President Barzani meets with the Italian Foreign Minister in Rome

Rome (KRP.org) – President Barzani met with Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi yesterday in Rome to discuss bilateral relations between Italy and the Kurdistan Region and to consult on the situation in Syria.
During the meeting, both the President and the Italian Foreign Minister expressed their satisfaction with the rapid pace of progress in ties and cooperation between Italy and Kurdistan and expressed their willingness to work to further enhance relations in various areas, including economic and cultural ones, as part of the overall framework of relations between Italy and Iraq.
Minister Giulio Terzi emphasized the importance of the role Kurds play in the political process in Iraq and in the stability and economic boom achieved by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in recent years. Regarding business cooperation, he noted that approximately 30 Italian companies now operate in Kurdistan, and the government is encouraging more and more companies to work there. He added that the cooperation between Italian and Kurdish universities, as well as the project to build a museum in Kurdistan, are clear evidence of the progress of ties between the two sides.
The two sides also expressed concern about the deteriorating situation in Syria and its impact on Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. President Barzani said that more than 24,000 Syrian refugees have fled to the Kurdistan Region so far, and with the help of the UNHCR, the KRG has been able to provide shelter and food to augment their growing numbers. However, he added that the KRG will need assistance to care for the refugees, especially with the arrival of cold weather and the ever-increasing numbers.