Rebar Ahmed, Minister of Interior of the Kurdistan Regional Government, visited Vienna on 16 January for a series of high-level meetings aimed at strengthening cooperation with Austrian and European partners, with talks with Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner marking the central engagement of the visit.
Austria, KRG Agree to Strengthen Security Cooperation Against Trafficking and Smuggling
Regional developments were also high on the agenda, with Karner stressing that the current situation in the Middle East underscores the importance of close coordination to preserve stability.… pic.twitter.com/TmfGKHn85C
— Kurdistan 24 English (@K24English) January 16, 2026
The discussions focused on enhancing field-level cooperation to counter human trafficking and drug smuggling, expanding information sharing, and addressing shared security challenges amid regional instability. Both sides underlined the importance of coordinated action to reinforce international security and protect citizens in both Austria and the Kurdistan Region.
During the visit, cooperation with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) was also reaffirmed through ongoing work with the Joint Crisis Coordination Centre (JCC), including the operation of Migrant Resource Centres in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah and targeted capacity-building initiatives.
Kurdistan Region, Austrian Migration Policy Center Sign Cooperation Memorandum.
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— Kurdistan 24 English (@K24English) January 16, 2026
Engagements with ICMPD leadership, including Director General Susanne Raab, highlighted continued collaboration on migration management, reintegration support, and institutional development, complementing the broader security dialogue between the Kurdistan Region and Austria.
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