Kiev aims to ease process for Ukrainian visa, connect businesses in Erbil: Amb. to Iraq

Ukrainian Ambassador to Iraq, Victor Nedopas, on Wednesday discussed ways to broaden bilateral ties in meeting with officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Ukrainian Ambassador to Iraq, Victor Nedopas, on Wednesday discussed ways to broaden bilateral ties in meeting with officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Nedopas met with the Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC), Masrour Barzani, and two other officials, the purpose of which were how the two sides “should proceed further” to achieve more “active [and] wider” bilateral relations, the Ambassador told Kurdistan 24 in an interview.

Following the meeting, a source from the KRG Foreign Affairs Department told Kurdistan 24 that Kiev was planning on opening an honorary consulate in Erbil in the near future.

Despite not having a consulate here, Kiev does have official representation in the region. Shaker Farhan Ali was appointed by Ukraine to be the “official representative of our embassy here in Erbil,” explained Nedopas. 

“He is ready to provide all the people of Kurdistan… how they can connect [with] business partners in Ukraine.”

Ali will also provide Ukrainian citizens in Erbil “the help and assistance they need from the embassy.”

Among the topics Barzani and Nedopas discussed were trade and investment, a statement from the KRSC press office highlighted, adding “both sides reiterated a shared commitment to expanding cooperation” in these areas.

The Ambassador hoped that by having a representative in Erbil, Kurdish and Ukrainian companies would have “more opportunities to connect” and enter “joint venture[s].”

In efforts to ease the process of applying for Ukrainian travel documents, Kiev recently opened a Visa Center, which provides would-be visitors the necessary information.

“Now, there is no need for everyone to travel to Baghdad for this purpose,” added Nedopas.

Editing by Nadia Riva