The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, announced, on Tuesday 7 September, that over the summer the EU had expanded its CSDP advisory mission (EUAM Iraq) by opening a permanent presence in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan (see EUROPE 11884/3).
“Our team is ready to provide advice and expertise on civil security sector reforms to the Kurdish regional government”, he explained at a press conference with the region’s president, Nechirvan Barzani, in Erbil. Mr Borrell said that discussions on matters of common interest had already begun.
At the press conference, the High Representative praised Iraqi Kurdistan’s contribution to the global coalition’s efforts against Daesh, but also the region's “generosity and responsibility” in hosting many internally displaced people fleeing Daesh, acknowledging the efforts, including financial ones, that this has entailed. According to him, in 6 months the region has received about 2 million people, or one third of its population.
The EU High Representative also stressed the “crucial” role of the region in ensuring stability in Iraq and in the Middle East.
He also encouraged efforts to resolve existing differences between the region’s leaders and the central government in Baghdad (see EUROPE 11870/22) and hoped that they would ensure good cooperation. Mr Borrell said he was ready to help. Iraqi Kurdistan has aspirations for independence.
Lastly, the head of European diplomacy recalled the importance of media freedom, an independent judicial system and a dynamic civil society. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)