ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The KRG’s foreign affairs office welcomed the new Greek consul general to Erbil and the upgraded diplomatic relations with Athens on Tuesday.
Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs Minister Falah Mustafa “expressed his delight over the growth of relations between Kurdistan Region and Greece with an upgraded diplomatic mission,” read a statement from Mustafa’s office.
Consul General Efthymios Costopoulos met with Mustafa on Tuesday.
Greece's economic and commercial office in Erbil, headed by Stavros Stavrakos, still exists as a section of the Greek Embassy in Baghdad and covers all of Iraq.
Greece has been on the frontlines of Europe’s so-called migrant crisis. More than one million refugees and migrants arrived in Greece – by sea and by land – in 2015 and early 2016, according to the UN’s refugee agency.
As of May this year, more than 60,000 are still sheltering in the country and overcrowding in refugee camps is a serious problem.
Moria camp was built for 3,100, but is housing more than 8,300, according to the International Rescue Committee.
Kurds are among refugees and migrants largely from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan living in the camp. At least 10 Kurds were injured during clashes in Ramadan this year.
Correction: This story has been updated on September 19, 2018 to clarify the status of Greece's economic and commercial office in Erbil that remains open and serving all of Iraq.
Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs Minister Falah Mustafa “expressed his delight over the growth of relations between Kurdistan Region and Greece with an upgraded diplomatic mission,” read a statement from Mustafa’s office.
Consul General Efthymios Costopoulos met with Mustafa on Tuesday.
Welcomed new Greek CG Efthymios Costopoulos & congratulated him on the upgrade of the Representation office of the Hellenic Republic to Consulate General. The KRG welcomes this step & looks forward to working together towards further strengthening bilateral relations. @GreeceMFA pic.twitter.com/nqKZvraUIW
— Falah Mustafa (@FalahMustafa) September 18, 2018
Greece's economic and commercial office in Erbil, headed by Stavros Stavrakos, still exists as a section of the Greek Embassy in Baghdad and covers all of Iraq.
Greece has been on the frontlines of Europe’s so-called migrant crisis. More than one million refugees and migrants arrived in Greece – by sea and by land – in 2015 and early 2016, according to the UN’s refugee agency.
As of May this year, more than 60,000 are still sheltering in the country and overcrowding in refugee camps is a serious problem.
Moria camp was built for 3,100, but is housing more than 8,300, according to the International Rescue Committee.
Kurds are among refugees and migrants largely from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan living in the camp. At least 10 Kurds were injured during clashes in Ramadan this year.
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