Kurdistan Region–Sweden relations

Bilateral relations
Kurdistan Region–Sweden Region relations
Map indicating locations of Kurdistan Region and Sweden

Kurdistan Region
Sweden

Kurdistan Region–Sweden relations are bilateral relations between Kurdistan Region[1] and Sweden. Kurdistan Region is represented in Sweden through a representation in Stockholm since 2011,[2] while Sweden has an embassy in Erbil since 2012.[3]

Trade between the two parties amounted 154 million dollars in 2012. There were 56 registered Swedish companies registered in Kurdistan Region that year.[4] Swedish MP Fredrik Malm stated that "We are friends of the Kurdish people and we follow the events closely, and our key objective is to support the self-determination of the Kurdish people."[5]

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström met Kurdish Foreign Minister Falah Mustafa in January 2015 and discussed humanitarian aid for the internally displaced people in the region.[6] In November same year, Wallström and Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist travelled to Erbil and pledged support for Kurdish forces fighting ISIS.[7] 70 Swedish soldiers have been sent to Erbil to train Kurdish soldiers in urban warfare, healthcare, and protection against chemical weapons.[8] In October 2016, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven visited Erbil, where he met Kurdish President Masoud Barzani, Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and the stationed Swedish soldiers.[9]

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 re-opens representative office in Sweden". Department of Foreign Relations - Kurdistan Regional Government. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Embassy Section Office of Sweden". Department of Foreign Relations - Kurdistan Regional Government. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Kurdistan to Double Trade Volume with Sweden". iraq-businessnews.com. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Minister Mustafa meets Swedish foreign ministry officials and MPs". Minister Mustafa meets Swedish foreign ministry officials and MPs. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Wallström tog emot utrikesrepresentanten för KRG" (in Swedish). Government of Sweden. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  7. ^ "Swedish military trainers to stay in Iraq until end of 2016". Radio Sweden. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Sweden doubles its troops in Kurdistan, Iraq". Kurdistan24. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Sweden to double military advisors in Kurdistan". Rudaw. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
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