I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Filton and Bradley Stoke for securing this important debate on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The UK's connection to the region dates back more than a century, and we continue to work closely towards a secure, stable, and thriving KRI within a peaceful and prosperous Iraq. I extended deepest condolences over the outrageous strikes on Irbil in January, condemning Iran for targeting innocent civilians and violating Iraq's sovereignty. There has been an increase in regional attacks by Iran-aligned militia groups since October 2023, with more than 160 incidents recorded; this is a cause of grave concern. Regarding elections in the KRI, their delay is disappointing, but we hope they can occur before the Independent High Electoral Commission's mandate expires on July 7th. We are also concerned about the erosion of semi-autonomy since the unilateral referendum in 2017 and the breakdown in relations between political parties. On media freedom, restrictions have been raised with KRG officials, and UK diplomats continue to advocate for greater media freedom. Concerning oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, we hope for a sustainable resolution as it has significant political and economic implications. We support the Iraqi security forces and Peshmerga in their efforts against Daesh, noting the importance of the higher military commission process led by the US and Iraq. The UK is committed to supporting Yazidi survivors through mental health and psychological support initiatives, including £100,000 this year for these services. On aid, we have provided over £400 million since 2014, helping displaced communities in the KRI with food and healthcare. We are also building capacity to mitigate climate change effects like water scarcity, which impacts agriculture in Kurdistan. In conclusion, we advocate for Kurdish unity, democracy, and peace, encouraging co-operation between Baghdad and Irbil while supporting counter-terrorism efforts and measures against climate change.