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SALAHADDIN - A group of eight MPs from Sweden are visiting Iraqi Kurdistan on behalf of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), with the long-term aim of helping to improve democracy.The Swedish officials, who arrived yesterday and are staying for one week, were invited to Kurdistan by the foreign relations office of the KDP.
The MPs are from a cross-section of Sweden's parliament and include two from the Liberal People's Party, three from the Social Democratic Party, one from the Centre Party, Moderate Party and the Christian Democrats.
Fredrik Malm of the Liberal Party said at a press conference this evening in Salahaddin: "The point of the visit is to show solidarity with the Kurdish people after all the struggling and bloodshed they've seen and to promote stronger relationships between Sweden and Kurdistan.
"There are some very important challenges for Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Regional Government for the coming years."
Malm, who is visiting Kurdistan for the fourth time, said the delegation hopes the region will takes steps towards a "deeper democratisation process".
Speaking to AKnews he commented: "We hope to cooperate more with Kurdistan. Sweden can help in bringing in more ideas and improving the democratisation process.
"We're here on a study trip to learn more about Kurdistan," Malm said, adding that the delegates have no affiliation to any of Kurdistan's political parties.
Head of foreign relations at KDP Hemin Hawrami stated in his speech to the delegates: "We're very proud of the relationship that exists between us. We've said on several occasions before that we're looking to Sweden's government as a nation. We hope the relationship will benefit both of us.
"It's clear that in Kurdistan there's a resolution for progress and development. In the Kurdistan region we're hoping to develop our democratic process and we hope with your experience we can develop this further."
Social Democratic Party MP Shadiye Heydari said: "It's true that the Kurdistan region has been consolidated to a certain level but it's our duty to preserve what has been done.
"Only with unity can we preserve the freedom of Kurdistan to achieve freedom for the rest of Kurdistan."
MP from the Christian Democrats Robert Halef meanwhile said he is proud of the protection that Kurdistan gives to its minority Christian population.
"The Christian minority needs your protection and it needs your help," he said to an audience of KDP officials.
Individual members of the delegation also serve on the Swedish-Kurdistan Friendship Group within the Swedish parliament. The body was founded one year ago and chairman Malm said it is now one of the most active friendship groups in the parliament.
The purpose of the group is to strengthen relations between Sweden and Kurdistan. Four meetings are held each year, one for each of Kurdistan's component areas in Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey.
"Why we founded this group in the beginning was because we think it's important to have an official group in the Swedish parliament to promote more of a bilateral relationship and get it on an official manner," Malm said.
The delegates today visited the grave of Mullah Mustafa Barzani in the Barzan area as part of a programme arranged by the KDP. Further trips will include a visit to the people of Halabja who survived the chemical attacks in 1988.
It is possible that the MPs will also visit Kurdistan's President Massoud Barzani and new Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.
Sweden has a significant Kurdish diaspora in the region of 60-70,000 people. Many of them originate from Iraqi Kurdistan. Economic trade between the two has increased in recent times last year Sweden decided to upgrade its diplomatic presence in Kurdistan to an embassy office.
The full list of Swedish delegates
Fredrik Malm - Liberal People's Party
Ismail Kamil - Liberal People's Party
Shadiye Heydari - Social Democratic Party
Roza Güclü Hedin - Social Democratic Party
Anna-Lena Sörenson - Social Democratic Party
Abir Al-Sahlani - Centre Party
Ulrika Karlsson - Moderate Party
Robert Halef- Christian Democrats
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The MPs are from a cross-section of Sweden's parliament and include two from the Liberal People's Party, three from the Social Democratic Party, one from the Centre Party, Moderate Party and the Christian Democrats.
Fredrik Malm of the Liberal Party said at a press conference this evening in Salahaddin: "The point of the visit is to show solidarity with the Kurdish people after all the struggling and bloodshed they've seen and to promote stronger relationships between Sweden and Kurdistan.
"There are some very important challenges for Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Regional Government for the coming years."
Malm, who is visiting Kurdistan for the fourth time, said the delegation hopes the region will takes steps towards a "deeper democratisation process".
Speaking to AKnews he commented: "We hope to cooperate more with Kurdistan. Sweden can help in bringing in more ideas and improving the democratisation process.
"We're here on a study trip to learn more about Kurdistan," Malm said, adding that the delegates have no affiliation to any of Kurdistan's political parties.
Head of foreign relations at KDP Hemin Hawrami stated in his speech to the delegates: "We're very proud of the relationship that exists between us. We've said on several occasions before that we're looking to Sweden's government as a nation. We hope the relationship will benefit both of us.
"It's clear that in Kurdistan there's a resolution for progress and development. In the Kurdistan region we're hoping to develop our democratic process and we hope with your experience we can develop this further."
Social Democratic Party MP Shadiye Heydari said: "It's true that the Kurdistan region has been consolidated to a certain level but it's our duty to preserve what has been done.
"Only with unity can we preserve the freedom of Kurdistan to achieve freedom for the rest of Kurdistan."
MP from the Christian Democrats Robert Halef meanwhile said he is proud of the protection that Kurdistan gives to its minority Christian population.
"The Christian minority needs your protection and it needs your help," he said to an audience of KDP officials.
Individual members of the delegation also serve on the Swedish-Kurdistan Friendship Group within the Swedish parliament. The body was founded one year ago and chairman Malm said it is now one of the most active friendship groups in the parliament.
The purpose of the group is to strengthen relations between Sweden and Kurdistan. Four meetings are held each year, one for each of Kurdistan's component areas in Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey.
"Why we founded this group in the beginning was because we think it's important to have an official group in the Swedish parliament to promote more of a bilateral relationship and get it on an official manner," Malm said.
The delegates today visited the grave of Mullah Mustafa Barzani in the Barzan area as part of a programme arranged by the KDP. Further trips will include a visit to the people of Halabja who survived the chemical attacks in 1988.
It is possible that the MPs will also visit Kurdistan's President Massoud Barzani and new Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.
Sweden has a significant Kurdish diaspora in the region of 60-70,000 people. Many of them originate from Iraqi Kurdistan. Economic trade between the two has increased in recent times last year Sweden decided to upgrade its diplomatic presence in Kurdistan to an embassy office.
The full list of Swedish delegates
Fredrik Malm - Liberal People's Party
Ismail Kamil - Liberal People's Party
Shadiye Heydari - Social Democratic Party
Roza Güclü Hedin - Social Democratic Party
Anna-Lena Sörenson - Social Democratic Party
Abir Al-Sahlani - Centre Party
Ulrika Karlsson - Moderate Party
Robert Halef- Christian Democrats
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
