President Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), met with the UK Ambassador to Iraq, Steven Hitchen, in Erbil on Wednesday to discuss the formation of the next Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The UK Consul General in Erbil, Andrew Bizley, also attended the meeting.

Ambassador Hitchen extended his congratulations to Barzani on the success of the recent parliamentary elections in Kurdistan, held in October. Hitchen praised the high voter turnout and the peaceful conduct of the elections, which he noted as a positive indicator for the democratic process in the region. Barzani expressed his gratitude to the people of Kurdistan for their active participation in the elections, a sentiment later echoed in a statement from the Barzani Headquarters.

The discussions centered on the upcoming formation of the KRG cabinet. Barzani underscored the KDP’s commitment to inclusive governance, emphasizing that the party does not wield a veto over the cabinet formation. He called for negotiations that would foster unity, advocating for a government structure centered on “one region, one parliament, and one Peshmerga force.”

In addition to local political matters, the conversation touched on broader international developments. The recent U.S. elections and their possible impact on regional and global affairs were discussed, alongside recent events in Iraq, particularly the election of the Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives.

This meeting signals ongoing international interest in Kurdistan's political landscape and the formation of the next KRG cabinet, a process that is likely to shape the region’s future governance framework.