Erbil, Kurdistan Region, February 1, 2023

President Nechirvan Barzani received today in Erbil the US Consul General to the Kurdistan Region, Mr. Irvin Hicks Jr.

Discussions focused on the latest political developments in the Kurdistan Region and the meetings between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. In this regard, the US Consul General welcomed the dialogue and efforts to resolve the issues of both sides and stressed that the United States attaches great importance to the relations of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region with the US.

The reform process and reorganization of the Peshmerga was also discussed at the meeting. President Nechirvan Barzani stressed the importance of the continuity and success of the process and thanked the United States for its cooperation and support. For his part, the US Consul General expressed the importance that his country attaches to the reform and the efforts to speed up the process.

The meeting also discussed the issues between Erbil and Baghdad, preparing the visit of a US business delegation to the Kurdistan Region in the near future, human rights issues, freedom of press, freedom of expression and other issues of mutual interest.