President Barzani meets world leaders, officials in Munich

Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani on Saturday discussed regional security in his meetings with several world leaders and officials on the sidelines of the 59th Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany, including the US Secretary of State, British Foreign Secretary, the Norwegian Foreign Minister, and a delegation from the US Congress.

During his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Barzani emphasized the importance of America’s continued support for the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, read a statement from his office.

“Secretary Blinken reaffirmed his country’s commitment to their relationship with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region,” the statement added.


Barzani also met with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who “reiterated his country's continued support for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and the resolution of Erbil-Baghdad issues,” read a Kurdish presidency statement.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt met with the Kurdish president as well, and she praised the role of the Kurdistan Region in the fight against terrorism and defeating the Islamic State (ISIS).


Barzani also met with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev. They discussed expanding trade ties between the Kurdistan Region and Azerbaijan, according to a statement from Barzani’s office.  Aliyev told Barzani that they are working on opening a consulate in Kurdistan Region's capital city Erbil.

In a meeting with a US Congressional delegation led by Senator Lindsey Graham, both sides “discussed the political and economic situation in Iraq, the Kurdistan Region and the issue of peace and stability in the Middle East. Both sides agreed on the importance of Iraq's role and position to maintain peace and stability in the region and fight the threat of ISIS,” according to a statement from the president’s office.



Barzani arrived in Germany on Friday to attend the MSC that attracts a wide audience of world leaders and officials. On the sidelines of the conference’s first day, Barzani met US Senator Chris Van Hollen, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Celeste Wallander, US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.

The conference continues Sunday. 

“Our meetings will continue today and tomorrow,” Barzani’s senior advisor Falah Mustafa told Rudaw on Saturday.

President Barzani also met with regional officials.

In his meeting with Salim Abdullah al-Jabir al-Sabbah, the foreign minister of Kuwait, both sides emphasized on the relationship between the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and Kuwait.

"Both sides agreed on the importance of cooperation and mutual understanding of the region's countries to preserve stability and resolving issues peacefully," read a statement from the presidency.

Barzani also met with the Head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, a meeting he described as "productive".


Speaking of his meeting with Barzani, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell told Rudaw that he had conducted a productive meeting with the President, where they discussed the latest developments in Iraq and its relationship with neighboring Iran.

President Barzani thanked the countries of the European Union for their military, humanitarian, and political support for the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, and reiterated the Kurdistan Region's will to develop mutual relations.