His Excellency Angus McKee, the UK Consul General in the Kurdistan Region, presented a seminar in Salahaddin University‘s cultural center. The seminar was attended by Dr. Ahmed Anwar Dezaye, the President of Salahaddin University, vice presidents, deans of colleges,lecturers and many students. Mr. McKee talked about the "Role of Diplomats in the 21st Century" and highlighted the importance of Kurdistan in this context. Then he discussed the  UK‘s diplomatic relations with Middle Eastern countries, including the Kurdistan Region. He emphasized that we have common interests and cooperation on this basis is crucial. Mr.McKee then talked about the ISIL terrorist organization at the global level and the Kurdistan Region‘s level; stating that the UK government fully supports the Kurdistan Region in its war against terrorism. To this end so far the UK government provided military training to 300 members of the Peshmarga forces in addition to logistic and military support. He also said that there are investment opportunities for the UK private sector in the Kurdistan Region. In the question and answer session, he replied to questions regarding the UK‘s position if a Kurdish state is declared and why the KRG representative was not invited to the London conference on combating ISIL. Mr. McKee replied diplomatically and avoided to announce the UK‘s position regarding these questions.

Date: 2/5/2015