Kurdish leaders on Wednesday received the newly appointed Dutch Consul General Adriaan IJsselstein, discussed bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and Netherlands, and thanked the Netherlands for its support.
President Masoud Barzani received Consul General IJsselstein in Salahaddin and thanked the people and government of the Netherlands for their support of the Kurdish people during difficult times.
He also expressed his appreciation for the Dutch military forces that supported Kurdistan’s peshmerga forces in the fight against ISIS as part of the international coalition. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of strengthening relations and friendship between the Kurdish and Dutch peoples.
During the meeting, Consul General IJsselstein expressed his appreciation for President Barzani’s role in Iraq and reaffirmed his country’s readiness to enhance relations with the Kurdistan Region in various fields, particularly in agriculture, tourism, and environmental protection.
Peshmerga forces are well-known for their brave role in defeating ISIS.
— Netherlands in Kurdistan Region (@nlinkri) March 5, 2025
It was great to meet Mr. @masoud_barzani, a veteran peshmerga and president of the KDP. We exchanged views on regional developments & discussed cooperation, specifically on trade and agriculture. pic.twitter.com/nBsB9guQQV
“Peshmerga forces are well-known for their brave role in defeating ISIS,” Consul General IJsselstein posted on X. “It was great to meet Mr. Masoud Barzani, a veteran peshmerga and president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. We exchanged views on regional developments & discussed cooperation, specifically on trade and agriculture.”
The meeting also covered Iraq’s political situation, regional developments, changes in Syria, and the ongoing peace process in Turkiye. President Barzani reiterated that if asked to assist in the peace process in Turkiye, he would be ready to contribute.
In a separate meeting, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani congratulated Consul General IJsselstein on his new position, wished him success in his duties, and affirmed the KRG’s full support for further strengthening relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Netherlands.
The Dutch Consul General, in turn, expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the KRG’s cooperation and coordination. He reaffirmed his country’s commitment to enhancing bilateral relations, particularly in the fields of economy, trade, and agriculture.
The Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Erbil focuses on policy advice, project support, and private sector development.
The Netherlands is also part of the Multi-National Advisory Group – which also includes the United States, Italy, France, the UK, and Germany – established to bolster the peshmerga reform project.
