Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani yesterday received Mr. Lodewijk Asscher, Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands and his accompanying delegation, which included the Dutch Minister of Defense, Ms. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the Dutch ambassador to Iraq and a number of military and diplomatic advisers.

In the meeting, which was also attended by Kurdistan Regional Government Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, and a number of KRG ministers, Netherlands Deputy Prime Minister commended the people, government and Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Region for their role in protecting all the citizens, from various ethnic and religious background, against terrorism.

He also praised the Kurdistan Region for having accommodated, despite the hard financial and economic crisis which it faces, a large number of displaced people who have fled from the grip of terrorism. He expressed his country's readiness to continue to provide military and humanitarian aid to the Region.

Mr. Lodewijk Asscher also welcomed the financial reform measures, recently taken by the KRG and expressed his country's readiness for any cooperation in this regard.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his gratitude to Netherlands for its military and humanitarian aid.

He highlighted the economic crisis in the Kurdistan Region, stating that in order to address the situation the government has taken a number of necessary measures, and expressed his hope for the cooperation of friendly countries in this regard.

While expressing his gratitude to the Netherlands and the international community for providing humanitarian assistance, Prime Minister Barzani hoped that the international community will offer further aid to the refugees and displaced persons.

Regarding the Region’s relations with Baghdad, Prime Minister Barzani stressed that the KRG wants to settle all the problems with Baghdad through dialogue and mutual understanding.