President Barzani yesterday welcomed a delegation of British members of parliament, who are visiting the Kurdistan Region to help enhance bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and the Kurdistan Region.

Baroness Morris, Deputy Chairman of the House of Lords and heading the delegation, said she and six British members of parliament from the UK’s Conservative party are visiting Kurdistan to see for themselves the situation and the development of the Region.

“We have seen outstanding development and progress in Kurdistan and we would like to pay tribute to the resilience of the Kurdish people for making so much progress after long years of suffering,” said Baroness Morris, adding they are particularly impressed with the peaceful religious and ethnic co-existence and of pluralism that exists in Kurdistan. The delegation members also praised the good security and stability that prevails in Kurdistan and the importance that the KRG attaches to women’s rights.

After warmly welcoming the British delegation, President Barzani outlined the major historic milestones that the Kurdistan Region has passed through and provided an update of the political and economic situation of Kurdistan. He also thanked the British people and government for their contribution in liberating the people of Kurdistan in 2003, and paid tribute to former UK Prime Minister John Major for his pivotal role in establishing the UN-mandated safe-haven in Kurdistan in the spring of 1991.

Separately, today the President also met with the UK Ambassador to Iraq Mr. Simon Collis and discussed political challenges in Iraq and in the region.

In the two meetings, both sides also discussed economic cooperation, particularly energy cooperation, between British companies and the KRG.