Masrour Barzani Chancellor of Kurdistan region Security Council meets with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State

Chancellor Masrour Barzani today had a substantive meeting with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq and Iran Andrew Peek. During their meeting attended by U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Douglas Silliman, both sides discussed recent developments in Iraq, with a particular emphasis on the situation in the disputed territories.

Chancellor Barzani stressed the need of working through the KRG and the Federal Government for a settlement that normalizes these areas; restores stability, and prevents an ISIL resurgence. He welcomed Deputy Assistant Secretary Peek’s commitment to strengthening the Kurdistan Region-United States partnership.

They also reviewed ongoing negotiations to form the new KRG Cabinet and developments in Erbil-Baghdad relations. Chancellor Barzani called on Iraq’s partners, and the United States in particular, to play a stronger role mediating political disputes between Erbil and Baghdad. They agreed to continue to stay in close dialogue on these issues of mutual importance