Kurdistan parliament also went to Khanaqin and visited a number of people of Kakais, another ethnic-religious group in Kurdistan, and asserted, “We do not allow ISIS to commit another crime here, and the tragedy happened to Yazidis and Christian in Shangal and Musil should not be repeated here”. He added that Kurdistan parliament is determined to pass some laws in order to protect ethnic and religious minorities in Kurdistan and to verify their civil rights completely”.

During his meeting with (Lancs Mackie) British Consul in Erbil, who visited the parliament Dr. Yousef Mohammad Sadiq the president of the Kurdistan Parliament stressed on the need of the UK Nations contribution in providing assistance to the Kurdistan Regional Government in this circumstance, he also hopes that the British government offer humanitarian aid to displaced and the British government will be pioneer to provide such assistance.

The President of the Parliament of Kurdistan during the meeting talked  About the humanitarian situation through which displaced people from different areas faced, nowadays.

The security situation of the areas and the conditions of the Peshmerga forces that address for terrorists witnessed, that humanitarian conditions of the displaced are not good and they need a helping hand and provide the basic necessities for living and we hope that the British government help in providing services to them, such as humanitarian aid and military, logistical aid to the Peshmerga to protect Kurdistan from the terrorist.

For his part, Lancs Mackie British Consul in Erbil thanks  President of Kurdistan Parliament on the information that he provided during the meeting about the current situation in the region and the difficult conditions for the displaced of Kurdistan and information about the conditions of the Peshmerga forces, describing the activities of the Kurdistan Parliament and interest in the conditions of the displaced terms, stressing that his country supports Kurdistan in all circumstances and that the British government will contribute humanitarian assistance to the displaced, hoping to end the outstanding problems between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the central government in Baghdad.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani today met with Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bidt and EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva.

In a meeting in his office in Salahaddin, President Barzani called for more humanitarian aid from the international community, saying that hosting and providing for the basic needs of more than 1.5 million IDPs and Syrian refugees in Kurdistan is beyond the capacity of the KRG. The President thanked political and humanitarian support from EU countries but added that much more needs to be done.

President Barzani also said that the visits by European officials and their public messages of support gives the people and government of Kurdistan hope and confidence to stand firm against ISIS terrorism and in providing aid and shelter for the IDPs.

Swedish Foreign Minister Bildt expressed his country’s full support for the KRG in its fight against the ISIS and said that all EU countries are intent to help the KRG in dealing with the large number of IDPs and that they have also agreed on a long-term strategy to confront the ISIS threat. He said that ISIS is a threat to the whole world.

EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva also praised the KRG for its generosity towards the IDPs and refugees and said that the EU would continue to provide humanitarian in Kurdistan for as long as it is necessary.

President Barzani agreed with Foreign Minister Bildt that forming a truly inclusive, representative government in Baghdad would constitute a major step forward to defeating the ISIS threat, but added that this is the last chance. He attributed the current dire state of affairs to the wrong policies of outgoing Prime Minister Noori Maliki. 

Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq (KRG.org) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani yesterday welcomed Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, the European Union’s Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Kristalina Georgieva, and a number of European Union officials to Kurdistan to review the current crisis.

Foreign Minister Bildt expressed the full solidarity of Sweden and the European Union with the Kurdistan Region in its fight against the terrorists. He said that he wished to be fully aware of the situation on the ground and to make it clear to everyone that Sweden and the European Union stand with the Kurdistan Region during this difficult time.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked the Foreign Minister for his visit, explaining that it sends a positive message to the people of Kurdistan and demonstrates that Kurds are not alone. He provided the delegation with a security update regarding the advances of the Peshmerga forces and said that the KRG is resolved to fight and defeat the terrorists. He stated that the Kurdistan Region’s forces need modern weapons, ammunition, and equipment in their fight against the terrorist group.

The Prime Minister spoke in detail about the dire humanitarian situation facing the internally displaced people and the refugees who have fled to the Kurdistan Region. The KRG seeks international assistance to support the displaced. He noted the KRG policy to fully support and protect all ethnic and religious minorities in the area to the greatest extent possible.

Commissioner Georgieva conveyed the European Union’s commendation for the efforts of the Kurdistan Region to respond to the needs of the internally displaced people and refugees despite the KRG not receiving its share of the federal budget from Baghdad. The support provided by the KRG thus far has proved that the Kurdistan Region deserves international support.

Finally, all parties expressed hope for a rejuvenated Iraqi political process, the formation of a new cabinet, and the beginning of a new political phase in Iraq. All agreed upon the need for an inclusive government that would represent all Iraqis and prompt genuine reform in the country’s political system. 

Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq (KRG.org) – Yesterday Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani held meetings with French Ambassador Denis Gauer, Chairman of the British Parliament’s Defence Committee Rory Stewart, and Polish Ambassador Stanislaw Smolen to discuss the current security and humanitarian situation.

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to each delegation for the attention and support that has been extended to the people and the government of the Kurdistan Region during this time of crisis.

French Ambassador Gauer pays the Prime Minister a farewell visit

The Prime Minister thanked the French Ambassador for his significant role in expanding bilateral relations between Kurdistan and France throughout his tenure as ambassador in Baghdad, highlighting the crucial political decision taken by the French government to fully support Kurdistan during the current crisis. He wished Ambassador Gauer success in his future postings.

For his part, the Ambassador remarked upon the stability, security and progress achieved in economic and social fields in Kurdistan. He reiterated his country's continuing solidarity with the Kurdistan Region in light of recent events and emphasised that France supports the Kurdistan Region in its efforts to combat terrorism.

Ambassador Gauer recalled key telephone conversations between President François Hollande and President Masoud Barzani, also pointing to the important visit of the French Foreign Minister to Erbil last week and France’s role in urging the international community and European countries to support Kurdistan against the terrorists and provide assistance to the displaced.

Prime Minister Barzani provided an update on the progress of the Peshmerga forces and indicated that the KRG requires more international aid to assist the hundreds of thousands of displaced. The humanitarian crisis is extremely difficult and the relief operations needed are beyond the government’s capacity.

The Prime Minister also suggested convening an international conference for donor countries and international organisations to ensure full coordination of humanitarian assistance for the displaced people and refugees. Most reside in Kurdistan’s cities and urgent, well-coordinated assistance is needed to respond to the humanitarian crisis.

British parliamentarian Rory Stewart receives an update on security and humanitarian progress

Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron requested that Member of Parliament Rory Stewart lead a delegation to Erbil to meet with KRG officials and receive an update on the latest security and humanitarian developments. Mr Stewart is the Chairman of the British Parliament’s Defence Select Committee.

Prime Minister Barzani updated the delegation on the recent advances of the Peshmerga forces on all fronts. He also discussed the latest developments regarding the situation of the hundreds of thousands of internally displaced Yezidi Kurds from Sinjar, Christians from Mosul and elsewhere, and other displaced ethnic and religious minorities that have taken refuge in the Kurdistan Region.

The Prime Minister restated the difficulty in providing adequate aid, noting that Iraq’s federal government has not provided any assistance and has still not released the Kurdistan Region’s budget, which has been withheld since the beginning of the year. The role of the international community in providing aid is therefore essential.

Both sides stressed the importance of international support for the Kurdistan Region’s fight against the terrorists, and the need for such support to continue, as the terrorists threaten the Kurdistan Region and ethnic and religious minorities in particular. Both agreed upon the need for continuous international aerial protection around Sinjar to prevent terrorist violence against minority civilians.

Prime Minister Barzani said that Iraq’s problems require political solutions. He noted that Iraq has fundamentally changed in character since the terrorists seized the city of Mosul, and therefore a new approach would be necessary to identify and implement solutions. He hoped that Iraq’s new government would bring all Iraqis together, represent the rights and the wishes of all ethnic and religious communities, and learn from the mistakes of the previous administration.

Polish delegation delivers tonnes of humanitarian aid to Kurdistan

Polish Ambassador Stanislaw Smolen and a delegation from Poland’s Foreign Ministry arrived in Erbil with a cargo plane of humanitarian aid for internally displaced people taking refuge in Kurdistan.

Prime Minister Barzani conveyed his government’s gratitude to Poland for supplying the much-needed assistance. He provided the delegation with the latest security update in the Region’s fight against the terrorists, including progress achieved by the Peshmerga forces, and both sides agreed on the need for international support for the KRG in combating the terrorist group.

The Prime Minister indicated that the KRG still seeks support and aid from the international community in general, and Europe in particular, in order to fight the terrorists and meet the basic needs of the displaced.

The Polish Foreign Ministry’s special envoy restated his country's support for Kurdistan and congratulated the Prime Minister on the victories of the Peshmerga forces. He highlighted the emergency meeting of the European Union’s foreign ministers in which Poland reiterated its military and humanitarian support for the Kurdistan Region, adding that Poland has played a crucial role in supporting the KRG.

Prime Minister Barzani commended the delegation for Poland’s stance and called upon other European countries to come forward with military and humanitarian support to help assure Kurdistan’s victory, on behalf of the world, against the terrorists.

The Polish Foreign Ministry’s special envoy emphasised his country’s wish to send more Polish companies and businesspeople to Kurdistan to convey the message that the Region is secure for business, investment, and trade.

Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq (KRG.org) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani yesterday received Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil and his accompanying delegation.

The Prime Minister noted his appreciation for the visit. Foreign Minister Bassil is the first Foreign Minister of an Arab country to visit the Kurdistan Region since the terrorist attacks began in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The Foreign Minister stressed that he came to the Kurdistan Region to convey his country’s solidarity and support.

Discussions centered on the political situation in Iraq, the impact of terrorists occupying parts of the country, the formation of the new government in Baghdad, and the importance of an inclusive government that represents all components of Iraqi society.

Prime Minister Barzani emphasised the need for substantive reform in Iraqi governance and the resolution of outstanding political issues in order to pave the way for a healthy political atmosphere. He said that the Kurdistan Region would participate in Iraq’s political process and negotiations.

The Prime Minister explained that the people of Kurdistan are proud of a culture of coexistence and tolerance that has been practiced in the Region for millennia. The KRG is committed to the protection of this culture and will exert all efforts and resources to ensure its continuation.

Both sides pointed to the importance of bilateral relations, discussing the dynamic presence of the Lebanese community in the Kurdistan Region. They discussed Lebanese involvement in trade, economic activity, development, reconstruction, and investment in the Kurdistan Region and how best to ensure and expand the mutually beneficial relationship.

Finally, the situation of displaced civilians and refugees currently in the Kurdistan Region was discussed. The Prime Minister described the extent of the humanitarian crisis and the need for urgent support from the international community.

Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq (DFR.KRG.org) – The Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa, yesterday received a farewell visit from the French Ambassador to Iraq, Mr Denis Gauer.

Minister Mustafa briefed the Ambassador on the current security and humanitarian situation on the ground.

Minister Mustafa expressed appreciation for France’s extraordinary support to the people of Kurdistan over the last two weeks. He said, “France has been extremely supportive since the beginning of this crisis, and the people and the government of Kurdistan Region are fully aware and very appreciative of the French Government’s actions.” He added, “The visit of the French Foreign Minister to Kurdistan conveyed a key message to the international community and encouraged other countries to come forward and provide assistance.”

Minister Mustafa highlighted the magnitude of the humanitarian situation in Kurdistan and restated his government’s call for urgently needed humanitarian assistance in order to address the crisis.

Ambassador Gauer reiterated that the government of France would continue to provide humanitarian and military assistance to the Kurdistan Region. The Ambassador stated, “We understand the security and humanitarian challenges facing the Kurdistan Region. We are fully committed to supporting the Kurdistan Region. We are also trying to mobilize members of the United Nations Security Council and the European Union to provide further support to the Kurdistan Region.”

Minister Mustafa thanked the Ambassador for his service and continued support for Kurdistan and wished him success in his future postings.

The French Consul General, Mr Alain Guépratte, and the Assistant Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, Ms Siham Jabali, also attended the meeting.

Norway’s Foreign Minister Børge Brende called President Masoud Barzanion on Monday to express his country’s support and solidarity for the KRG in its fight against ISIS terrorists. He also praised the peshmerga forces for their bravery and recent victories against the terrorist group. 

President Barzani thanked the Norwegian foreign minister and said that on behalf of the free world, the people of Kurdistan are proudly fighting a terrorist state, which has gained the advanced weapons from the armies of both Iraq and Syria. 

During their telephone conversation, they also discussed the plight of hundreds of thousands of IDP and refugees who have sought refuge in Kurdistan. On this, the President said that the KRG is now providing for the needs of more than 1.5 million people.