President Nechirvan Barzani received today in Erbil the United Kingdom’s Defence Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa (DSAME) Marshal Martin Sammy Sampson and his accompanying delegation.

At the meeting, attended by the Kurdistan Regional Government Minister of Peshmerga, the bilateral relations of the United Kingdom with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region were discussed. Discussions also focused on the latest political developments in Iraq, the threats of terrorism and the movements of ISIS, the reforms at the Ministry of Peshmerga and the Erbil-Baghdad relations.

President Nechirvan Barzani reiterated the appreciation of the Kurdistan Region to the United Kingdom for its support to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in the war against ISIS. The President also reaffirmed the need for continued support of the United Kingdom and the International Community to confront the threats of terrorism, and to the reorganization and reform process of the Peshmerga forces.

Both sides reiterated the need for an understanding and agreement among political factions to overcome the obstacles facing the political process in Iraq to protect the peace and political stability of the country, and reemphasized the importance of unity among political parties in the Kurdistan Region.

The developments in the Kurdistan Region, the relations of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region with neighboring countries, the latest developments in the wider region and other issues of common interest were highlighted at the meeting which was also attended by the UK Consul General in Erbil.