At the EU reception at the Erbil citadel on Sunday, Klemens Semtner, the EU Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq,  underlined that the EU will continue to stand with Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

He also expressed his condolences for those who became victims of the recent military confrontation in the region. “Hardly any part in this area of the world has suffered as much as the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. We are deeply concerned about ongoing attacks and call upon all sides to refrain from this violence,” he said.

Read More: US, EU, UK Strongly Condemn Attacks on KRG PM Office

“Secondly, let me reassure you that the EU and its member states continue to be reliable and trustworthy partners. From the dark days of the 1990s through the threat of ISIS terror, Europe has stood on your side, has welcomed refugees, helped those displaced, and supported your fight for freedom and peace,” Ambassador Semtner underlined, adding that this support will continue.“Our focus is shifting now to be strategic partners in economic development and security. Iraq and the Kurdistan Region have great natural resources at their disposal. It is a wealthy country. We want to support you in using this wealth to benefit all citizens by diversifying the Iraqi and Kurdish economies, to overcome an overdependence on oil and gas, to shrink the public sector, to strengthen private business and employment, to train the young ones in new skills, and to begin sustainable growth in time of climate change that we all feel is happening. We support the fight against corruption and want to reform the banking sector.”

He also underlined that the EU has many projects in the Kurdistan Region, including humanitarian aid through ECHO, and the EU Advisory Mission that advises the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on security sector reform in collaboration with the EU office. 

Read More: US, EU, UK Strongly Condemn Attacks on KRG PM Office

On August 17, in a letter to senior Iraqi and KRG officials, the EU and EU member states condemned the attack on the office of the KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and underlined that it is “unacceptable to target state institutions, its officials, or diplomatic missions.”

Earlier this month, KRG Prime Minister Barzani told Al Jazeera that the Kurdistan Region has been targeted with 1,000 drone and rocket attacks since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran started on February 28.

Radu Eugen Butum, the outgoing Head of the EU Liaison Office in Erbil, also said he sees many similarities and connections between the Kurdistan Region and Europe, including the ability to embrace diversity.

“Languages, traditions, religions — this diversity is a gift, but it is also a responsibility. It is up to us to work to ensure that it strengthens us rather than divides us,” he said.

He said both have the capacity to rise above difficult periods in our history. “We have both experienced immense tragedies, and neither of us can forget them. This is why I think we are equally committed to peace and justice, and determined to rebuild and create a prosperous and stable future.”

Moreover, both have a shared commitment to values. “Respect for human dignity, human rights, and democratic values are not abstract ideals.They are the fundamentals on which our societies will prevail in the long run.”

Additionally, Butum said that he was impressed by the people of Kurdistan. “The EU recognizes this wealth, invests in it, and seeks to promote it in a true spirit of partnership and friendship,” he said.

Safeen Dizayee, Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, expressed his thanks for the EU’s solidarity and support.

Dizayee highlighted the Kurdistan Region’s religious and cultural diversity, saying it is a source of great pride.

“This has not resulted from a law or a government decree to be nice to your neighbors. This is a deep belief within every individual in this part of the world, and we take great pride in this, and we want to keep it that way.”