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Kurdistan Region |
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AustraliaâKurdistan Region relations are bilateral relations between Australia and Kurdistan Region. [1] While Australia has no representation in Kurdistan, Kurdistan has a representative office in Sydney. [2] [3] Moreover, there is a Kurdish lobby in Australia. [4] In late 2014, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott authorized the training of the Kurdish soldiers or Peshmerga and also supplied the Kurds with ordnance in September 2014. [5] [6] A C-130J was involved in the airlift of arms and munitions to the Kurdish forces. [7] In April 2016, it was disclosed that an Australian Army Special Operations Task Group personnel were assisting at the "divisional level" embedded with senior Kurdish Peshmerga commanders. [8]
In 2015, Kurdish Foreign Minister Falah Mustafa travelled to Australia and met with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to discuss the security circumstances in Kurdistan and bilateral relations. [9] Moreover, Mustafa met with Attorney-General George Brandis. [10]