Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani today met with a European Parliament delegation headed by MEP Charles Tannock. The President and the EU delegation members discussed the fight against ISIS, the migrant crisis in Europe, and political developments in Iraq and in the region.

Charles Tannock expressed his delegation’s full support to the peshmerga for their bravery and sacrifices in fighting ISIS terrorists. David Bannerman, MEP and head of the EU Parliament’s delegation for relations with Iraq, said Europe stands by the KRG in this fight.

President Barzani spoke about status of the fight against ISIS and thanked international coalition members for their support of the peshmerga forces but added more support is needed to prevail in this fight. On the migrant crisis to Europe, from Syria and Iraq, the President said, "the root causes if this crisis must be addressed. What is being done now, is merely dealing with the consequences." He added that EU countries should support the Syrian refugees in camps in neighboring countries, including those in Kurdistan. The President said that around 1,800,000 IDPs and Syrian refugees reside in the KRG and this has put great strains on the KRG.

On the resumption of hostilities between the Turkish government forces and the PKK, the President expressed his dismay and stated that the KRG would continue to play a role in bringing an end to this conflict.