Masrour Barzani arrives in Italy to meet Italian PM, Pope Francis

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Following the conclusion of meetings at the 2020 Munich Security Conference, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and an accompanying delegation arrived in Rome for a two-day visit to the Italian capital and Vatican City.

The top Kurdish official is expected to meet with senior members of the Italian government and Pope Francis.

Among the Italian diplomats he is set to meet, Prime Minister Barzani will sit with Italian counterpart Giuseppe Conte to discuss “ongoing bilateral cooperation in the fight against global terrorism,” a statement on the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) website read.

The two are also going “to consider ways of encouraging Italian companies to seize the business opportunities available in Kurdistan by investing in the region.”

“At the Vatican, Prime Minister Barzani will meet His Holiness Pope Francis and Secretary of State Pietro Parolin to discuss the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to countering religious persecution and promoting interreligious dialogue,” the statement added.

The Kurdish prime minister expressed his delight at the opportunity to meet the Pope “to discuss the importance of religious coexistence, which can be a valuable antidote to extremism.”

“I am proud that the KRG has made such a major contribution through our long-standing efforts to promote interreligious dialogue while creating a haven of tolerance in the Kurdistan Region for people of all faiths.”

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany