Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani received a U.S. delegation led by U.S. Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Ms Denise Natali. The delegation included U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq and Iran, Andrew Peek, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq Joey Hood, U.S. Consul-General to the Kurdistan Region Steven Fagin and a number of advisors and officials.

The delegation praised the role of the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces in the war against terrorism, and its people and government for hosting, accommodating, and offering assistance to a large number of IDPs and refugees. They also commended the level of tolerance and coexistence among ethno-religious communities in the Kurdistan Region.

They highlighted the success of the political process in Iraq and the progress made towards resolving outstanding issues between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked the U.S. for its assistance during difficult times. He gave a brief about the war against ISIS and ways to eliminate its extremist ideology, and highlighted the situation of refugees and internally displaced people in the Kurdistan Region.

He reaffirmed the willingness of the Kurdistan Region to resolve issues with Baghdad through talks within the framework of the Constitution of Iraq. He noted improvement in relations between the two sides.

The situation of the region in general, the post ISIS era, and the development of bilateral relations were also discussed.