Presidency of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

President Nechirvan Barzani and Türkiye’s Defense Minister underscore the critical role of peace

2026-04-18T08:42:00.000000Z
News International relations

April 18, 2026

On the second day of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, President Nechirvan Barzani held a meeting with Türkiye’s Defense Minister, Yaşar Güler.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Their discussions focused on recent developments in the region and their implications. Both sides highlighted the necessity of upholding the ceasefire, fostering peace, and ensuring stability in the Middle East.

Türkiye’s Defense Minister commended the Kurdistan Region for distancing itself from regional conflicts, calling for broad coordination to preserve peace and stability. He also lauded the efforts of the Kurdistan Region’s President in this regard.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

In response, President Nechirvan Barzani reaffirmed that the Kurdistan Region will consistently act as a pillar of peace and stability, expressing his desire to strengthen ties with neighboring countries based on mutual interests.

Relations between Türkiye, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region — along with their mutual cooperation — were also among the topics discussed.