On the second day of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, President Nechirvan Barzani held a meeting with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev in Antalya, Türkiye on Saturday morning. The primary focus of the meeting was to enhance the bilateral relations between Bulgaria, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region across various sectors such as the economy, trade, culture, sports, tourism, and agriculture. Additionally, both leaders discussed the potential for further collaboration between universities and in higher education, as well as for establishing direct flights between Bulgaria and Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region.

President Nechirvan Barzani emphasized the significant value that the Kurdistan Region places on its relationships with its European allies. He expressed the Kurdistan Region’s keen interest in expanding cooperation with Bulgaria, as an allied nation and a member of the European Union. Consequently, he urged Bulgaria to elevate its representation in the Kurdistan Region, highlighting the importance of strengthening ties between the two countries.