ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Former President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani on Wednesday discussed the current situation in the region and efforts to form the new Iraqi government with the newly-appointed Canadian envoy in Iraq.

Barzani, who is currently the President of the leading Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), welcomed a Canadian diplomatic delegation headed by Paul Gibbard, Canada’s Ambassador to Iraq.

Gibbard is Canada’s first resident Ambassador to Iraq since 1991.

Barzani and Gibbard “spoke of a number of topics including the recent parliamentary elections in Kurdistan and the process to form a cabinet in Baghdad,” according to Barzani’s press office.

The Kurdish leader also “took advantage of the opportunity to express his appreciation to the people and government of Canada for their support to the Kurdistan Region in its efforts to eradicate [the Islamic State (IS)].”

Canada is a member of the US-led coalition in the fight against IS and a Canadian is now leading the NATO mission in Iraq.

The envoy’s meeting with Barzani comes one day after convening with the new President of Iraq, Barham Salih, in Baghdad, where they discussed expanding the role of women in the next government and the importance of economic reform and the fight against corruption.

Editing by Nadia Riva