Senior Kurdistan Region leaders discuss Erbil-Athens relations with Greek Ambassador to Iraq

The Greek Ambassador "recognized the Kurdistan Region as a haven for those escaping violence, and the KRG as a driver of stability in the region."

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Political developments and economic ties between the Kurdistan Region and Greece led discussions in separate meetings between the Greek Ambassador to Iraq and senior Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) leaders.

Greek Ambassador to Iraq Leonidas Kontovounesios met with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday and KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani a day earlier.

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In the meeting with Kontovounesios, President Barzani expressed the autonomous Kurdish region’s readiness “to provide all facilities to investors and the operation of Greek capital in the Kurdistan Region,” a statement from the president’s press office read.

President Barzani also highlighted the Kurdistan Region’s desire to develop its relations with Greece, and praised the “prominent role of the Greek Consulate General in Erbil in developing relations.”

“The two sides discussed the upcoming visit of the Greek Foreign Minister to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region accompanied by an economic and commercial delegation,” and “the importance of direct flights between Erbil and Athens,” the statement concluded.

Elsewhere, in his meeting on Sunday with Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, Ambassador Kontovounesios “recognized the Kurdistan Region as a haven for those escaping violence, and the KRG as a driver of stability in the region,” a statement from the prime minister’s office read.

“During the meeting, the officials discussed strengthening bilateral relations between Erbil and Athens, noting both countries’ shared experience hosting millions of refugees from Iraq and Syria,” it added.

For his part, Prime Minister Barzani underlined the new KRG government’s target of “delivering economic growth and improved public services to support better opportunities for citizens.”

The Kurdish leader also updated Ambassador Kontovounesios on investment opportunities in the Kurdistan Region, the statement concluded.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany