Archive for month: April, 2016

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani yesterday received Mr. Enzo Amendola, Italian Deputy Foreign Minister, and his accompanying delegation.

In affirming his government’s intention to strengthen bilateral relations, Mr. Amendola noted his country will continue to provide humanitarian and military assistance to the Kurdistan Region.

He praised the role of the Peshmerga forces in the war against ISIS and expressed appreciation of the people and government for accommodating and assisting a large number of refugees and displaced persons.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his gratitude and appreciation for Italy’s military and humanitarian assistance. He stressed, however, that the fight against ISIS is not the sole responsibility of the Kurdistan Region, but also that of the international community, particularly the coalition countries.

While reiterating the importance of developing and strengthening bilateral relations between Italy and the Kurdistan Region, Prime Minister Barzani presented an overview of the financial crisis, which the Kurdistan Region passes through, and the government’s plans to address it. He hoped the international community would help the Kurdistan Region in this regard.

The anticipated liberation of Mosul, reconstruction of liberated areas, maintenance of Mosul Dam, the political situation in Baghdad, and KRG relations with Baghdad and neighbouring countries were also discussed in the meeting.

The Kurdistan Region Presidency issued a statement in which it reiterated Kurdistan’s appreciation for the United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 in 1991 which had then established the “no-fly zone” in an effort to prevent the former Iraqi regime from committing crimes against its population. The statement made reference to the resoluteness and bravery of the resolution which paved the way for much of the progress that has been witnessed in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq since then. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is now among the forefront fighters against the terrorists of the islamic State, protecting its population as well as the global interests in the Kurdistan Region, the statements adds.

The statement concludes by expressing the gratitude of the people of the Kurdistan Region to the international community for passing the resolution which remains, twenty five years after its passing a valuable international decision.