President Barzani in telephone conversation with Italian Foreign Minister

President of the Kurdistan-Region Massoud Barzani received a telephone call from Italy’s Foreign Minister, Federica Mogherini, who said her country lauded the efforts of the Iraqi Kurdistan authority against the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL).

Ms Mogherini conveyed the well-wishes of Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi, and that they are ready to provide maximum support to the region at Kurdistan’s time of crisis.

President Barzani expressed his gratitude and satisfaction to his Italian counterparts for their stance in these difficult times as they affirm their solidarity and support for the people of Kurdistan as he ordered more than 10,000 Kurdish fighters into an offensive against IS, which has declared an Islamic Caliphate in captured territories in Iraq and Syria, with its capital in Mosul. Iraq’s second-largest city fell to the militants in June.

Ms Mogherini had said to President Barzani that Italy is aware of the consequences the Kurdistan region is facing and it will defend itself to go beyond the defensive position and fight the terrorists to the last breath.