EU representative in Erbil praises Kurdistan’s ‘great reputation of inclusivity’

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region has an exceptional reputation of inclusivity in all aspects of its society from ethnicity to religion, and although there is progress, there should be more participation for women, especially in government, Clarisse Pásztory, the Head of the European Union’s Liaison Office in Erbil, said on Sunday.

The EU representative in the Kurdistan Region’s comments came following an event to mark the International Day for Eliminating Violence Against Women.

Pásztory said Kurdistan “has a great reputation of inclusivity,” highlighting the efforts of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and his deputy Qubad Talabani.

She said the Region’s inclusiveness of ethnic minorities, refugees, and various religious groups should expound in the future to women, in particular.

“If there was one thing missing in the last [KRG] cabinet, then that was certainly women, female ministers,” Pásztory told Kurdistan 24. “We now have more than a third [of] female members of parliament, that is great progress. I want to see more women in the next cabinet.”

Meanwhile, the EU representative welcomed the former Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani’s recent two-day visit to Baghdad where he met with several senior Iraqi political leaders, including Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi.

“I think it is extremely welcome that the leader of the largest Kurdish political party, president Barzani, is traveling to Baghdad meeting with his counterparts, meeting with political leaders, meeting with institutional leaders, meeting also with international leaders now,” she said.

“Politics is to a large degree talking, dialogue, communicating, finding agreement, finding solutions, so, yes, it is most welcome.”

(Additional reporting by Bilessa Shaweys)