Ukraine, Sri Lanka to open consulates in the Kurdistan Region

A Kurdish official on Sunday stated that both the Ukrainian and Sri Lankan governments have decided to open consulates in the Kurdistan Region in the near future.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – A Kurdish official on Sunday stated that both the Ukrainian and Sri Lankan governments have decided to open consulates in the Kurdistan Region in the near future.

The head of the Kurdistan Region's Department of Foreign Relations (DFR), Falah Mustafa, posted on his official Facebook account that the federal government of Iraq has approved both countries' requests to open honorary consulates in Erbil.

“The DFR warmly welcomes the decision made by Ukraine and Sri Lanka to open offices in the Kurdistan Region. It is another step toward strengthening relations with both countries in terms of economy, trade, and culture,” Mustafa stated.

The former Ukrainian Ambassador to Iraq met with Mustafa in September where both sides discussed the opening of the consulate in the Kurdistan Region. At that time, Baghdad hindered the process as they disagreed on the person slated to be the Consul in Erbil, a source from DFR told Kurdistan 24.

The DFR was established in 2007. Since then, the number of the foreign consulates and representatives in the Kurdistan Region has exponentially increased.

There are 38 foreign consulates and representative offices in the Kurdistan Region, a semi-autonomous federal region in Iraq which will be holding a referendum on independence on Sep. 25.

 

Editing by G.H. Renaud