Politics

KRG delegation meets European officials in Munich

A delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) met with senior officials on the sidelines of Friday's Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany.

Sangar Ali 2018/02/17 05:10

kurdistan Kurdistan Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – A delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) met with senior officials on the sidelines of Friday's Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany.

MSC launched its 54th yearly conference with the participation of more than 450 decision-makers and leaders from different parts of the world, including KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region’s Security Council (KRSC), Masrour Barzani.

Chancellor Barzani met with many security and intelligence officials, tweeting "Productive talks during Munich Security Conference alongside intelligence and security officials about global challenges and opportunities; enduring threats and a roadmap for the region's next chapter- mb," on his official Twitter account.

#HappeningNow: @KRSCPress Chancellor @masrour_barzani attends @MunSecConf.#TwitterKurds pic.twitter.com/SRccG0gAab
— Kurdistan 24 English (@K24English) February 16, 2018

The KRG delegation met with the German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, discussing relations between Erbil and Baghdad, the role of the Peshmerga in the fight against the Islamic State (IS), upcoming elections in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, and Germany’s support to the Kurdistan Region, according to the KRG’s press office.

Meeting between the Kurdistan Region delegation and the German defense minister in Munich. #MSC2018 #TwitterKurds pic.twitter.com/SOI8l0HDbs
— Kurdistan 24 English (@K24English) February 16, 2018

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Leyen highlighted the role of the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces in defeating IS and emphasized reconciliation, stabilization, and reconstruction of the country in the post-IS arena.

In meetings with Germany’s Foreign Ministry, Prime Minister Barzani discussed bilateral ties and means to improve the relationship between Erbil and Berlin.

The KRG delegates also met with Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano. The Italian official praised the Peshmerga’s role in defeating the jihadist group and expressed support for the recent dialogue between Erbil and Baghdad in an effort to peacefully resolve their differences, and the KRG delegates spoke of Italian military support to the effort, as a member of the US-led coalition.

With Norway's Foreign Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide, they discussed ongoing negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad, including the resolving of disputes based on the Iraqi Constitution, Iraq's budget allocation for the Kurdistan Region, upcoming elections in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and general stabilization of the country.

In another part of the meeting, they highlighted the post-IS situation in Iraq and the return of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their places of origin.

The KRG delegates are also expected to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Saturday.