President Nechirvan Barzani held a meeting with Mr. Stephen Charles Hitchen, the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Iraq, Friday evening. The focus of their discussion was on strengthening the relations between the UK and both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. They also addressed Erbil-Baghdad relations and potential solutions to resolve outstanding issues. Additionally, the internal situation in the Kurdistan Region and the latest developments in the Middle East tensions were highlighted.

The President and the UK’s ambassador both expressed optimism about the recent meeting between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). They emphasized the need to maintain the Erbil-Baghdad dialogue to find effective solutions. Furthermore, they referred to the visit of the Prime Minister of Iraq to the Kurdistan Region, which took place a day before the meeting.

Another important topic of their conversation was the Middle East crisis and its potential impact. They agreed on the significance of preserving peace and stability in the region, with a particular emphasis on ensuring that Iraq does not become entangled in the conflict.

The security of coalition forces in Iraq, as well as the relations between Iraq and the Kurdistan Region with neighboring countries and the wider region, were also addressed during the meeting.