Kurdistan Region delegation’s meetings on third day of Munich Security Conference
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The Kurdistan Region delegation at the Munich Security Conference, headed by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and accompanied by Parliament Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami, on 16 February met with the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Jordan, Turkey, Iran and Iraq, Canada’s Defence Minister, the UK’s National Security Adviser and other officials.
On their third day of meetings, the Kurdistan Region delegation and their counterparts discussed the latest developments and upheavals in Iraq and the region, efforts to form a new Iraqi cabinet, and bilateral relations.
Prime Minister Barzani and his delegation thanked France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian for his country’s support for Kurdistan and friendship with the Kurdish people.
Minister Le Drian reiterated his support for Kurdistan and said it is important that the coalition forces to stay in Iraq and Kurdistan.
The delegation and Germany’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas reiterated the need for coordination between the coalition forces and the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces to counter ISIS.
Minister Maas appreciated Kurdistan’s role and experience in maintaining security and said, “Kurdistan is a good example of governance in the region.”
Prime Minister Barzani and Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu emphasized the development of relations between Kurdistan and Turkey, especially trade relations.
The delegation in their meeting with Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, thanked King Abdullah for his support for Kurdistan and for helping to establish Iraq’s security.
The delegation thanked Canada’s Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan for its cooperation with Kurdistan and said that the root causes of terrorism in the region, such as poor governance, unemployment, discrimination and insecurity, must be addressed.
Minister Sajjan said that Canada will continue to support and train the Peshmerga forces to counter threats from ISIS. He commended Kurdistan Region for being a safe haven for internally displaced persons and refugees.
Prime Minister Barzani and Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif emphasized the importance of a secure settlement in the region and that the relationship between the two sides should be based on mutual respect.
With Iraq’s Foreign Minister Muhammad A. Al-Hakim, the Kurdistan delegation emphasized that it would support a Government committed to federalism and Kurdistan’s legal rights and official institutions.
The Kurdistan officials and the UK National Security Adviser Sir Mark Sidwell discussed strengthening bilateral relations and coordinating more effectively against the threats from ISIS.
In their meeting with Iraq’s National Security Adviser Falah Fayaz, the Kurdistan delegation emphasized that Kurdistan would back a government that supports the legal rights of Kurdistan.