Kurdistan Regional Government President Barzani holds several meetings in Germany

Kurdistan Regional Government President Barzani held several meetings with senior officials of the countries participating in the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, February 18, 2023.

President Nechirvan Barzani met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait, Mr. Salm Abdullah Al-Jabr Al-Sabah, on the sidelines of Munich Security Conference today.

At the meeting, both sides emphasized the development of bilateral relations of Kuwait with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and referred to the importance of cooperation and mutual understanding among the countries in the region for maintaining peace, security, stability and resolution of pending differences.

They also discussed the political, economic and security situation of Iraq. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait showed his country’s support for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to resolve the issues peacefully. The relations between Iraq and the Kurdistan Region with the neighboring countries, the latest developments in Syria and the wider region and other issues of mutual interest were also discussed.

Continuing his meetings in Germany on the second day of Munich Security Conference, President Nechirvan Barzani met with Mr. Josep Borrel, the Vice President of European Commission and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The meeting discussed the latest political and security developments in Iraq, the relations between Erbil and Baghdad, the war on terror, the relations of Iraq and Kurdistan Region with the EU member states and the opportunities to expand collective cooperation. Mr. Borrel emphasized the continued support of the European Union for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in the fight against terrorism, and in the process of building the state institutions, and expressed support for the ongoing talks between Erbil and Baghdad aimed at resolving their differences. Mr. Borrel stressed that the peace, stability and welfare of Iraq is of importance to the European Union.

For his part, President Nechirvan Barzani thanked the EU for its political, humanitarian and military support to Iraq and Kurdistan and reiterated the willingness of the Kurdistan Region to further expanding relations with the EU countries in all areas including security and economic partnerships.

In another meeting, President Nechirvan Barzani met with the German Parliament’s Deputy Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Thomas Arundel, and his accompanying delegation consisting of a number of parliamentarians from both parties of CSU and CDU. The meeting covered the bilateral relations of Germany with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, the Erbil-Baghdad issues, the fight against terrorism and confronting ISIS threats; also, the relations of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region with the neighboring countries were highlighted.

President Nechirvan Barzani reiterated his gratitude for the military and humanitarian support of Germany and the Bundestag to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and for the extension of German troops deployment in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region as part of the international coalition, and also for the recognition of the mass killing of Yezidis as genocide.

For their part, the delegation of the German Bundestag showed appreciation for the role and contributions of the Kurdistan Region in the fight against ISIS and emphasized that Germany values its relationship with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and supports the peace and stability of the country and the resolution of their pending issues. The war in Ukraine and its ramifications, the developments in the Middle East, the challenges that currently face the world and other issues of common interest were discussed.

President Nechirvan Barzani also met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States.

The meeting focused on the relations of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region with the Vatican, the situation in the Kurdistan Region and its religious communities, the conditions of the refugees in the camps of the Kurdistan Region, and the status of the Christians in the country. Archbishop Gallagher expressed the support of the Vatican for the Kurdistan Region, and reiterated the appreciation of the Holy See and His Holiness the Pope for the peaceful coexistence of the different religions and communities of the Kurdistan Region, commending the hospitality of the Kurdistan Region towards the refugees and the displaced, including the Christian refugees.

For his part, President Nechirvan Barzani expressed the Kurdistan Region’s gratitude and appreciation for the support of His Holiness the Pope for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and emphasized that the Kurdistan Region will always remain a land of tolerance, mutual respect, and forgiveness among its communities. Discussions also covered the situation in Iraq and the wider region.

President Nechirvani Barzani met today in Munich with Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission. The meeting discussed the latest developments of the war against ISIS, the situation in the Kurdistan Region, and the progress in Erbil-Baghdad negotiations. Mrs. von der Leyen reiterated that the European Union values its relationship with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and emphasized the importance of resolving the Erbil-Baghdad differences and also the pending issues within the Kurdistan Region.

In this context, the President of the European Commission reiterated the complete support of the European Union for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. For his part, President Nechirvan Barzani expressed the gratitude of the Kurdistan Region for the support and cooperation of the European Union in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in all areas, and emphasized that the Kurdistan Region remains ready to negotiate and resolve the issues with the Federal Government of Iraq.

The energy crisis, the developments in the Middle East, and the role of the European Union in the region were also highlighted at the meeting.