We will continue providing aid to Kurdistan Region: Italian Ambassador to Iraq

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Italian Ambassador to Iraq Bruno Pasquino on Sunday expressed Italy’s readiness to continue its aid to the Kurdistan Region as part of the international coalition.

“We are the second largest contributor to the international coalition,” the Ambassador told Kurdistan 24 in an interview after the consulate’s celebration of Italy’s National Day.

The Consulate chose Sunday as the day for the celebration of Italy’s National Day in Iraq, rescheduled from its actual date of June 2 because of the day’s alignment with the month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is the month in which Muslims partake in daily fasting for a period of up to 30 days.

Regarding the election process that had taken place on May 12, Pasquino, who had observed the process first-hand, expressed his amazement at the willingness of the public to vote so calmly.

He pointed out that “a few days ago [the Islamic State] were threatening us and the electorate.”

“I have been to four polling stations in Baghdad, and our consul in Erbil visited two stations,” the Ambassador said.

During his visit as part of an international team to witness the polling process, Pasquino noted that they were introduced wrongly as “observers.”

He also mentioned the history of cultural and social support his country has shared with both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq in general.

“We have the largest amount of archaeological missions in this country,” the Italian Ambassador said. “We keep sending archaeologists, technicians, and researchers from Italy, and we want to keep going with this.”

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany