President Nechirvan Barzani met on Wednesday in Erbil with a high-level US diplomatic and military delegation consisting of Ms. Dana Stroul, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East; Mr. Matthew Tueller, the US Ambassador to Iraq; Mr. Matthew Trollinger, the US Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs (Middle East) of the Joint Staff, and a number of US diplomats and military officials.

During the meeting, Ms. Stroul reaffirmed the US commitment to continue supporting Iraq and the Kurdistan Region politically and militarily and also to continue expanding mutual cooperation and partnership between the two countries. Ms. Stroul expressed the United States’ appreciation for the role and sacrifices of the Peshmarga in the war against ISIS.

For his part, the President reiterated the Kurdistan Region’s gratitude to the US and the International Coalition Against ISIS for supporting Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in confronting terrorism.

Both sides agreed on the importance of Iraqi parties’ efforts to break the existing political deadlock in the country and to form a government that meets the expectations of citizens and effectively faces the current challenges. The unity and common purpose among political parties in Kurdistan and the continuation of dialogues aimed at resolving Erbil-Baghdad disputes were underlined.

The meeting affirmed that ISIS movements and attacks across Iraq and Syria are serious threats, reaffirming the importance of cooperation and coordination between the Peshmarga and the Iraqi army, with the support from the international coalition, to confront terrorism and to eliminate ISIS, which poses threats to peace and stability in Iraq and the wider region.

The meeting also highlighted the reform and unification of Peshmarga, the developments in the Kurdistan Region, the status of Shingal district and the developments in the wider region.