Archive for month: March, 2015

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (gov.krd) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received Mr. Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg and his accompanying delegation.

The two sides discussed the situation of the internally displaced Iraqis and Syrian refugees that fled the violent repression of the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, and took refuge in the Kurdistan Region.

They highlighted the heavy burden that this population represents on the Kurdistan Regional Government at a time when the Kurdistan Region is going through a financial crisis, lack of budget and a war which has been imposed on it by ISIS.

According to a recent joint report by the United Nations and KRG Ministry of Planning, the IDPs and refugees in Kurdistan Region represent 28 percent of the local population. Despite the difficulties, the Kurdistan Region has accommodated and provided them all the assistance and services that it can.

The visiting delegation stressed that it will plead the plight of the IDPs and refugees before the international community, in particular the European countries, for them to provide further aid to the IDPs in the Kurdistan Region.

The delegation also stressed that it will raise this issue at the conference of donor countries, which is scheduled to be held in Kuwait next week and will inform the audience about the extend of humanitarian duties that the Kurdistan Regional Government has implemented towards the displaced and refugees.

Prime Minister Barzani emphasised that the Kurdistan Region has embraced all the displaced persons regardless of ethnicity, religion or sect.

Both sides also discussed the current political situation in Iraq, the fight against ISIS and the progress made by the Kurdistan Peshmerga Forces on the frontline against terrorism. The delegation expressed its government’s readiness to provide the necessary assistance for medical treatment to injured Peshmerga.

Prime Minister Barzani said that the Peshmerga forces are fighting against ISIS terrorists in order to defend and protect the principles of human rights, which are values that the Kurdistan Region shares with all supporters of freedom across the world.

Erbil, Kurdistan region, Iraq (gov.krd) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, received yesterday a delegation comprising members from the European Union Parliament.

The two sides discussed the current situation in the Kurdistan Region, the issue of the refugees and internally displaced people, the fight against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, and the relationship between Erbil and Baghdad.

The visiting delegation praised Kurdistan Regional Government for having accommodated and provided humanitarian assistance to hundreds of thousands of displaced Iraqis who fled ISIS repression in other parts of Iraq and took refuge in the Kurdistan Region, despite its financial crisis and the heavy burden this population represents for the Region.

The members of the European Parliament delegation also praised the role of the Peshmerga forces who they described as defenders of freedom and human values. The delegation paid respect to the sacrifices of the Peshmerga and hoped that this war will end soon, marked by Peshmerga’s victory.

They also discussed Kurdistan Region’s humanitarian and military needs and the prospects of the agreement reached between the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government on oil export and budgetary issues.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed the gratitude of the people and government of the Kurdistan Region for the positive stances that the European Union has taken towards the Region. He stressed that the Kurdistan Region will continue providing assistance to the internally displaced Iraqis and Syrian refugees, and to the survivors of terrorism.

However, the Kurdistan Region, he said, expects the international community to increase its aid, so far inadequate, in order for the Region to address its emergency situation.

It is expected that the awaited military operation to liberate the city of Mosul from ISIS occupation, will provoke a heavy influx of displaced people, making their way to the Kurdistan Region. Prime Minister Barzani said that the Region hoped that the international community and in particular the European Union would provide the necessary assistance, either directly or indirectly through United Nations agencies or non-governmental organisations, helping the region to be ready for all the eventualities.

The Prime Minister briefed the visiting delegation about the situation in the war front against ISIS and the victories marked by the Peshmerga forces.

Regarding the relations between Erbil and Baghdad, the Prime Minister reiterated that the Kurdistan Region is committed to the agreement it reached with Baghdad last December, adding that meantime Baghdad must also comply with the budget law of 2015, in its terms regarding the Kurdistan Region and implement them.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (gov.krd) – Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received Dr. Ala Alwan, World Health Organisation Regional Director for Eastern Mediterranean Region, EMRO, and his accompanying delegation in Erbil.

Dr Alwan presented his organisation’s assessment of the health situation in the Kurdistan Region, highlighting the activities of the Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Health in general and the Health General Directorate of the Governorate of Duhok in particular.

Dr Alwan said that despite the heavy burden supported by Duhok Health General Directorate, it has been able to provide medical and health services on a regular basis for the internally displaced Iraqis and the Syrian refugees in the camps as well as the residents of Duhok Governorate in general.

Since June last year, the Governorate of Duhok has been facing massive arrival of internally displaced people, mainly from Nineveh province, fleeing the repression of the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS. Out of 1.4 million IDPs and refugees who fled to the Kurdistan Region, more than 850,000 are settled in the Governrate of Duhok.

Dr Alwan also highlighted the role of World Health Organisation in trying to obtain donations and aid to meet the health problems in the Kurdistan Region. He pointed out that during his meetings with Iraqi Federal Government officials he had stressed Kurdistan Region’s urgent needs for health assistance and called on the Iraqi government to provide further medical and health aid to the Kurdistan Region.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his gratitude for World Health Organisation’s assessment of the work of health authorities in the Kurdistan Region. He also thanked the world organisation for its cooperation and coordination with the relevant institutions in Kurdistan Region’s health sector.

In the early hours of 9 March 2015 to 0500hrs International Coalition Airstrikes targeted Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) positions South and West of Kirkuk. The airstrikes destroyed several ISIS positions armed with DShK heavy machine guns and at least 1 ISIS Humvee.

At 0600hrs Peshmerga forces initiated a ground-led offensive from two fronts to push the enemy back and diminish its ability to threaten the security of Kirkuk province.

By 1700hrs Peshmerga forces cleared over 100 square kilometres from ISIS control. This includes the following areas: Sultan Mer’i, Somail Awa, Multaqa, Mara, Dur Karaba, Sakhra, Wadi Neft, Boitr and the Mektab Khaled Bridge.

In addition, Peshmerga forces have successfully controlled the road between Mektab Khaled Bridge and Wadi Neft intersection – a key junction linking Mosul to Kirkuk, further disrupting the enemy’s freedom of movement. Furthermore, Peshmerga forces now control the strategic heights located immediately below Somail Awa.

In an effort to stop the rapid advance ISIS deployed 5 VBIEDs during the operation today – all 5 were repelled, with 4 destroyed by Peshmerga forces and 1 by a Coalition Airstrike.

Front-line reporting indicates that more than 100 ISIS terrorists were killed today. ISIS fighters fled the battlefield towards Hawija and abandoned dead bodies in the battlefield.

Counter-IED teams will continue to clear the area while Peshmerga forces fortify their positions.
Office of The Chancellor
Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC)

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (gov.krd) – Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, received yesterday in Rome a Kurdistan Regional Government delegation, headed by Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed the gratitude of the people and government of the Kurdistan Region to Italy for its provision of essential humanitarian and military assistance to the Kurdistan Region and for the visit last summer by the Italian Prime Minister to Erbil, which Prime Minister Barzani described as excellently timed as it helped show that the Kurdistan Region was supported, while facing serious terrorist threat.

He briefed the Italian Prime Minister about the latest developments in the Kurdistan Region and the continuous progress marked by the Peshmerga forces on the frontline against the Islamic terrorist organisation, ISIS. He also highlighted the situation of the displaced people from the rest of Iraq and the Syrian refugees who constitute a heavy burden on the Kurdistan Regional Government, stressing that they desperately need further assistance.

Italian Prime Minister Renzi reiterated that his government “will continue to provide humanitarian and military assistance to the Kurdistan Region, and in order to eradicate terrorism we will stand side by side with the Kurdistan Region in every way possible.” He also expressed his respect to the courage of the Peshmerga Forces in their fight against terrorism.

Mr. Renzi expressed his concern for the spread of terrorist organisations in other parts of the world, stressing the need to confront terrorism all together.

He added that Italy will support the Kurdistan Region because it has a strategic position, considering Italy as Kurdistan people’s friend.

Prime Minister Renzi stated that Italy has decided to upgrade its diplomatic representation in Erbil to Consulate General, considering that this move will send a message to the world that the situation in the Kurdistan Region is better than before. He stated, “It is important for us that Kurdistan Region’s stability continues.”

Both sides also discussed the relationship between Erbil and Baghdad, the situation in Mosul, political developments in Iraq and the importance of including all the components of Iraqi society in governance. They also discussed the situation in Syria and its repercussion on the situation in Iraq and the wider region. The two sides reiterated that a political solution is needed for the Syrian crisis.

The KRG delegation included Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs, Kamal Muslim, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa, KRG spokesperson, Minister Safeen Dizayee and the KRG Representative to Italy Ms Rezan Hama Salih.