MADRID, 21 October 2010
Daban Shadala, the KRG representative to Spain met with Mr. José Antonio Espejo of Spain’s ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, known as PSOE by its Spanish initials.
The meeting was held at the offices of the PSOE in Madrid, of which Mr. Espejo is the Coordinator of the Federal Secretariat for International Policy and Cooperation. The main focus of the meeting was to brief PSOE on the opening of the first KRG representation in Spain, as well as explaining the activities KRG Spain intends to carry out.
Representative Shadala explained that the KRG representation in Spain works as part of the federal government of Iraq and functions under the mandate of the Iraqi constitution. He further emphasized that KRG Spain is interested in establishing cultural, economic and education links between Spain and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Mr. Espejo, in turn, expressed his belief that to pursue a policy of establishing trade links between Spain and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq would be the best method for raising the profile of the Kurdistan Regional Government. He advised that KRG Spain should engage with the 17 autonomous regions of Spain in this regard and that PSOE would lend its support in establishing relations with the regions.
Furthermore, Representative Shadala highlighted the fact that companies from many European countries already have a visible and productive presence investing in the Kurdistan Region, and that Spain should also makes efforts to encourage its private sector to engage with the Region.
The meeting was ended with a photo, taken in front of a painting of Pablo Iglesias, the founder of the PSOE.
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