PM Barzani to meet top Greek officials in Athens

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with senior officials in the Greek capital Athens on Friday as part of his official visit to Europe, the premier’s office said.

Following an official visit to Belgium and meeting with the country’s top officials, the Barzani and the Kurdistan Regional Government’s delegation arrived in Athens on Thursday evening.

The meetings with Greek officials include discussions on “developments in the region” as well as “strengthening bilateral ties” and investment opportunities in the Kurdish region.

Greece-Kurdistan Region Relations

Greece's new Consul-General, Stavros Kyrimis, met with the premier in the Kurdish capital in April. Athens upgraded its diplomatic relations with the Kurdistan Region in 2018 with the inauguration of the new representative office in Erbil as the Greek government said it wanted to strengthen bilateral ties with the autonomous region. 

Greek Ambassador to Iraq Leonidas Kontovounesios previously said Greece was eager to develop ties with the Kurdistan Region in the agricultural and tourism sectors.

As of 2017, Greece's investment in the Kurdistan Region was about €2 billion. The Greek government has supported the KRG with humanitarian aid, as well as the Peshmerga in the fight against ISIS with arms and ammunition.