Greek Ministers Visit Slemani to Boost Bilateral Cooperation Ties
At a Glance
Senior Greek officials landed in Slemani on Thursday for meetings with leaders and officials.
Qubad Talabani noted the trip will boost joint work in health, tourism, education, and farming.
Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis arrived in Slemani on Thursday and were received by Qubad Talabani, Governor Haval Abubakir, and other officials, with Talabani stating the visit will accelerate bilateral cooperation across key sectors.
Key Statements and Focus Area
Qubad Talabani stated, “We are pleased to welcome Giorgos Gerapetritis, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Adonis Georgiadis, Minister of Health of Greece.”
Talabani stated, “Over the past few years, we have taken very positive steps toward building strong relations with Greece,” highlighting notable progress achieved across agriculture, tourism, health, and higher education.
“This visit will certainly accelerate these efforts,” he added.
FYI
Thursday’s arrival marks the first official visit to Slemani by both Gerapetritis and Georgiadis, building on years of steadily expanding diplomatic and economic engagement between Greece and the Kurdistan Region.
Athens has maintained an active diplomatic presence in the Region since establishing its Consulate General in Erbil in 2018, supporting bilateral trade, cultural exchanges, and direct air connectivity between Greece and Iraq.
Over the past several years, Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani has held regular talks with senior Greek officials during his participation in the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece.
In April 2026, Talabani met with Foreign Minister Gerapetritis on the sidelines of the forum to advance cooperation in trade, agriculture, tourism, and higher education, while proposing direct flights between Slemani and Athens.
Talabani also shares an established working relationship with Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, having previously met with him in April 2022 during Georgiadis's tenure as Greek Minister of Development and Investment to attract Greek firms to the Kurdistan Region's food, agriculture, and tourism sectors.
The two officials met again in April 2026 in Greece to explore healthcare sector coordination, during which Talabani formally invited Georgiadis to visit the Kurdistan Region with an official delegation.
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