Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani received the Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, His Holiness Mar Gewargis III Sliwa, and his accompanying delegation that included bishops from other countries. 

The meeting was also attended by Kurdistan Regional Government ministers and officials.

Prime Minister Barzani congratulated the delegation on the occasion of the opening of the new church in Diana in the Soran district. He stated that the Kurdistan Region is proud of its culture of peaceful coexistence among its communities.

The delegation thanked Prime Minister Barzani and the institutions of the Kurdistan Regional Government for supporting their activities and for sheltering and protecting a large number of displaced people without discrimination. They commended the culture of coexistence in the Kurdistan Region.

Prime Minister Barzani presented a brief overview of the political situation in the region and the threat of the reemergence of ISIS. He hoped that security and stability will return to war devastated areas of Iraq and the displaced people will be able to go back to their places of origin.

He also stressed KRG’s continued support to their church and all other churches and religions in the Kurdistan Region.