Ukraine to open honorary consulate in Kurdistan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The government of Ukraine will open an honorary consulate in the Kurdistan Region in the future, according to the Ukrainian Ambassador on Tuesday.

The Ambassador of Ukraine to Iraq Anatolii Marynets met with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Minister of Foreign Relations Falah Mustafa in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region.

During the meeting, Marynets revealed the decision of the government of Ukraine to open an honorary consulate in the Region.

He stated that Ukraine wants to broaden ties with Kurdistan in different aspects, according to the KRG Department of Foreign Relations (DFR).

Marynets praised the leadership of the Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani and his role in leading Peshmerga forces in the global campaign against Islamic State (IS) extremists.

Moreover, Mustafa welcomed the decision of the Ukrainian government and mentioned that it would be a “stepping stone” in establishing and developing political, cultural, educational, and commercial relations between both sides.

During the meeting, both sides discussed the current challenges facing Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, especially the humanitarian, military, and political aspects of the Mosul operation.

In response to Kurdistan24’s email, the DFR said before the emergence of IS in Iraq in June 2014, Ukraine expressed interest in opening its representation consulate in Erbil.

However, instability in Iraq and Ukraine at that time and the financial crisis in Kurdistan were the reason the opening of the office was delayed.

So far, the date has not been set, but according to the DFR, the consulate will open in the “near future.”

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany