The Head of the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Department of Foreign Relations, Safeen Dizayee, and Qatar's Ambassador to Iraq, Khalid bin Hamad Al Sulaiti, recently held a meeting to discuss current developments in the region and strengthen bilateral ties.

During the meeting, the two parties agreed to open a consulate general of Qatar in Erbil. Dizayee expressed the KRG's willingness to assist in facilitating the opening of the consulate, while Al Sulaiti confirmed his government's desire to improve relations with the Kurdistan Region and noted that steps to open the consulate are already underway.

Other topics of discussion included the current political and economic climate between Erbil and Baghdad. The KRG has been in a long-standing dispute with the federal government of Iraq over budgetary issues and oil exports, which has led to strained relations between the two sides.

The opening of the Qatari consulate in Erbil is seen as a positive step towards further strengthening ties between the Kurdistan Region and Qatar. It is hoped that the move will encourage other countries to follow suit and increase their diplomatic presence in the region.

The KRG has been actively seeking to expand its foreign relations in recent years, with a particular focus on increasing economic cooperation with neighboring countries. The opening of the Qatari consulate is expected to further boost the region's economic potential and enhance its international profile.

By Kobin Ferhad