Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani welcomed the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Nikolai Miladinov, in his office in Salahadin on Sunday. During the meeting President Barzani and Mr. Miladinov discussed the latest political and security developments in iraq. The U.N. Special Representative stressed on the importance of restoring stability in the country.

Mr. Miladinov expressed his thanks to the Kurdistan Region's role for providing refuge to the fleeing masses of Iraqis and added that the United Nations will continue to support these refugees.

President Barzani and Mr. Miladinov also talked about the "disputed" areas of northern Iraq, about which the President stated that the Kurdistan Region had been waiting for the Federal government to resolve this in accordance to Article 140 of the Constitution but it had failed to do so. President Barzani stated that the Peshmerga forces will continue to protect those areas and will eventually hold a referendum in accordance to the Constitution of Iraq. He asked the UN to help the KRG with arrangements for such a referendum.