“President Nechirvan Barzani conveyed his appreciation for the contributions made by Consul General Beerends during his tenure in the Kurdistan Region. He acknowledged the Consul General’s efforts in strengthening the ties between the Netherlands and the Kurdistan Region and extended his best wishes for Mr. Beerends’ continued success in his future endeavors,” the Kurdistan Region Presidency said in a statement.
During the meeting, Beerends thanked Barzani for the assistance provided by authorities in the Kurdistan Region and “reiterated the Netherlands’ commitment to further enhancing cooperation and fostering relations with the Kurdistan Region across a range of sectors.”
The Netherlands has been actively involved in Kurdistan, particularly in Erbil, over the past decade through diplomatic efforts. As a member of Operation Inherent Resolve and the US-led international against the Islamic State (ISIS), the military and foreign relations ministry of the Netherlands has helped to lead and implement a Peshmerga reform plan.
The Netherlands is also collaborating with the private sector to prepare young people for the job market through education, highlighting projects such as "Co-create Your City."
Western countries have encouraged initiatives to professionalize, further train, and perhaps more importantly to unify the Kurdistan Region’s soldiers, the Peshmerga. Despite their recent success and cooperation with the coalition against ISIS, many units are politically aligned.
