PM calls with President-elect Erdogan, President Hollande and President Barzani
David Cameron spoke to President-elect Erdogan of Turkey, President Hollande of France and President Barzani of Kurdistan Regional Government.
Call with President-elect Erdogan of Turkey
A Number 10 spokesperson said:
The Prime Minister called President-elect Erdogan to congratulate him on his recent election victory and to discuss the situation in Iraq and the wider region. The President-elect thanked him and emphasised the importance of the bilateral relationship.
On Iraq, both leaders agreed that we should continue to work closely together to provide humanitarian support to those terrorised by ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant), including those trapped on Mount Sinjar and the Prime Minister welcomed Turkish efforts to support not just refugees in Iraq, but also those fleeing into Turkey.
On Gaza, both leaders agreed on the need for a sustainable solution to the conflict and for the international community to help provide aid to Palestinians caught up in the conflict, and to help rebuild infrastructure in Gaza once a lasting ceasefire is in place.
Call with President Hollande of France
A Number 10 spokesperson said:
The Prime Minister spoke to President Hollande this evening on the situation in Iraq and Ukraine. On Iraq, both leaders agreed on the need to help the Kurdistan Regional Government tackle the threat posed by ISIL, and to scale up the level of humanitarian support. They agreed that the EU could do more to provide aid and that this should be addressed at this Friday’s Foreign Affairs Council. On Ukraine, they agreed that Russia must not be allowed to use the pretext of a humanitarian aid mission to further destabilise Eastern Ukraine.
Call with President Barzani of Kurdistan Regional Government
A Number 10 spokesperson said:
The Prime Minister called President Barzani this evening to express the UK’s strong support for the action the Kurdistan Regional Government is taking against ISIL. The Prime Minister commended the bravery of the Peshmerga forces and President Barzani updated the Prime Minister on the progress they had made on the ground.
The Prime Minister underlined the UK’s role in helping international partners transport critical military supplies to the Kurdish forces and said that the UK would continue to do all it could to provide humanitarian support, including identifying ways to strengthen capacity at the Dahuk refugee camp. Both leaders agreed on the need for an inclusive government in Baghdad under the leadership of PM-designate Dr Al-Abadi.
Read more about the UK government’s response to the situation in Iraq.