Kurdistan Region leaders meet with US to discuss Iraq ties
The Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani, and President Nechirvan Barzani separately met with Barbara A. Leaf, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and her delegation to discuss a range of issues related to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
During the meeting with Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, both sides discussed the need for resolving pending issues between the Kurdistan Region and the Federal Government, including the resumption of Kurdistan’s oil and the importance of holding parliamentary elections in the region at the appropriate time. The Ministry of Peshmerga’s reformation plan, the Shingal Agreement, and the return of refugees were also among the topics discussed.
Meanwhile, in the meeting with President Nechirvan Barzani, discussions covered a wide range of issues, including the US relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, joint cooperation, and the political and economic situation in the country. The ongoing negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad were also discussed, with both sides emphasizing the importance of unity among Kurdistan parties and the resolution of internal problems in the region.
I’m pleased to catch up with US A/S Barbara Leaf in Erbil today.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) May 3, 2023
We agreed on the need to resume oil exports from the Kurdistan Region. We also discussed ways to accelerate Peshmerga reforms.
Elections must happen later this year. The KRG stands ready to support. pic.twitter.com/T5YjPSktF3
Both meetings reaffirmed the commitment to the joint Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs and the US Department of Defense on the reform process in the Ministry and the ongoing reorganization and unification of the Peshmerga forces. The expansion of US cooperation with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, particularly in the economic field, was also highlighted.
Other topics discussed included the latest developments in the fight against ISIS, the situation in the wider region, and several issues of mutual interest. The US Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski, and the country’s Consul General to the Kurdistan Region, Ervin Hicks, also attended both meetings.
