Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) – Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday chaired a regular meeting of the Kurdistan Region’s Council of Ministers.

In the meeting, also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, Prime Minister Barzani briefed the cabinet members on his visit to France last week and meeting with President Emmanuel Macron.

Prime Minister Barzani said that France supports the Constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region and is ready to play a role in facilitating negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad.

A number of KRG Ministers then presented reports for discussion and approval.

Minister of Interior, Karim Sinjari, presented a report on the humanitarian situation of the displaced people from Tuz Khurmatu and Kirkuk, highlighting KRG’s assistance to them.

The Council of Ministers renewed its call on the international humanitarian organizations to help these IDPs, expressing gratitude for those who already provided assistance.

The Council requested the Ministry of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs to document all the abuses committed against the people of Tuz Khurmatu and Kirkuk, following Iraqi forces control of these areas last October. The Council stressed that since some of the acts of violence committed there amount to war crime, it is necessary to inform the international community, particularly human rights organizations, who sadly did not follow up the deterioration of human rights situation in these areas.

Reports, proposals and updates by other ministers were discussed; among them report by Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research on his ministry’s new system of admitting high school graduates at universities and institutes. The Council also discussed and approved a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs on establishing a center specialized on disabilities.