Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani embarked on a significant diplomatic mission to Germany, where he participated at the esteemed Munich Security Conference – a pivotal forum for fostering dialogue and forging alliances to address global security challenges – from February 16-18, 2024.

During the conference, the Kurdistan Region President engaged in a series of crucial meetings with various international leaders and high-ranking officials, the primary focus of which was understanding the prevailing security landscape in Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and neighboring countries, and identifying the formidable hurdles obstructing the path to peace and stability. 

The Kurdish president aimed to articulate the viewpoints of the Kurdistan Region while also fostering an exchange of perspectives with the international community. 

He also underscored the paramount importance of collaborative endeavors in safeguarding peace and stability, not only within Iraq and the Kurdistan Region but also across the Middle East. Through dialogues with leaders and officials from diverse nations, he aimed to discuss proactive measures aimed at mitigating further turmoil in the region.

During his participation, Kurdistan Region President seized the opportunity to engage with several prominent world leaders, including King Abdullah II of Jordan, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, and the UK Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps, and held discussions with Qatar Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev. 

Notably, the Kurdish leader also interacted with key German officials, including the foreign minister and chief of defense, as well as the foreign ministers of Austria, Kuwait, Turkey, and the Vatican.

The Kurdistan Region President’s active engagement in the Munich Security Conference underscored the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to contributing constructively to regional and global security initiatives while advocating for collaborative approaches towards fostering lasting peace and stability.

After the conference, the Kurdistan Region President welcomed Armenia counterpart Vahagn Khachaturyan on February 29 in Erbil. The meeting, attended by several ministers of the Kurdistan Regional Government, primarily focused on enhancing Armenia’s relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, most notably in the economic domain. However, discussions also covered recent developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and the status of various religious and ethnic communities.

Both leaders explored avenues to bolster ties between Armenia and Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, emphasizing potential collaborations in commerce, investment, the private sector, healthcare, and tourism. They also underscored the prospects for establishing direct flights between Armenia and both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.