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Northern Ireland Minister signs joint declaration with Kurdistan

TUE, 17 JUL 2012 20:59 | KRG.org

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq – (KRG.org) – The Northern Ireland Minister of Trade & Enterprise, Ms Arlene Foster, wrapped up a visit to the Kurdistan Region today where she met with President Masoud Barzani and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

President Barzani welcomed Minister Foster and her delegation to Kurdistan and reiterated the Region’s interest in continuing to build a partnership with the United Kingdom, and with Northern Ireland in particular. The President encouraged the delegation to promote awareness of Kurdistan in Northern Ireland and to support greater involvement of their businesses and institutions in the Region.

Minister Foster said that Northern Ireland welcomes the opportunity to improve coordination with Kurdistan. She highlighted the fact that both sides have a common past and many shared experiences, adding her hopes that the MOU would be successful in promoting increased mutual exchanges between both sides.

Following the meeting, the UK delegation joined the Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa, at the Erbil Convention Center to participate in a signing ceremony for the joint declaration, which lays a foundation for further interaction between the KRG and the government of Northern Ireland in several important areas, including: investment, commerce, education, tourism and agriculture.

Minister Mustafa, who signed the document on behalf of the Kurdistan Regional Government, said that the declaration was an important step forward in Kurdistan’s relationship with Northern Ireland, and he expressed his hope that it would result in the growth of meaningful cooperation between their respective sides.

The UK’s new Ambassador to Iraq, Mr Simon Collis, joined the Minister’s delegation while they were in the Region along with the outgoing Consul General, Mr Chris Bowers, and his replacement Mr Hugh Evans.

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