Kurdistan Region–Spain relations

Bilateral relations
Kurdistan Region-Spain relations
Map indicating locations of Kurdistan Region and Spain

Kurdistan Region
Spain

Kurdistan Region–Spain relations are bilateral relations between Kurdistan Region[1] and Spain. Kurdistan Region is represented in Spain through a representation in Madrid since 2010,[2][3] while Spain has no representation in Kurdistan Region. When the Kurdish representation opened in Madrid, the representative Daban Shadala stated that their activities primarily focused on building confidence, trust and friendship between the two parties. These goals were accomplished according to Shadala and Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Garcia-Margallo held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of Kurdistan Emad Ahmad which resulted in the opening of a Spanish honorary consulate in Erbil.[4]

In 2014, Kurdish President Masoud Barzani stated that Kurdistan values its relations with Spain.[5]

Political relations

Spain has had a careful policy towards the Kurdish region since they do not want to foster Kurdish separatism, as they have their own separatist issues.

In January 2014, Shadala expressed that the economic relations between the two were minimal with only few Spanish companies present in the region.[6] In August same year, after the ISIS' invasion of Iraq Foreign Minister García-Margallo stated that military support for Kurdistan Region would always be with the consent of the central government in Baghdad.[7] Later it was reported that Spain avoided aiding Kurdish forces.[8] The Spanish government rejected the Kurdish independence referendum taking place in September 2017.[9]

Catalonia-Kurdish relations

After Kurdistan's independence referendum in September 2017, Catalan President Carles Puigdemont congratulated the Kurdish authorities for the referendum.[10] Artur Mas, leader of the Catalan European Democratic Party and former president of Catalonia also said that he supported the Kurdish bid for independence and applauded the leadership for "defending democracy".[11] Kurdish Foreign Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir visited Catalonia in May 2017 to strengthen the bilateral relations between Kurdistan and Catalonia. During the trip, he met with the President of the Catalan Parliament Carme Forcadell and with Josep Lluís Alay as well.[12] During their meeting, Forcadell stated that Catalonia supported to Kurdistan's right to self-determination and also expressed gratitude to the Peshmerga in defeating ISIS and the role played by the Kurdistan Region in securing stability and hosting a great number of displaced people.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ While Kurdistan Region refers to the autonomous Kurdish region in Northern Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan is a geographical term referring to the Kurdish area of Iraq
  2. ^ "KRG Mission to the European Union". Department of Foreign Relations - Kurdistan Regional Government. Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  3. ^ "KRG opens Representation in Spain". 8 December 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2018.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Promoting Spanish Investment". Invest in Group. May 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Prime Minister Barzani and Spain's ambassador discuss fight against ISIS". 20 October 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  6. ^ Alexandra Di Stefano Pironti (11 January 2014). "Spain Lags Behind in Business and Political Ties With Kurdistan". Rûdaw. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  7. ^ "La UE respalda que sus miembros envíen armas a los kurdos de Irak". El Mundo. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Rajoy rehúsa una implicación directa de España contra los yihadistas". Libertad Digital. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  9. ^ "España rechaza también el referéndum independentista organizado por Kurdistán". ABC España. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Catalan President Congratulates Barzani on Kurdistan's Referendum". 26 September 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Catalonia, Kurdistan 'defending democracy': former Catalan leader". Defense News.
  12. ^ "Minister Falah Mustafa concludes official visit to Catalonia". Retrieved 7 August 2018.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "Catalan Parliament Commends KRG's humanitarian and military role". 12 May 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2018.[permanent dead link]

Further reading

  • "KRG Worldwide - Interview with Daban Shadala — KRG Representative in Spain". Invest in Group. February 2015.
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