President Barzani Receives a United States Government Delegation

President Masoud Barzani received a United States government delegation headed by Ambassador David Satterfield, the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs. The U.S. Delegation also included Mr. Joey Hood, the U.S. Charge d'affaires of the U.S. Mission in Iraq, Mr. Steven Fagin, the Consul General of the United States in Erbil and Lieutenant General Paul LaCamera.

The meeting commenced with ambassador Satterfield conveying greetings from Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo to President Barzani. The President warmly welcomed the delegation before discussing several key issues concerning the bilateral relations between Baghdad and Erbil, adding that further strengthening those relations will certainly be of mutual interest.

The two sides also spoke of the situation in Syria following the end of the caliphate of the Islamic State. President Barzani and his guests agreed that the terrorists of the Islamic State continue to pose a threat to the security of Iraq, Syria and beyond. The President also noted that the U.S.-led coalition played and continues to play a major role in supporting the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces against the terrorists of the Islamic State.