KRG responds to demands of foreign consulate closures in Kurdistan Region

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Sunday responded to a commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) regarding the presence of foreign diplomatic missions in Erbil.

Mohammad Hussein Rajabi, a commander of the IRGC in the Kurdistan Province of western Iran, expressed his country’s concern over the presence of foreign diplomatic offices in the Kurdistan Region.

Speaking to the Iranian Tasnim News Agency, Rajabi said the presence of 30 international offices in Kurdistan was not “normal,” and called for the closure of the Saudi Arabia consulate in Erbil.

In an official statement, the KRG responded to the IRGC commander, stating the presence of consulates and representative offices in the Region were in accordance with the Iraqi law.

“[The consulates and representation offices’] activities are within the legal framework, and no one has the right to ask for the closure of these offices in the Kurdistan Region,” the statement read.

Moreover, the KRG report added this was not the first time the IRGC made such claims against the Kurdistan Region.

“It is an unjustified interference in the affairs of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region,” the statement continued.

There are 38 foreign representation offices and consulates in the Kurdistan Region, including two Iranian consulates in Erbil and Sulaimani.

In February 2016, Saudi Arabia opened its consulate in Erbil.

Recently, Japan opened its consulate in Erbil and Belgium plans on opening an Honorary Consulate in the future.

“The KRG works to establish friendly relations with neighboring countries as well as all countries around the world,” the statement explained.

“Such remarks do not serve the friendly relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the KRG warned.

“The remarks are not acceptable, and the KRG fully rejects them,” the statement concluded.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany