Barzani discusses common concerns in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon

17 April 2010 – The President of Iraqi Kurdistan Region visited Saudi Arabia and Lebanon last week to discuss issues of common concern with his counterparts.

At the official invitation of King Abdulla, Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Barzani arrived in Saudi Arabia last Monday and was immediately received along with accompanying officials by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. Talks between the two sides dealt with various issues of common interest. The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and other high-ranking officials.

King Abdulla honored Barzani with First-Degree of King Abdul Aziz Shield. Barzani’s visit to Saudi Arabia came after Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, was invited to Saudi Arabia in the same week.

President Barzani arrived in Beirut from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Environment Minister Mohammad Rahhal, and the Egyptian and Iraqi ambassadors to Lebanon received Barzani at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport.

In Lebanon, Barzani and Prime Minister Hariri discussed ways to further develop ties between Lebanon and the Kurdistan Region–especially in the areas of investment, tourism, and education. And Iraqi ambassador to Lebanon Omer Barzanji described Barzani’s visit to Lebanon as “very successful.”

In an interview with Kurdistan News Agency (AKnews), Ambassador Barzanji said: “The visit of Kurdistan Region’s President Massoud Barzani to Lebanon was ‘historic and very successful.’” The topics of investment and the frequent presence of the Lebanese in Kurdistan were some of the main topics of the meetings, said Barazanji.

Regarding the political topics, Barazanji said: “They talked about the formation of the Iraqi government and about the electoral results that did not give any political entity the ability to form the government alone. They also talked about the similarity between the Lebanese government and the situation in Iraq, and the need for compatibility, because it is the only way to prevent crises from developing in the country.” Barzani also met the President of Lebanon, Amin Gemayel, and MP Walid Jumblatt.

This is the second visit by Barzani to Beirut, as he visited Lebanon for the first time in 1970-40 years ago. He expressed his happiness for his visit and promised further visits and close encounters.

Barzani said on the sidelines of his meeting with a number of Lebanese Kurds, representing Kurdish associations, organizations, links, and parties, that the Kurdish issue has moved to a “very advanced” stage, assuring at the same time that the KRG will not permit any interference or outside influence to affect the decisions.

Source: Kurdish Globe