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Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and UK Home Secretary Priti Patel in London on April 20, 2022. Photo: Priti Patel/Twitter
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region Prime Minister on Wednesday met with the British Home Secretary to discuss a range of topics including illegal migration in light of the UK’s new plan to send asylum seekers to eastern Africa.
PM Masrour Barzani and Priti Patel conducted “fruitful talks” in regards to the UK's partnership with the Region, as well as issues including ways to tackle illegal migration.
The premier “emphasized the importance of taking legal action against human trafficking groups and bands while also stating that instability and terror attacks are one of the reasons for increased migration,” read a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Patel thanked Barzani for the KRG’s cooperation with the British government regarding migration and illegal migration, reaffirming the UK’s “willingness to boost its assistance and cooperation with the KRG in the fields of security and illegal migration,” the statement added.
Following the meeting, Patel said the "discussions centred around security and migration - areas on which I look forward to greater cooperation with the Kurdistan Region in the near future.
The proposal has been criticised by numerous human rights groups, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who described the UK government’s plan as “the opposite of the nature of God” during his Easter sermon on Sunday. Should those transferred to Rwanda be deemed to be genuine asylum seekers, the Rwandan government has said they will be offered legal pathways to residence in the African country.
Several Kurdish migrants in France’s Dunkirk remain determined to cross the English Channel, where 33 migrants drowned in November, despite Johnson’s plan, downplaying his statement.
“It is made only to spark fear among the migrants, and dissuade people from migrating to the UK this summer. It is true that it was announced, but it will not materialize,” Shahram Ahmed, a Kurdish migrant from Iran, told Rudaw’s Alla Shally on Monday.
PM Barzani arrived in London on an official visit on Monday.
He has met with top British officials, including PM Johnson where they discussed several topics, most prominently energy exports from the Kurdistan Region.
In a speech to the international affairs think-tank Chatham House earlier on Wednesday, Barzani discussed the Iraqi federal court’s decision regarding the Kurdish oil and gas law in February, calling the ruling “blatantly political” and commenting that “decentralizing decision-making” in the country deserves serious thought.
PM Masrour Barzani and Priti Patel conducted “fruitful talks” in regards to the UK's partnership with the Region, as well as issues including ways to tackle illegal migration.
The premier “emphasized the importance of taking legal action against human trafficking groups and bands while also stating that instability and terror attacks are one of the reasons for increased migration,” read a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Patel thanked Barzani for the KRG’s cooperation with the British government regarding migration and illegal migration, reaffirming the UK’s “willingness to boost its assistance and cooperation with the KRG in the fields of security and illegal migration,” the statement added.
Following the meeting, Patel said the "discussions centred around security and migration - areas on which I look forward to greater cooperation with the Kurdistan Region in the near future.
Talks in regard to illegal immigration come after the UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled a new plan to send male asylum seekers entering the country to Rwanda while their applications for asylum are processed last week.Pleased to host @Masrour_Barzani here at the @UKHomeOffice today. Our discussions centred around security and migration – areas on which I look forward to greater cooperation with the @Kurdistan Region of Iraq in the months and years ahead. pic.twitter.com/Im2a6VhLzd
— Priti Patel (@pritipatel) April 20, 2022
The proposal has been criticised by numerous human rights groups, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who described the UK government’s plan as “the opposite of the nature of God” during his Easter sermon on Sunday. Should those transferred to Rwanda be deemed to be genuine asylum seekers, the Rwandan government has said they will be offered legal pathways to residence in the African country.
Hundreds of people, including Kurds, take illegal and dangerous routes to migrate to Europe.Fruitful talk with @pritipatel about our partnership — it makes the world a safer place for us and our partners.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrour_barzani) April 20, 2022
We combat terrorism, organized crime, and disrupt people-smuggling networks.
We will explore more ways to reduce migration — by creating jobs and opportunity. pic.twitter.com/oCqwEVWrcj
Several Kurdish migrants in France’s Dunkirk remain determined to cross the English Channel, where 33 migrants drowned in November, despite Johnson’s plan, downplaying his statement.
“It is made only to spark fear among the migrants, and dissuade people from migrating to the UK this summer. It is true that it was announced, but it will not materialize,” Shahram Ahmed, a Kurdish migrant from Iran, told Rudaw’s Alla Shally on Monday.
PM Barzani arrived in London on an official visit on Monday.
He has met with top British officials, including PM Johnson where they discussed several topics, most prominently energy exports from the Kurdistan Region.
In a speech to the international affairs think-tank Chatham House earlier on Wednesday, Barzani discussed the Iraqi federal court’s decision regarding the Kurdish oil and gas law in February, calling the ruling “blatantly political” and commenting that “decentralizing decision-making” in the country deserves serious thought.
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