KRG Delegation joins Conservative Party Annual Conference in Manchester

News : 10/5/2025

The Kurdistan Regional Government High Representative to the United Kingdom, Karwan Jamal Tahir, led a delegation to the Conservative Party’s annual conference, held in Manchester from October 5–8, 2025.

During the conference, KRG officials participated in high-level dialogues on pressing global issues, including the war in Ukraine, Russia, and Middle East affairs, emphasising the Conservative Party’s commitment to addressing international challenges.

At a Council of Arab Ambassadors event, Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel underscored the Middle East’s strategic importance in global affairs. She highlighted her party’s intention to closely monitor relations with regional partners, including federal Iraq, and stressed the UK’s responsibility to contribute to stability in the region. In a conversation with the KRG High representative, Patel commended the Kurdistan Region’s role in maintaining security and praised its cooperation in preventing illegal migration to Europe.

The KRG delegation also received a formal invitation to attend the Head of Mission’s reception, which was attended by senior Conservative Party and shadow government officials. Throughout the event, the delegation held bilateral meetings with diplomats, party officials, parliamentarians, Lords and the international guests, and the KRG’s role in the region and the strengthening the mutual relations were discussed.

Meanwhile, the KRG UK hosted a reception celebrating the friendship between the Kurdistan Region and the Conservative Party. In his speech, Jamal Tahir highlighted the historic partnership, thanking the party for its ongoing support. He paid special tribute to former Prime Minister John Major for his role in the 1991 UN resolution establishing a safe and no-fly zone, which protected the Kurdish population from Saddam Hussein’s regime and paved the way for the region’s development.

Lord Francis Maude commended the Kurdistan Region’s contributions to regional security and praised its achievements in governance reform, transparency, and digital transformation. He described the region as a strategic ally and called for continued cooperation.

Former MP Jack Lopresti lauded the Kurdistan Peshmerga for their role in combating terrorism. Recalling his tenure as head of the British Parliament’s APPG on Kurdistan Region, he highlighted the group’s visits to the region and admiration for its freedom, democracy, religious and ethnic coexistence. He emphasised that the Kurdistan Region remains a platform for democracy and freedom in the Middle East.

In a special highlight of the conference, Shadow Cabinet Minister for Trade Andrew Griffiths presented Kurdistan Honey to international guests, expressing gratitude to the KRG representative for the contribution, a gesture symbolising friendship and cultural exchange.