Prime Minister Barzani separately receives Jordanian delegation, German delegation, and U.S. delegation
Minister al-Hammouri highlighted historical relations between the Kurdistan Region and Jordan and expressed willingness to further strengthen and develop these relations, particularly in the fields of trade and banking. He also conveyed the support of His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and his government to the Kurdistan Region.
Prime Minister Barzani thanked His Majesty King Abdullah II for his support to the Kurdistan Region during difficult periods, and expressed the willingness of the Kurdistan Region to strengthen relations with Jordan, particularly in the economic field. He hoped that Jordanian businessmen would take advantage of investment opportunities in the Kurdistan Region.
The post ISIS situation in the region and the crisis of displaced persons in the Kurdistan Region and refugees in Jordan were also discussed.
They also stressed the eradication of terrorism through coordination among the countries of the region and the international community.
Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani received the Regional Director for Near, Middle East and North Africa at the German Foreign Ministry, Christian Buck and his accompanying delegation, including Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Baghdad, Jochen Möller and Acting German Consul General in the Kurdistan Region Ms. Helena Merks.
Mr. Buck praised the role of the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga forces in the fight against terrorism, the people and the government of the Kurdistan Region for protecting, accommodating and offering assistance to a large number of IDPs and refugees. He reiterated his country’s support to the Kurdistan Region and stressed strengthening bilateral relations.
Prime Minister Barzani thanked Germany for its continued support to the Kurdistan Region, particularly in the humanitarian and military fields. He expressed his government’s willingness to further strengthening bilateral relations.
The formation of the new cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government, the political process in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and political and security developments in the wider region, were also discussed.
Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani received a U.S. delegation led by U.S. Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Ms Denise Natali. The delegation included U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq and Iran, Andrew Peek, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq Joey Hood, U.S. Consul-General to the Kurdistan Region Steven Fagin and a number of advisors and officials.
The delegation praised the role of the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces in the war against terrorism, and its people and government for hosting, accommodating, and offering assistance to a large number of IDPs and refugees. They also commended the level of tolerance and coexistence among ethno-religious communities in the Kurdistan Region.
They highlighted the success of the political process in Iraq and the progress made towards resolving outstanding issues between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad.
Prime Minister Barzani thanked the U.S. for its assistance during difficult times. He gave a brief about the war against ISIS and ways to eliminate its extremist ideology, and highlighted the situation of refugees and internally displaced people in the Kurdistan Region.
He reaffirmed the willingness of the Kurdistan Region to resolve issues with Baghdad through talks within the framework of the Constitution of Iraq. He noted improvement in relations between the two sides.
The situation of the region in general, the post ISIS era, and the development of bilateral relations were also discussed.
