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Bilateral relations From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
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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]
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]
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