Continuing his formal visit to the United Kingdom, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with the Right Honorable Lord John McFall, the Speaker of the House of Lords, in London on Thursday.

The President and the Honorable Lord Speaker exchanged views on the latest developments in Iraq and the wider region, the political process in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, the upcoming Iraqi elections, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region’s relations with the UK, the war on terror, COVID-19, the status of the refugees in the Kurdistan Region, the implications of climate change in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and other topics of mutual interest.

Lord McFall praised the democratic process in the Kurdistan Region and commended the legislative quotas in the Kurdistan Region’s parliament to ensure the participation of women and representatives of all communities in the political process and governance.

Lord McFall reaffirmed support to the Kurdistan Region and for this purpose the Right Honorable Lord will offer advices and recommendations to the UK government. The Lord Speaker expressed appreciation for the Kurdistan Region’s role in confronting terrorism and defeating ISIS.

For his part, President Nechirvan Barzani conveyed the gratitude of the Kurdistan Region for the continued support of the UK House of Commons, House of Lords and government to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The President thanked the UK Parliament for recognizing the ISIS crimes against the Yezidis and other communities in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region as genocide. The President urged the UK parliament to support Kurdistan Region in strengthening the democratic system and its institutions.