KRG High Representative met with Hamish Falconer MENA minister

News : 11/27/2024

United Kingdom, London, www.uk.gov.krd. Karwan Jamal Tahir KRG High Representative to the UK visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development and met with Hamish Nicholas Falconer Minister of State for Middle East and North African Affairs.

The KRG High Representative began the meeting congratulating the Labour Party on winning the parliamentary elections and being appointed to his position as MENA minister. In addition, he expressed gratitude to the British government for its ongoing assistance to the Kurdistan Region in all areas and emphasised the necessity of further collaboration to advance bilateral ties with the new UK government.

Karwan Jamal Tahir urged the Minister of State for Middle East and North African Affairs to strengthen and broaden the two countries' military and security cooperation during the meeting, with particular focus on the development of trade and economic cooperation based on the "Understanding of Trade Priorities" signed between the UK and the Kurdistan Region. Cooperation in the areas of culture and heritage was also discussed by both parties.

KRG High Representative added that the Kurdistan Region opposes the Middle East war's spread and the inclusion of Iraq in it, which will worsen the situation and cause disaster for the Iraqi people. Meanwhile, both parties concurred that the constitution and the agreements should be followed in order to settle the disputes between Erbil and Baghdad, particularly the budget and salary issues.

Hamish Falconer, Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa Affairs, emphasised that the United Kingdom is prepared to help address the internal and external issues facing the region and wants to see a strong, prosperous, and united Kurdistan. He also commended the recent elections for the Kurdistan parliament, which resulted in the establishment of a legitimate parliament chosen by the people of the region.

He added that the area is going through a delicate and perilous period, and that in order to be prepared to face the challenges, the Kurdish parties in the Kurdistan Region need to band together and move fast to form a new government..
Both sides stressed the importance of further enhancing partnerships and extending cooperation during the meeting, which also covered a number of other topics and local and regional concerns.

United Kingdom, FCDO
27th November 2024