Hoshyar Siwaily, Head of the KDP FRO receives Ashley Durec, Head of Office of the Embassy of Canada

Head of Office of the Embassy of Canada to Iraq in Erbil, Ms. Ashley Durec, visited the KDP Foreign Relations Office (KDP-FRO) in Pirmam. She was accompanied by Ms. Yasameen Al-Atiya, Political and Public Relations Officer. The delegation was received by Hoshyar Siwaily, Head of the KDP Foreign Relations Office and other office members.

Head of KDP-FRO thanked the government and the people of Canada for their support to the Kurdistan Region during the war against ISIS, in addition to the provision of assistance in other areas. He stressed the importance of strengthening relations between Canada and the Kurdistan Region and the significance of the continuation of assistance by Canada to the Kurdistan Region in the future.

The discussions covered the most important issues concerning the Kurdistan Region and KDP views were presented. Among the issues discussed was COVID-19 and the challenges it has created with the measures taken by the Kurdistan Region to lessen the impact of the virus. The current military operations by Turkey on border areas between Turkey and the Kurdistan Region and their devastating effect on the lives of the inhabitants of the affected areas were brought to the attention of the guest delegation. Views were exchanged on relations with Baghdad, the ongoing negotiations and prospects for holding the federal election in June. PUK and KDP relations and the recent progress made to improve relations were also mentioned in the meeting.    

Ms. Durec thanked KDP-FRO for the warm reception and expressed her delight over her residence in Kurdistan over the past year. She also reiterated her country’s commitment to assist the Kurdistan Region and its people.

As sign of appreciation, head of KDP-FRO presented a photo of the famous Shanidar Cave site, where remains of the Neanderthal were found by archaeologists in the past.