ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq's ambassador to the Netherlands refused to take part in a conference in The Hague on Wednesday because the Kurdistan flag was displayed in the hall.
The Dutch, Iraq, and Kurdistan Region Agriculture and Food Conference brought together government ministries and business leaders to discuss potential cooperation between the Netherlands and Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
"Yesterday, we met the ambassador of Iraq to Holland. They had some reservations,” Abdulrahman Doski, from organizers Petersberg Int, told Rudaw.
He said they addressed the concerns raised by Ambassador Hisham al-Alawi, but his team also “wanted the Kurdistan flag not to be displayed at the conference.”
“Once the ambassador and his deputy entered the conference and as soon as they saw the flag of Kurdistan, they said they were leaving,” said Doski. He asked the Iraqi team to stay, “but they insisted and left.”
The ambassador has not yet commented on the matter.
The Netherlands is a world leader in agriculture. Despite its small size, it is the world’s second largest exporter of agricultural products, adopting efficient production methods. The Kurdistan Region and Iraq are hoping to learn from The Netherlands’ experience to improve their own agri-food sectors and enhance cooperation with Dutch experts.
Rudaw Media Network is media sponsor of the conference.
Reporting from Zinar Shino