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Italy–Kurdistan Region relations

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Italy–Kurdistan Region relations
Map indicating locations of Italy and Kurdistan Region

Italy
Kurdistan Region

Italy–Kurdistan Region relations are bilateral relations between Italy and the Kurdistan Region[1]. Italy has a consulate general in Erbil,[2] while Kurdistan Region has a representation in Rome.[3] Relations are described as "strong" and Italy has a military presence in Kurdistan Region.[4] About 800 Italian soldiers were present in Kurdistan in 2018.[5]

History

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Many high-level meeting have been held between Italy and Kurdistan Region. In November 2005, Kurdish President Massoud Barzani visited Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi in Rome,[6] and again in 2009.[7] In September 2012, President Barzani met with the Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi in Rome to discuss economic and cultural ties.[8] Barzani visited Italy again in May 2014, meeting Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini.[9] Three months later, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi visited Erbil to strengthen political and military ties.[10] In February 2020, Kurdish President Masrour Barzani was received by Italian President Giuseppe Conte to discuss regional security and economic relations.[11]

The two parties signed an environmental agreement in July 2017, aimed at assisting the Kurdish government with technology concerning climate change.[12]

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Kurdistan Region in late December 2022 to meet Kurdish counterpart and moreover the Camp Singara military base where Italian soldiers are staying.[13]

Italian military aid to Kurdistan

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In December 2015, Prime Minister Renzi decided to dispatch 450 Italian soldiers to Kurdistan Region, to protect Kurdish-controlled Mosul Dam as it underwent reconstruction by the Italian company Trevi Sp.A.[14] Furthermore, Italian soldiers have trained about 7,000 Kurdish soldiers, as of January 2017.[15][16] Regarding military aid, Italy has sent 100 machine guns, an undisclosed amount of anti-tank missiles and a Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter to Kurdistan. Other aid include 2,000 rocket propelled grenades and one million rounds of ammunion, which Italy seized from a vessel bound to blockaded Serbia in 1994.[17][18] Kurdistan Region is also the base for 8 Italian helicopters; four Agusta A129 Mangustas and four NHIndustries NH90s.[19] In April 2017, the Italian Consul General Serena Muroni stated that Italy would receive 11 wounded Kurdish soldiers for proper medical treatment.[20]

During her trip to Erbil in July 2015, Italian Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti stated that "Italy stands behind Kurdistan in the “common challenge” of fighting the Islamic State group".[21]

In 2018, Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzani visited Italy and met with Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini.[5]

See also

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References

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  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. ^ "Consulate of Italy - Erbil" (in Italian). Foreign Ministry of Italy. Archived from the original on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Kurdistan Regional Government - Representation In Italy". Kurdistan Regional Government. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Decades-long Italian-Kurdish ties strengthened in defense minister's recent visit". Rudaw. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Italian defense minister, Iraqi Kurds hold talks". Arab News. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Biography President Masoud Barzani" (PDF). European Parliament. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  7. ^ "President Barzani arrives in Germany to meet Chancellor Angela Merkel after Italy visit". Kurdistan Regional Government. 4 March 2009. Archived from the original on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  8. ^ "President Barzani Meets Italian Foreign Minister in Rome". Kurdistan Regional Government. 22 September 2012. Archived from the original on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Kurdish Flag Set Tone of Barzani's Meetings at Vatican, Rome". Rudaw. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Iraq, visita lampo di Renzi a Baghdad ed Erbil. Parlamento decide per l'invio di armi ai curdi" (in Italian). Rai News. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Prime Minister Barzani meets Pope Francis at Vatican during Italy trip". www.nrttv.com. Retrieved 19 February 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ "Italia e Kurdistan iracheno firmano un accordo sulla cooperazione ambientale" (in Italian). Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  13. ^ "President Meloni visits Iraq". 23 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  14. ^ "Kurdish PM, Italian military chief discuss military cooperation, Mosul Dam". Rudaw. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  15. ^ "Pinotti visits Italian military in Iraq: training 25% local forces". OnuItalia. 4 February 2017. Archived from the original on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  16. ^ "Italian advisers train 7,000 Peshmerga soldiers: Coalition". Kurdistan24. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  17. ^ "Italy adds military muscle for ISIS fight". Rudaw. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  18. ^ Jan Joel Andersson and Florence Gaub (July 2015). "Adding fuel to the fire? Arming the Kurds" (PDF). European Union Institute for Security Studies. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  19. ^ "Italy to send helicopters to Erbil, 130 infantry troops to Baghdad". Rudaw. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  20. ^ "Italy receives wounded Peshmerga fighters for medical treatment". Kurdistan24. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  21. ^ "Italy behind Kurdistan in 'common challenge' of fighting ISIS". Rudaw. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2017.

Further reading

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