PM Barzani: Kurdistan is looking to secure its share of Japanese aid to Iraq

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani says the Kurdistan Region is looking forward to receiving its portion of financial aid provided by Japan to Iraq.

Japan’s outgoing Ambassador to Iraq Fumio Iwai, whose term is set to end, and an accompanying delegation met with PM Barzani in Erbil on Thursday to thank the KRG “for supporting its tasks and activities during the period of its work,” a readout of the meeting stated.

Iwai also highlighted the work done by his office during his tenure as Ambassador to Iraq “to strengthen relations between the Kurdistan Region and Japan.”

Prime Minister Barzani thanked the outgoing diplomat for his “role in strengthening relations between Japan and Iraq in general and between them and the Kurdistan Region in particular.”

Barzani conveyed his gratitude for all the assistance provided to the Region, expressing the KRG’s aspiration to secure a share of Japan’s assistance program to Iraq.

Since 2014, Japan has provided over $440 million in grants through humanitarian projects by various organizations within the United Nations.

The Kurdistan Region has provided a haven for nearly 1.4 million displaced persons and refugees fleeing the threat of the so-called Islamic State in parts of Iraq and neighboring Syria.

As a result, the Region continues to call for international support in the form of financial and humanitarian aid to help ease its burden.

The two also discussed the political process in Iraq as Iwai and Barzani agreed on the need to form a new Iraqi government soon with the participation of all parties and components to provide service to all citizens and solve all outstanding issues, the readout said.

Iwai assumed office as Japan’s Ambassador to Iraq on Oct. 6, 2014. He is considered one of the most famous Japanese diplomats due to his mastery of the Arabic language and efforts to improve ties between all components in the country.