Archive for month: January, 2019

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani received  the United Arab Emirates Acting Consul General to the Kurdistan Region Ahmed Al-Muhairbi, and his accompanying delegation.

Consul-General Al-Muhairbi pointed to UAE activities and projects being implemented in Iraq, including assistance to displaced people and refugees in the Kurdistan Region who fled terrorism. He thanked the Kurdistan Regional Government and its institutions for their support and coordination.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked the United Arab Emirates for its humanitarian assistance, hoped for its continuation, and expressed that the Kurdistan Region looks forward to further strengthening relations with the United Arab Emirates.

The political situation in the Kurdistan Region, latest development in its relations with Baghdad, along with relations between the Kurdistan Region and the United Arab Emirates were discussed.

They also discussed post-ISIS era and the process of the reconstruction of Iraq.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani received a U.S delegation, led by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Peek, and including U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Douglas Silliman and U.S. Consul-General to the Kurdistan Region Steven Fagin.

Mr. Peek appreciated the role of Prime Minister Barzani towards solving the issues between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad, which improvement in the relations between the two sides.

The steps towards forming a new cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government, bilateral relations, U.S. support and assistance to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and the threat of the re-emergence of terrorism were discussed.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked the United States for its assistance to the Kurdistan Region, expressing hope for further development of bilateral relations. He also highly valued the activities of the outgoing U.S. ambassador, who visited the Kurdistan Region to bid farewell to Prime Minister Barzani.

Prime Minister Barzani wished Ambassador Silliman success in his future positions.

The latest developments in the region and a number of topics related to the Middle East were discussed in the meeting.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani received a delegation from the Syriac Orthodox religious leaders in Mosul and the Kurdistan Region, headed by His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church and a number of bishops.

The delegation expressed gratitude to the people, government and the Peshmarga forces of the Kurdistan Region for accommodating and protecting Christians in difficult times. They highlighted the historical roots of the Christians in the region and hailed the peaceful coexistence among the various communities in the Kurdistan Region.

Prime Minister Barzani praised the continued tradition of coexistence in the Kurdistan Region and stressed the protection and promotion of religious freedom.

He hoped that the Christians who fled to the Kurdistan Region would not emigrate and remain in their country. He also expressed the Kurdistan Regional Government’s willingness to further develop Syriac education in the Kurdistan Region.

Stability and developments in the wider region were also discussed in the meeting.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani received the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Javad Zarif and his accompanying delegation.

The relations of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq with Islamic Republic of Iran as well as the importance of continued coordination and cooperation in confronting and eliminating terrorism in the region were discussed.

They stressed that the threat of terrorism still exists and the cooperation and coordination among all parties are needed for its eradication.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked the Islamic Republic of Iran for its assistance to the Kurdistan Region in the fight against ISIS. He stressed the importance of cooperation and coordination among the countries of the region in the fight against terrorism.

Minister Zarif expressed his support for the improvement of relations between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad. He hoped that all the issues will be solved through dialogue.

Development of bilateral commercial, cultural, agricultural and scientific cooperation and the situation in the wider region were also discussed in the meeting.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani received U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and his accompanying delegation. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani.

The regional situation, developments in the Middle East, and the threat of reemergence of terrorism and ways to combat it, were discussed.

Secretary Pompeo highlighted the significance of  recent improvement of relations between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad, and progress being made on some issues. He affirmed that the United States would remain a partner of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked the U.S. for its assistance during difficult times. He noted the friendship between the Kurdistan Region and the United States, highlighted joint cooperation between the Kurdistan Region and the international coalition, and stressed that joint actions are required to eliminate the threat of reemergence of terrorism. He emphasized the need of improved coordination between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad to advance security and political stability.

Prime Minister Barzani reaffirmed the Kurdistan Regional Government’s support to Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and that the KRG looks forward to the success of his cabinet. With the resolution of some issues requiring more time, he noted that the political environment has improved and the time is right to begin serious negotiations and pointed to the positive role of the United States.

He briefed the delegation on government reforms and welcomed expertise that could help the reform process in administration and governance.

The latest developments in the greater region and other issues were also discussed.