Saudi Arabia to open consulate in Kurdistan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (K24) – The Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Iraq told K24 on Monday that his country plans to open its consulate in the Kurdistan Region next week.

Ambassador Samir bin Sabhan revealed that his nation has an ample relationship with Kurdistan. “We have good relations with our brothers [Kurds] in the Kurdistan Region. In the last months, President Masoud Barzani met King Salman bin Abdulaziz where they discussed fostering associations between both sides,” Sabhan said.

He mentioned that Saudi Arabia will improve its affairs with all ethnic and religious groups in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. “We insist on having good ties, as well as opening a new page between Saudi Arabia and Iraq.”

Once the consulate opens, Sabhan noted that Saudi Arabia will play a positive role and deal equally with all groups in the country.

“We will provide economic and social support to both Kurdistan and Iraq,” he added.

On Jan. 30, Sabhan met President Barzani in Erbil. In the meeting, they discussed the current political and security developments in the country.

Sabhan also met Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani on Feb. 1. Both sides discussed the financial crisis, the role of Peshmerga in defeating the Islamic State (IS), and the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) relationship with Saudi Arabia.

In another part of the meeting, they shed light on accommodating nearly two million refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). PM Barzani emphasized the need for further humanitarian aid from the international community.

Reporting by Mewan Dolamari
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany