KRG Delegation Visits France and Italy

From 26 to 29 March 2024, a delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), led by Safeen Dizayee, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations, and Dr. Mohammed Shukri, Chairman of the Board of Investment, visited France and Italy. The delegation engaged in important meetings with officials from both countries to discuss pertinent issues.

From 26 to 27 March, in France, they met with Jean-Louis Bourlanges, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs at the French National Assembly, and Arnaud Ngatcha, Deputy Mayor of Paris for European, International, and Francophonie Affairs. They also met with Stephen Marchisio, Diplomatic Advisor to the French Prime Minister, and Wadee Al Batti, the Ambassador of Iraq to France. The delegation additionally met with Souraya Karam, Middle East Manager at Mouvement des Entreprises de France International, Marie-Christine, Vice Chair of International Developments at the Paris Chamber of Commerce, and Emmanuel Suquet, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The delegation visited Dr. Ali Dolamari, the KRG's Representative in France.

A highlight of the visit to France was attending the Newroz reception at the French Senate, facilitating further interactions with a wide array of French senators, National Assembly members, and people from the Kurdish community.

The delegation continued their diplomatic mission in Italy on 28 and 29 March, meeting with Guido Crosetto, Italy’s Minister of Defence. Additionally, they convened with Senator Stefania Craxi, President of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, and committee members. Their discussions also included meetings with Edmondo Cirielli, Italy’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Saywan Barzani, the Iraqi Ambassador to Italy, and a visit to Rezan Kadir, the KRG Representative in Italy.

These meetings facilitated in-depth conversations about the latest political dynamics in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the broader region.

Throughout their visit, Dizayee and Shukri briefed officials on the ongoing challenges and opportunities between Erbil and Baghdad, focusing on political, security, and financial aspects. They expressed gratitude towards both France and Italy for their steadfast support of the Kurdistan Region. Emphasising the significance of reinforcing bilateral ties, they advocated for enhanced cooperation in investment and other sectors, underscoring the mutual benefits of such engagements.

Department of Media and Information