Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received Mr. Mark Brayson Richardson, the United Kingdom’s incoming Ambassador to Iraq, in Erbil on Sunday.

President Nechirvan Barzani congratulated Mr. Richardson on assuming office, wished him success in his new mission and expressed the Kurdistan Region’s full support for the Ambassador.

Discussions covered Iraq and the Kurdistan Region’s relations with the UK and further development of all areas of mutual cooperation and partnership. The upcoming elections in Iraq, the security situation in the country and the latest on the threats posed by terror networks and ISIS were highlighted. The international coalition’s mission against ISIS in Iraq, cooperation between the Peshmarga and Iraq’s army in the fight against terror groups, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing efforts to contain its further spread in Iraq and the UK were underlined.

Mutual willingness to further develop relations between the Kurdistan Region and the UK, and investment and job opportunities for the UK businesses in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region were highlighted.

At the meeting, attended by Ms. Mel Smart, the UK Consul General in the Kurdistan Region and an accompanying military and political delegation, the latest developments in the Kurdistan Region, the Iraq-US strategic dialogue, the relations of the Kurdistan Region with the neighboring countries, the Syrian issue, the developments in the region, and other topics of mutual interest were highlighted.