President Barzani receives US Senator of Michigan

 

Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani received United States Senator of Michigan Carl Levin and his accompanying delegation to discuss the current developments and crisis in northern Iraq.

Mr Barzani began by welcoming the US delegation and thanked the American administration for their support in the ongoing war against jihadists belonging to so-called ‘Islamic State’ group, saying, “we don’t want the US to go to war but to provide us with military and humanitarian assistance, so our Peshmerga and civilians can defend ourselves,”

Senator Levin praised Mr Barzani’s wisdom, leadership and the culture of coexistence while reaffirming that the American people feel a great affinity with the Kurdish people. He also expressed concern over the growing number of terrorist threats against Kurdistan and its national and religious components in the Nineveh province and assured of continued support from the US government.

Mr Barzani said there has been a “10-year siege” by the Iraqi government on the Peshmerga forces which, contrary to agreements, denied the necessary military training and sophisticated weaponry while stressing in spite of such issues, the region will not give up the domain in any form of terrorism and will “defeat it will all our strength,”

On the situation of internally displaced people (IDP), Mr Barzani said there are secure areas where they currently inhabit, indicating there are safeguarded areas beyond the Kurdistan region.

The meeting concluded with both sides emphasising bilateral relations and discussed the political process in Iraq.