Top Kurdistan Region officials discuss elections, political developments with UN Envoy to Iraq

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The United Nations Envoy to Iraq on Tuesday met with top Kurdistan Region leaders in Erbil to discuss the upcoming elections, return of Yezidi internally displaced to their areas, and political developments in Iraq, according to separate statements from the Kurdish officials.

UN Envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert met with Masoud Barzani, the head of Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the former president of Kurdistan Region, in Erbil to discuss the political situations and challenges in Iraq, particularly the upcoming elections, a statement from Barzani’s media office read.  

“President Barzani presented his thoughts and notes to the UN Envoy on the upcoming Iraqi election and its electoral law,” the statement noted.

In the meeting, Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s latest visit to the Kurdistan Region was assessed as “positive,” according to the statement.

PM Kadhimi paid a two-day-long visit to the Kurdistan Region on Thursday and held several meetings with top regional officials, including KDP Leader Masoud Barzani. During the meeting, Kadhimi affirmed to Barzani that the Kurdistan Region is “an integral and essential part of Iraq.”

Read More: Iraqi PM to Masoud Barzani: Kurdistan 'an integral and essential part of Iraq'

In the meeting, Barzani and Hennis-Plasschaert reiterated that “there should be an appropriate situation” so that the Yezidi internally displaced persons (IDPs) return to their areas, according to the statement.

UN Envoy meets with Kurdistan Region President  

On Tuesday, the UN Envoy met with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in Erbil to discuss subjects related to Iraq’s upcoming elections, the ongoing threat of terrorism, and federalism, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency office.

President Barzani stressed the “positive role” of the UN in Iraq and reiterated that the “UN can assist Iraq in solving its issues and overcome the challenges,” according to the statement.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany