Zarif welcomed by officials of Iraqi Kurdistan Region

Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Erbil, capital of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region in north of the country, Tuesday evening and was welcomed by high-ranking officials of the Iraqi Kurdistan.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan Qubad Talabani, Chief of Staff of Kurdistan Regional Presidency Fawzi Hariri and other senior officials welcomed the Iranian top diplomat, Mehr News Agency reported.

Zarif is in Iraq on a two-day visit that started on Monday.

"Iran has long-standing relations with Iraqi Kurdistan, and we warmly welcome the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif," said the head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Kurdistan Government in a statement before Zarif’s arrival.

The official of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region who was also one of the members of the welcoming ceremony for the Iranian FM, referred in his statement to Zarif as “an experienced diplomat who looks at the situation objectively,” stressing that there are many cases and issues that will be discussed in the meetings with him in Erbil."

While in Baghdad, Zarif discussed major bilateral, regional and international issues in separate meetings with President of Iraq Barham Salih, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein and Speaker of Iraq’s Council of Representatives Mohamed al-Halbousi.

Source: Iran Daily