VIDEO: Benelux Union will provide KRG military, humanitarian support

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister on Monday stated the visit of the Benelux Union Foreign Ministers was a sign of their military and humanitarian support for the Kurdistan Region.
kurdistan24.net

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister on Monday stated the visit of the Benelux Union Foreign Ministers was a sign of their military and humanitarian support for the Kurdistan Region.

On Sunday, the Foreign Ministers of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxemburg, known as the Benelux countries, arrived in Erbil and met with PM Nechirvan Barzani and Deputy PM Qubad Talabani including other KRG officials.

In a press conference, PM Barzani welcomed the Benelux delegation and considered the visit as support for the Region in the fight against the Islamic State (IS).

He added the delegation also expressed support for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees taking shelter in the Region.

PM Barzani thanked the countries for training the Peshmerga forces and helping the KRG with its humanitarian burden.

Jean Asselborn, the Foreign Minister of Luxembourg, explained the group “discussed the situation in Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region [who] have a tragic history and deserve a better future.”

“We are here to support the KRG in the fight against [IS], and in the very difficult battle of Mosul,” Asselborn stated.

“We’re here to support the KRG efforts not only in the name of Benelux but in the name of the European Union as there are 1.5 million IDPs and 250,000 Syrian refugees currently in Kurdistan,” Asselborn said during the press conference.

Didier Reynders, the Foreign Minister of Belgium, explained the Union would “look into the future consideration of trade, investment, and economic ties” with the Region.

Belgium’s support for the Kurdish forces would continue, Reynders added, revealing an honorary consulate would be opened to start a new process with the KRG.

Bert Koenders, the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, expressed “the deep sense of friendship between the Netherlands and the Kurdistan Region.”

“We continue our support [for] security in the Kurdistan Region, especially the training provided to Peshmerga forces,” Koenders said.

He added, “the Dutch Embassy in Baghdad and Consulate General in Erbil stand ready to support all these efforts in a time of strategic importance for the people of Kurdistan Region.”

 

 

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany