Iraqi and Kurdish FM meet with UK Minister for Middle East ; discuss security, Mosul

LONDON, England-- Top delegations from Iraq and Kurdistan's foreign offices met Wednesday with UK Minister for Middle East Tobias Ellwood in London, discussing further collaboration between the two countries in security and investment projects.

 

Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Jaafar told reporters after the meeting that UK is committed to assisting Iraq in the ISIS war and had vowed to "play a significant role" in recapturing the militant-held Mosul.

 

Head of Kurdistan Region's Foreign Relations Office told Rudaw the Kurdish delegation was officially invited to the top level meeting for the first time.

 

"We were happy to take part in the Iraqi-UK joint committee meeting as part of the Iraqi delegation," Falah Mustafa said.

 

Kurdish officials have in the past criticised several European governments for not inviting Kurdish delegations to meetings that address the war on ISIS and security in the region while Kurdish forces are part of the international anti-ISIS coalition.

  

Mustafa said four separate meetings were held with the officials at the UK foreign office in which investment, trade and security had been discussed.

 

"How to encourage investment in Iraq and Kurdistan Region and how to enhance cooperation among security institutions in the two countries," Mustafa said.