Parliament Speaker Dr. Vala Fareed meets Korea Consul General to discuss Korean delegation’s forthcoming visit

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Dr. Vala Fareed on 24 June welcomed the Republic of Korea’s Consul General, Mr. Kwang-jin Choi, to discuss a forthcoming visit by a Korean political delegation. They also discussed Kurdistan’s government formation process, bilateral relations, and relations between the KRG and the Iraqi federal government.

Mr. Choi said, "I am positive and foresee a more developed Kurdistan in the future. To strengthen Korea’s relations with Kurdistan Region, we are planning a visit by a Korean delegation early next month, headed by the President's adviser, with the participation of some Korean MPs. The aim of the delegation is to strengthen the relationship between Kurdistan Region and Korea, especially between our parliaments.”

The Consul General said that in 2013, Korea’s Parliament recognized the crimes committed against the Kurds by previous Iraqi regimes as genocide.

Dr. Fareed said that good relations with Korea are very important, and that Parliament eagerly looks forward to welcoming the Korean delegation. The Speaker said that the new KRG cabinet will be formed soon and the ministers’ names will be given to Parliament.

Once the new government is in place, Parliament plans to look at reform in all sectors, especially administrative and financial, and to draft the Kurdistan constitution.

Kurdistan Parliament’s MPs are calling for closer cooperation between the KRG and the Iraqi federal government, Dr. Fareed said. She described the violence and discrimination against people in Kurdistani areas outside the KRG administrative area, and said that the Iraqi Parliament and Iraqi government must take action.

The Speaker asked Mr. Choi to encourage Korean companies to invest and do business in Kurdistan Region.