Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received United States Ambassador to Iraq, Stuart Jones and his accompanying delegation.
Mr Jones pointed out the visit by Kurdistan Region President, Masoud Barzani and his accompanying delegation to the United States last month, valuing the meetings and talks held during the visit.
The two sides discussed the latest political situation in Iraq, military operations, and the United States support to Iraq in general and Kurdistan Region in particular.
Ambassador Jones reiterated that his country will continue its support to the Peshmerga forces, as it was discussed and stressed during President Barzani’s visit to the United States.
In the meeting, the relations between Erbil and Baghdad and the financial problems which appeared in the Kurdistan Region as the result of Baghdad’s withholding Kurdistan’s budgets early last year, were also discussed.
Ambassador Jones expressed his support for the agreement reached between Kurdistan Region and Iraqi Federal Government last December to settle oil export and budgetary issues.
He also pointed to the situation in the region in general and the importance of the participation of the Sunnis in the political process in Iraq as well the liberation of the Sunni areas under the control of the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS.
Prime Minister Barzani expressed his thanks and appreciation for his assessment of the successful visit of the President of the Kurdistan Region and his accompanying delegation to Washington. In this regard, he thanked the US embassy in Iraq to have organised and set the programme of the visit.
Regarding the humanitarian and military situation, Prime Minister Barzani hoped that the United States will continue its support to the Peshmerga forces and to the Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, by providing relief aid to the large number of refugees and internally displaces people who sought safety in Kurdistan Region.
Regarding the agreement between Erbil and Baghdad, Prime Minister Barzani outlined KRG's position, saying that the Kurdistan Region has fulfilled its obligations under the agreement. He pointed out that the KRG is waiting for Iraqi Federal Government to meet its obligations by sending Kurdistan Region liabilities adequately, as defined in the agreement, in the coming days.