Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (gov.krd) - Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received the Japanese Ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Kazuya Nashida.

The Japanese Ambassador thanked the Kurdistan Regional Government for its stance and support following the murder of the Japanese citizen in Syria at the hands of the Islamic State terrorist organization, known as ISIS. He conveyed his condolences to the families of the Peshmerga forces who have been martyred in the fight against terrorism.

In another part of the meeting, Ambassador Nashida pointed out that, as part of Japan’s assistance to Iraq, his government will fund an infrastructural project related to the sewage system in Erbil city, which will be officially announced soon. He reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to continuing to help the Kurdistan Region.

The two sides discussed the latest developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, particularly the situation in various battlefields. Prime Minister Barzani highlighted Kurdistan Region’s needs and requirements in its war against ISIS.

They also discussed the latest visit by a Kurdistan Regional Government delegation to Baghdad and the agreement reached last December between Baghdad and Erbil. Prime Minister Barzani told the Japanese Ambassador that Baghdad had officially informed the Kurdistan Region that the lack of liquidity in Iraq is the reason that Iraq is unable to send the Kurdistan Region its allocated share from the federal budget as was finalised in the agreement, last December.

The Prime Minister Barzani thanked the Japanese government for having funded several projects in the Kurdistan Region.