Austria–Kurdistan Region relations

Austria–Kurdistan Region relations are bilateral relations between Austria and the Kurdistan Region[1]. Austria is represented in Kurdistan Region through a commercial office in Erbil since 2006,[2] while Kurdistan Region has a representation in Vienna since 2012.[3][4] Kurdish President Masoud Barzani has met the Austrian President Heinz Fischer on three occasions in Vienna; in 2011, 2014 and in 2015 on official visits.[5][6][7] Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz visited Erbil in 2015 and 2016 to boost ties and humanitarian aid.[8][9]

Kurdish Foreign Minister Falah Mustafa meets his Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz in 2015
Austria–Kurdistan Region relations

Austria
Kurdistan Region

History

Kurdish rebel leader Mustafa Barzani met with the later Austrian Foreign Minister Bruno Kreisky in 1957 in Moscow.[10] Ties between Austria and Kurdistan Region intensified in the 1970s when Austria granted asylum to Kurdish refugees from Iraq. Kurdish representative in Austria Mustafa Ramazan Goran stated that: "During these difficult times throughout the 1980s, the Austrian government never wavered in their support."[11] As the new leader of Kurdistan Democratic Party, Masoud Barzani visited Vienna in 1979, where he escaped an assassination attempt.[12] During the general elections of 1992 in Kurdistan Region, Austria sent a high-ranking delegation to observe the elections.[13]

After the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) entered Iraq and captured Mosul during the Northern Iraq offensive, Austria decided to send 1.25 million dollars to the Kurdish government to cope with the growing number of Internally displaced persons.[14]

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. "Commercial Office of the Republic of Austria". Kurdistan Regional Government. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  3. "Kurdistan-Irak in Österreich" (in German). Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  4. "Beziehungen zwischen der Region Kurdistan und Österreich" (in German). Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  5. "President Barzani meets Austrian President Fischer in Vienna". Kurdistan Regional Government. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  6. "President Barzani meets with Austrian President Fischer in Vienna". Kurdistan Regional Government. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  7. "President Barzani meets Austrian President Fischer in Vienna". Kurdistan Regional Government. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  8. "Austrian minister in Erbil to boost ties, vows more humanitarian aid". Rudaw. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  9. "Austria's Foreign Minister pledges more support for Kurdistan Region". Kurdistan24. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  10. "Strong Vienna-Erbil Relations Founded on Decades of Good Ties". Rudaw. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  11. "Kurdistan in Austria". investingroup.com. September 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  12. "Profile: Massoud Barzani". Al Jazeera English. 4 March 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  13. "Relations between the Kurdistan Region and Austria". The Kurdistan Regional Government Representation in Austria. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  14. "Austrian foreign minister in Erbil to boost ties, vows more humanitarian aid". Kurdish Daily News. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
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