Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received Mr. Martin Huth, the Ambassador of the European Union to Iraq, in Erbil on Wednesday.

At the meeting, attended by Mr. Vincent-Guillaume Poupeau, the Head of the EU Liaison Office in Erbil, the latest political and security developments in Iraq were highlighted.

Discussions also focused on Erbil-Baghdad relations and the ongoing dialogue to resolve their disagreements, the relations of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq with the international community, cooperation and partnership among them, efforts to draft the constitution of the Kurdistan Region and the upcoming Iraqi elections.

Both sides stressed the mutual desire to develop the relations of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region with the members of the European Union and to expand the areas of cooperation and coordination among them. It was underlined that Iraq and the Kurdistan Region need further assistance and support from the European Union in many areas.

Discussions also covered the developments in the Kurdistan Region and efforts to consolidate principles of democracy, human rights and freedoms in the country. President Nechirvan Barzani stressed that the Kurdistan Region will continue on the right path and work to preserve the universal democratic values.

On the other hand, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received Mr. Ole Diehl, Germany’s outgoing Ambassador to Iraq, who paid a farewell visit to the President upon completion of his term in office.

President Nechirvan Barzani expressed his gratitude to the Ambassador for his efforts to strengthen Iraq and the Kurdistan Region’s relations with Germany, and wished him success in his new duties.

For his part, Mr Diehl offered his appreciation for the support from the relevant authorities in the Kurdistan Region to the German Embassy, and hoped that his country’s existing relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region develop further.

The latest developments in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, human rights and freedoms in the country, the upcoming Iraqi elections, confronting the threats of ISIS and other topics of mutual interest were highlighted.