Finnish FM talks support for Peshmerga, investment in Kurdistan with top KRG officials

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto held a series of meetings in the Kurdistan Region capital late Thursday in which he addressed a wide range of topics that included Erbil-Helsinki ties, continued support for Peshmerga forces, and investment in the autonomous region.

Political Developments

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani discussed with the visiting dignitary “the latest developments in the region and the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and Finland,” according to a statement from the premier’s office.

In Haavisto’s meeting with the president of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, the two discussed progress in Erbil-Baghdad talks—aimed at resolving longstanding disputes between the regional and federal governments in Iraq, according to a separate statement.

Erbil-Baghdad relations have always been fraught with disputes, nearing a total breakdown after the Kurdistan Region’s 2017 independence referendum that was followed by Iraqi forces and Iran-backed militias of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) attacking disputed areas such as Kirkuk to push Kurdish Peshmerga forces from them.

Since then, the Islamic State has taken advantage of the resulting security vacuum in such areas to stage attacks on nearby towns and cities.

Training Peshmerga, Fighting ISIS

President Nechirvan Barzani’s office said that he and Foreign Minister Haavisto discussed the ongoing fight against terrorism in Iraq.

Barzani “thanked Finland for assisting the Kurdistan Region as part of the international coalition against ISIS, particularly in areas of capacity-building, training of the Peshmerga forces and provision of humanitarian assistance.”

With the regional prime minister, “Haavisto reiterated his country's commitment to continue supporting Peshmerga forces as part of the Global Coalition to defeat ISIS.”

According to the presidential office’s statement, the envoy thanked the Kurdistan Region for its role in the fight against the so-called Islamic State and commended Erbil for “granting a safe haven” to large numbers of people displaced by the conflict begun by the extremist group.

‘Diplomatic Presence, Investment’

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani “encouraged Finland to establish a diplomatic presence in Erbil to better enable Finnish trade and investment, and technical expertise.”  while the president's statement said that Haavisto had confirmed that Finland would seriously “consider” opening a Consulate General office in Erbil.

Both leaders communicated that the Kurdistan Region “welcomed Finland’s businesses to invest in the Region.” To that end, Prime Minister Barzani also spoke of his government’s commitment to its reform agenda, “detailing meaningful efforts to diversify revenues and promote greater investment in agriculture and industry.”

Related Article: Finnish FM arrives in Erbil following Baghdad visit, to meet top KRG officials

Earlier in the day, Haavisto was in Baghdad, where he sat down with Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, President Barham Salih, and Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi. He also inaugurated the Finnish Embassy in Baghdad, reopened after a near 30-year hiatus in late 2019.

A statement from the Finnish foreign ministry stressed the geopolitical importance of Iraq, the stability and reconstruction of which “are strongly in the interest of Finland and the whole European Union.”

“It is important for the security of Finns that we know and understand what is happening in the region. Wise foreign policy means long-term commitment to security matters,” Haavisto was quoted as saying in a separate statement on the minister’s visit to Iraq. “Iraq’s reconstruction, which is being launched with international support, opens up economic opportunities, too.”

Editing by John J. Catherine