British PM Boris Johnson reaffirms 'continued commitment' in letter to Kurdistan Region president
Barzani visited the UK in September, where he was received by Johnson in Downing Street. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations.
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received a letter from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday that reaffirmed the UK's support for the stability and security of Iraq, according to the Kurdish presidency.
"The UK values highly our partnership and remains committed to the long-term security and stability of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq," Prime Minister Johnson wrote in a letter in response to the Kurdish president.
Barzani visited the UK in September, where he was received by Johnson in Downing Street. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations.
"Our meeting was an important opportunity to consolidate our already close relationship, and to discuss our vital counter-Daesh (ISIS) cooperation and to exchange on regional issues," the prime minister wrote about the visit in his letter.
Johnson visited the Kurdistan Region's capital Erbil in 2015 when he was the mayor of London.
"It was a pleasure to host you in London in September, following my visit to Erbil in 2015," he recalled.
As part of the international coalition against ISIS, the UK has assisted the Kurdistan Region and Iraq in their three-year-long fight against ISIS by providing airstrikes and training.
Moreover, the country has also facilitated improved relations between Erbil and Baghdad at a low point after the federal government cut the Kurdistan Region's budget.
"I was very pleased to hear about improvements in relations with the federal government. The UK supports your ambition for a reformed Peshmerga," Johnson wrote.
In addition to offering scholarships for Kurdish and Iraqi students, the UK has provided judicial training to the region's judges as part of capacity-building training.
