ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed attended the Border Security Summit in London on Monday to discuss combating organized immigration crime, particularly human trafficking and illegal migration.
“At the official invitation of the UK Interior Ministry, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed has arrived in Britain to participate in the Border Security Summit, which brings together interior and justice ministers, along with senior Border Security officials from several countries,” read a statement from the Kurdistan Region’s interior ministry.
The UK is spearheading the international initiative, bringing together representatives from over 40 countries to discuss the security risks posed by human trafficking and people smuggling.
The two-day event included representatives from the UK, Iraq, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, China, Bulgaria, and others.
Addressing the summit, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for international collaboration to tackle people smuggling. He stressed that while individual countries must act decisively, the key to dismantling the smuggling networks lies in working together. "We can only smash these gangs, once and for all if we work together," Starmer said.
On the sidelines of the summit, the KRG Interior Minister “held a bilateral meeting” with the French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
“During the meeting, Ahmed relayed the gratitude of the Kurdistan Regional Government and the people [of the Kurdistan Region] for France’s historic relations and continued state-level support for the Kurdish cause throughout different historical stages,” reported a statement from the Kurdistan Region’s interior ministry.
Ahmed additionally pointed to “France’s significant backing of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces in confronting the terrorist [Islamic State] ISIS organization.”
For his part, the French minister was quoted as “reaffirming the French government and people's support for the Kurdistan Region.” He also highlighted “the Region’s vital role in the fight against ISIS, terrorism, and organized crime networks.”
In addition to addressing the pressing issues of human trafficking and people smuggling, the summit underscored the need for global cooperation to dismantle criminal gangs. Participants emphasized the importance of sharing intelligence, resources, and best practices to tackle these security threats effectively.
