Promising relations between Flanders and Kurdistan
by Lorin Sarkisian and Roni Alasor /
Brussels, 12 April 2016 - Middle East Diplomatic (MED) - Following a recent visit to Kurdistan Region, Flemish minister-president Geert Bourgeois expressed full support of Flanders to Kurdish democratic institutions. Numerous projects between the two Federal regions will be developed in the future.
“Kurdistan trip was among the most successful ones in my political career”, said Bourgeois after meetings with KRG President Masoud Barzani and Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, visit of the front line against ISIS and talks with Bishop Bashar Warda, UN human rights office and Flemish Red Cross in Kurdistan.
“Kurdistan is a beacon of tolerance and stability in this turbulent part of the world. By paying this visit, I want to show them that Kurds are not alone and that Flanders wants to support the consolidation of democratic and pluralistic autonomous institutions in Kurdistan. I have ordered the Flemish department of foreign affairs to examine a number of proposals for concrete assistance to the Kurdish government”, announced Bourgeois and invited the Kurdish government to organise an economic mission to Flanders.
The Minister-President also visited Kurdish Peshmerga front lines in southwestern capital city Erbil and expressed full support for Kurdish forces: “Peshmerga have been demanding weapons from the international coalition and European countries, and the world should respect their needs as they are fighting on behalf of humanity in the first front against Da’esh,” Bourgeois stated. The Flemish minister-president paid as well a visit to the Gawilan refugee camp and pledged support to Red Cross project for refugees’ families.
Delavar Ajgeiy, Head of the Kurdistan Regional Government Mission to European Union, accompanied President Bourgeois during his trip to Kurdistan and he also expressed his satisfaction from the delegation visit: “It was a very productive trip, which will improve relations especially between Kurdish and Flemish people but also with all Belgians. There will be follow up meetings in Brussels to work on new mechanisms of cooperation especially in politics, trade, economic sectors and academic cooperation”.