PM Barzani, Czech Foreign Minister discuss security and economic ties
Mr. Zaorálek described the Kurdistan Region as safe, stable and developed in an area that is entrenched with problems and violence. He paid tribute to the people and government of the Kurdistan Region who have been able to achieve such gains both in terms of development and security in such a volatile and dangerous neighbourhood.
He also expressed his concern regarding the attacks by the Islamic State terrorist organisation, known as ISIS.
The Czech Foreign Minister expressed his country’s willingness to support and assist the Kurdistan Region in confronting terrorist activities and reiterated that the Czech Republic is ready to help either militarily, through training and other military assistance, or offering humanitarian aid.
He also expressed his confidence that Kurdistan will move forward and mark further progress in the near future.
On the economic side, Mr. Lubomír Zaorálek stressed his country’s ability to cooperate and partner with Kurdistan Region in various sectors. For this purpose, a group of represent from private sector in the Czech Republic has accompanied Mr. Zaorálek that can cooperate with the government and the private sector in Kurdistan both through investment and consultancy.
Prime Minister Barazani stressed that the Czech Republic had a significant role in supporting the Kurdistan Region for which he expressed his gratitude to the Czech Republic government and people.
He stated that the Kurdistan Region views its relationship with the Czech Republic with great importance and looks forward to further developing and strengthening the political and economic ties between the two sides, and cooperating through joint military coordination.
The Prime Minister also stressed that the Kurdistan Region welcomes Czech private sector companies, expressing the readiness of the Kurdistan Region to provide all kinds of facilities to help the work of those companies. For this reason, the Czech Republic delegation held a meeting with a number of relevant KRG ministers. At these meetings they sought ways to build and develop relations with the view to help the public and private sectors in Kurdistan Region and the Czech Republic to implement work jointly.
In another aspect of the meeting, the Prime Minister briefed the visiting delegation about the situation in Kurdistan as well as the achievements and progress being made in the Region, highlighting the war against ISIS. He pointed out that althought the Kurdistan Region is in war against terrorism on an approximately 1000 kilometer long frontline, the danger is not only on Kurdistan and the region, but ISIS constitutes a threat to the entire world and everyone should coordinate and cooperate together to eliminate this danger.
Regarding the relations between Erbil and Baghdad, the Prime Minister reiterated the desire of the Kurdistan Region to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue and resolve them in a way that benefits the interests of all the parties.
