Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani received Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and his accompanying delegation in Erbil.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani.

Prime Minister Conte praised the role of the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga forces in the fight against terrorism, the people and the Kurdistan Regional Government for accommodating and offering assistance to a large number of IDPs and refugees.

He valued the old tradition of tolerance and coexistence among the various religious communities in the Kurdistan Region, and reiterated his country’s humanitarian and military support to the Kurdistan Region.

The Italian Prime Minister stressed strengthening bilateral relations in various fields. He also welcomed the Kurdistan parliamentary elections, participation of the Kurdistan Region in the Iraqi elections, the continued talks between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad to settle differences and develop security cooperation between them.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked Prime Minister Conte for his visit to the Kurdistan Region. He also thanked his government for its continued support to the Kurdistan Region, particularly in the humanitarian, military and cultural fields.

Prime Minister Barzani highlighted the progress made in settling some of the issues between Kurdistan and Baghdad through constructive dialogue, and reaffirmed KRG’s support to the new Iraqi Prime Minister, Adil Abdul-Mahdi. He stressed that efforts will be further exerted to settle the remaining outstanding issues, within the framework of the Iraqi constitution.

Prime Minister Barzani said that the threat of terrorism still exists and highlighted the cooperation and coordination between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad to eradicate terrorism. He stressed that the support of the international community is essential in this context.

Prime Minister Barzani considered that international community’s role is essential in assisting the Kurdistan religious communities, who fled ISIS repression, to return to their places of origin and construct their devastated communities.

Prime Minister Barzani also highlighted KRG’s administrative reform process, the economic recovery and the opportunities for Italian investors to invest in various sectors in the Kurdistan Region.

The situation of the region in general and a number of topics related to the political and security situation in the wider region were also discussed in the meeting.