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Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani holds high-profile meetings on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on February 17, 2024. Photos: Office of the President. Graphic: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani continued his high-profile meetings during the second day of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, discussing the peace and stability of the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the rest of the Middle East with regional and international leaders and officials.
President Barzani met with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, covering the latest security developments in the Middle East and stressing the need to prevent further escalations in the area, especially in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
“The two agreed that the peace and stability of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region is important for the entire region and that Iraq must not get involved in the problems and chaos in the area,” read a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.
Barzani and Borrell also stressed that attacks targeting bases housing the United States-led coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region “threaten the security and peace” of the country.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on the sidelines of the security conference in the Bavarian capital Munich.
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) February 17, 2024
🎥: Office of President Barzani pic.twitter.com/d8jXD8MhSH
Borrell affirmed that the EU remains committed to supporting the security and stability of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, according to the statement from the presidency.
American personnel in Iraq and Syria have been the target of some 165 attacks by Iran-aligned militia since October 17, against the backdrop of Washington’s support for Israel in its war on the Gaza Strip.
The turbulent situation in the Middle East was also discussed during President Barzani’s meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, with the two leaders emphasizing the need for peaceful resolutions to conflicts in the region.
Barzani and Pashinyan stated their willingness to boost ties in various sectors during their meeting in the Bavarian capital.
“Both sides expressed their desire to further develop relations in all fields and discussed in this regard the agenda of the Kurdistan Region president’s expected visit to Armenia,” according to a Kurdistan Region Presidency statement.
The constitution of the Kurdistan Region recognizes Armenians as an ethnic component, provides the right to mother-tongue education in the Armenian language, and reserves one seat in parliament for Armenians.
Armenia opened a consulate and cultural center in the Kurdistan Region capital of Erbil in 2021. Yerevan and Erbil also share strong economic relations.
President Barzani also met with Amos Hochstein, energy security adviser to United States President Joe Biden. They discussed Washington’s economic and energy relations with Erbil and Baghdad, as well the possibility of resuming Kurdish oil exports, which have been suspended since March last year following a court ruling in a case between Ankara and Baghdad.
Threats to American and coalition personnel in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and the impact of the conflict in the Middle East were also touched upon during Barzani’s meeting with the White House adviser.
“Hochstein stated that the US attaches great importance to the peace and stability of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and wants to promote opportunities and cooperation in the economic, investment and energy sectors. He also reiterated the US’ commitment to continue to support and assist Iraq and the Kurdistan Region,” read a statement from the presidency.Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with Amos Hochstein, US President Joe Biden's energy security adviser, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) February 17, 2024
🎥: Office of President Barzani pic.twitter.com/Sq0lNKBhgp
Tensions are high between Washington and Baghdad over US retaliatory strikes inside Iraqi territory. The Iraqi government has begun the process of winding down the coalition’s mission in the country, but Kurdish leaders have said they want international forces to remain to help combat the ISIS threat. The majority of Kurdish lawmakers in the Iraqi parliament were absent from a session last week condemning the US strikes and calling for the expulsion of all foreign troops from the country.
Barzani also met with France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Stephane Sejourne in Munich and highlighted the “long-standing” relations between Paris and Erbil. The two agreed that all efforts must be made to control the conflict in the Middle East and that “the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the delivery of aid to the victims should be taken into account,” according to a statement from his office.
Nearly 29,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Israel declared war on Palestinian Hamas after the group infiltrated Israeli territory on October 7 and killed some 1,200 people. On Monday, Israel killed hundreds when it launched a military offensive into Gaza’s southernmost Rafah, a city it initially told Palestinians to evacuate to.
Regional instability was also discussed during the Kurdistan Region president’s meeting with Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, and the two stressed the need to “intensify efforts on a regional and international level to preserve stability.”
Enhancing Manama’s relations with Baghdad and Erbil and avenues for joint cooperation were also highlighted during the meeting.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani's meeting with Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, foreign minister of Bahrain, in Munich underway pic.twitter.com/WvG6KxswvL
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) February 17, 2024
Barzani’s other meetings included Germany’s Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, head of the Independent Strategic Review of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Volker Perthes, and the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States Paul Gallagher.
Earlier in the day, Barzani met with several other high-profile figures, including British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. He also met with British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday.
The Munich Security Conference is a global meeting for discussions on international security policy. The event brings together 450 high-profile and senior decision-makers and thinkers, including heads of state, ministers, as well as leading figures from non-governmental organizations, industry, media, academia, and civil society.
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