A delegation from European Union Parliament visited the Kurdistan Democratic (KDP) Party Foreign Relations Office (FRO).

A Delegation of the European Union Parliament visited the Foreign Relations Office of the Kurdistan Democratic Party headed by MEP Lars Adaktusson who is also a member of the parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of the Kurdistan Friendship Group in the EU Parliament.  MEP Adaktusson is a member of both the Swedish Christian Democrats and the European People’s Party. Mr. Charlie Wimers the international secretary of Swedish Christian Democratic Party was also included in the delegation.

Hoshyar Siwaily warmly welcomed the delegation and on behalf of the KDP leadership thanked their continuous support for the people of Kurdistan.  During the meeting the Head of KDP-FRO briefed the delegation on the latest developments in Kurdistan Region and Iraq in particular the post ISIS and Post referendum situation. He emphasized that although the referendum did not lead to independence at this stage, KDP has no regret and it was an important strategic move and the main reason for holding it was the unwillingness by the federal government to implement the constitution. He outlined the current policy of KDP and KRG  towards Baghdad and stated that the current plan is to persuade the Iraqi side to implement the constitution. In this regard EU and its member states can play an important role as they did during the developments of 16 October 2017. 

In regard to the status of the Christians and other religious components of Kurdistan, the Head of FRO stated that KDP and its president have always believed in peaceful coexistence of all the components of our society and KRG opened the door for nearly two million Muslims and no-Muslim IDPs and refugees. The Peshmerga forces liberated and defended the Nineveh plain where Christians and non-Christians live. The rights and interests of the people of Kurdistan including the inhabitants of the disputed territories are best protected through the implementation of the constitution in particular Article 140. Mr. Siwaily clarified KDP’s position on the future political arrangement of Nineveh plain by saying that KDP has no policy of imposing a particular political model on the people of this area and KDP supports the will of the majority of the people.  It was highlighted that to this day large numbers of refugees and IDPs live in Kurdistan and some of the returnees come back again to Kurdistan due to lack of basic services and security concerns.  

Both sides exchanged views on a number of issues and Mr. Siwaily hoped that Mr. Adaktusoon would continue in his endeavors to support the people of Kurdistan and the Christian community in Iraq.

On his side Mr. Lars Adaktusson, thanked the people and government of Kurdistan for sheltering millions of refugees and displaced people. He reiterated the support of EU Parliament for Kurdistan Region to resolve all the outstanding issues with the federal Government through dialogue and peaceful means.