President Barzani’s invitation to Queen’s funeral ‘of great significance’: Official

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United Kingdom’s invitation to the Kurdistan Region’s President Nechirvan Barzani to attend the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II is “of great significance,” a Kurdish official told Rudaw on Sunday, adding that the presence of a representative from the Region at the event signals the progressing relationship between Erbil and London.

President Barzani arrived in London on Sunday, upon the official invitation extended by the UK, to attend the funeral of the late monarch, as well as a reception with world leaders.

“This is of great significance,” Karwan Jamal Tahir, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) high representative in London, told Rudaw’s Alla Shally, adding that “the UK cabinet stressed that a Kurdistan Region representative must be present at the event.”

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, died on September 8 at the age of 96 following health complications, triggering 10 days of national mourning and a tremendous amount of tributes from people all over the world.

Hundreds of royals and heads of states from around the globe have been invited and the funeral is expected to be one of the largest gatherings of leaders in recent years.

“Britain and the Kurdistan Region share a deep, broad, and historic relationship in a number of different fields, and they have been progressing as of late. The relations are based on the wishes of the Britons, and they are committed to wanting a strong Kurdistan Region within the framework of Iraq,” Tahir added.

The UK has been an important ally of the Kurdistan Region for decades. Thirty years ago, former British premier Sir John Major played a key role in declaring a no-fly zone in the north of Iraq, providing a safe haven from the Baath regime that allowed Kurds to gain some autonomy. An Erbil street was named after him in April 2021.

President Barzani’s invitation to Queen’s funeral ‘of great significance’: Official

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