Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, carried out an extensive diplomatic effort during his active participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2026, placing the issue of Western Kurdistan and the protection of Kurdish rights in Syria as a central and fundamental theme in the majority of his meetings.
The Prime Minister, who officially inaugurated the “Kurdistan House” in Davos, used this platform as a strategic center to amplify the Kurdish voice and mobilize international support. He emphasized that the objective was to present a realistic picture of the regional situation and to build channels of communication with global leaders.
In some of the most sensitive meetings, Masrour Barzani held detailed discussions on the situation in Syria with Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and with Nawaf Salam, Prime Minister of Lebanon. He expressed deep concern over the escalation of conflict and military confrontations, stressing the necessity of preserving peace and respecting the rights of the Kurdish people and all components of Syria as a fundamental condition for ensuring stability in Western Kurdistan and the wider region.
This national position was also underscored during his meeting with Jonathan Powell, the United Kingdom’s National Security Adviser, where both sides agreed on the importance of ending internal military confrontations in Syria and continuing efforts to counter the threats posed by ISIS.
Alongside these political efforts, the Prime Minister discussed the situation in Western Kurdistan and the military escalation in Syria with Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan. He conveyed the Kurdistan Region’s concerns regarding the deterioration of security conditions in the area, while the meeting also addressed the development of trade relations and the possibility of reopening Azerbaijan’s Consulate General in Erbil.
On another front, the issue of reform and development in the administrative sector formed a significant part of the Prime Minister’s agenda. In a meeting with Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs, he expressed appreciation for the UAE’s continued support in advancing human capacity development in the Kurdistan Region. He also emphasized, during a meeting with Dick Schoof, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, the importance of building a strong economic infrastructure through the agricultural sector.
As part of this diplomatic tour, Masrour Barzani also met with a high-level delegation from the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as with Vahagn Khachaturyan, President of Armenia. During the latter meeting, the Armenian President praised the Kurdistan Region for protecting the rights of the Armenian community and formally invited the Prime Minister to visit Yerevan.
In this way, the Kurdistan Region’s participation in Davos 2026, under the umbrella of the “Kurdistan House,” became an effective platform for integrating economic and political diplomacy. The protection of the Kurdistan Region’s status and advocacy for the rights of the Kurdish people in Syria and Western Kurdistan were placed at the center of international discussions, with the aim of securing stronger global support.
KDC Media Office.