President Masoud Barzani received a U.S. Department of State delegation headed by Mr. Brett McGurk, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq and Iran.


President Barzani welcomed the delegation and spoke of the latest developments in the Kurdistan Region in particular and in Iraq in general. President Barzani also spoke of his latest trip to Diyarbakir and described it as "historic," adding that the relations between Kurds and Turks are entering a new level on the basis of peace, coexistence and understanding.

President Barzani and Mr. McGurk also discussed the developments in the Middle East Region, particularly the crisis in Syria. The two sides also spoke of the upcoming elections in Iraq next April and the role of the Kurdistan alliance.

Mr. McGurk expressed optimism on behalf of the Obama administration towards the actions of the Kurdistan Region and President Barzani, especially in regards to the latest positive developments of relations between Turkey and the Kurdistan Region. He went on to say that the peace process in Turkey is of enormous interest to the United States and that such moves are of galvanizing effect to all sides involved.