Qubad Talabani calls for Europe's assistance in KRG's reform process

On Thursday, Qubad Talabani, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, held separate meetings  with each of new Swedish Ambassador to Iraq, new Head of the European Union Liaison Office in Kurdistan Region and and he discussed with them the formation of the new Iraqi government and the strengthening of bilateral relations.

During his meeting with Jonas Lofvenat, the new Swedish Ambassador to Iraq, Qubad Talabani congratulated the Swedish ambassador on the occasion of starting his duties, calling on him to have a role in developing relations between the Kurdistan Region and Sweden.

In another part of the meeting, Qubad Talabani called on the Swedish government to cooperate more in the reform process in the Kurdistan Region, especially in the field of tax organization, in which Sweden has a very good reputation globally.

For his part, the Swedish Ambassador expressed his country's readiness to provide assistance, noting that his country's government is ready to send a specialized advisory team to the Kurdistan Region.

The also discussed the post-election stage, and the two sides agreed that Iraq is going through a sensitive stage, calling on the Iraqi parties to negotiate peacefully to form a government that represents the will of all Iraqi components.

In this regard, the Swedish Ambassador expressed his country's readiness to provide assistance to all Iraqi parties to reach an agreement to form the new government in Iraq.

In another meeting with Marie Paret, the new Head of the European Union Liaison Office in Kurdistan Region, Qubad Talabani stressed his support to EU Liaison Office, and congratulated Marie Paret on the occasion of starting her new duties. 

In the meeting, a number of issues of importance were discussed, and both sides agreed that despite the concerns the conduct of the Iraqi elections was generally good. 

Qubad Talabani and Marie Paret also discussed the scenarios for the formation of the next Iraqi government and emphasized that the Iraq constitution should be respected so as the rights of all components.

In another aspect of the meeting, the Head of the EU Liaison Office assured their assistance to the Kurdistan Region in the fields of environment and climate changes, and they also agreed to support women and gender balance in Kurdistan, which is an important part of the work program of the Deputy Prime Minister.

At the end of the meeting, Qubad Talabani called on the European Union office to coordinate with the consulates of the member states of the European Union to formulate a common vision on helping the Kurdistan Region.

Qubad Talabani on Thursday also met with Mark Bryson-Richardson, the British Ambassador to Iraq, and his accompanying delegation, and they discussed the latest developments in Iraq in the post-election phase.

The two sides stressed the need to protect security and stability and ensure social peace through the participation of all the different components in the next Iraqi government.

In another aspect of the meeting, Qubad Talabani called on Britain to further support the reform process in the Kurdistan Region, explaining the technical steps that Kurdistan Regional Government  took to organize taxation.

For their part, the British delegation affirmed their country's commitment to assisting the Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmarga, to confront the remnants ISIS and the dangers of terrorism in general.



PUKmedia