Yesterday, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Adm. Luigi Binelli Mantelli, visited Erbil for an exchange of views  with the highest authorities of the Kurdistan Regional Government.
The delegation, composed by senior officials of the Defence Staff, was accompanied by Mrs. Rezan Kader, High Representative in Italy of the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Adm. Binelli was welcomed on arrival by the Minister of Peshmerga, Mustafa Sayid Qadir and the Italian Ambassador in Iraq Massimo Marotti.
During the visit Adm. Binelli met the President of Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani, and his Iraqi counterpart General Babaki Zebari.
President Barzani thanked Admiral Binelli for the support that Italy has provided and is providing to the Kurdish authorities in the war against ISIS, reiterating the need for further support from the international community in terms of weapons materials and training.
The Chief of the Defence Staff has confirmed the commitment of Italy in providing support to the Peshmerga in contrast to the Islamic State, in particular as regards training activities in Italy.
Later Admiral Binelli met the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Nechirwan Barzani, Minister of Interior Abdulkarim Sultan Sinjari and the Head of the Department of Foreign Relations, Min. Falah Mustafa.
The meeting also showed how the Kurdistan Region has become stable shelter for about a half million internal refugees and those from neighboring Syria;  in addition expressed the desire to fight with the threat posed by ISIS terrorists, which represents a danger not only for the middle East area but for the entire international community.