President Nechirvan Barzani received a high-level Iraqi military and security delegation led by General Abdul Amir Rashid, Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army. The delegation included the Iraqi Chiefs of the Infantry, Air Force, Border Guards, Federal Police, Intelligence, Military Intelligence and Joint Operations, as well as a number of other military and security officials.

At the meeting, the delegation commended the recent changes in the Ministry of Peshmerga of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and wished success for the commanders and officers who took up positions in the Ministry.

The delegation stressed that their visit is part of the program of cooperation and coordination with the Peshmerga forces, and expressed their readiness to further promote cooperative relations of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense with the Ministry of Peshmerga and the KRG’s relevant institutions.

For his part, President Nechirvan Barzani expressed his appreciation and stressed that the delegation’s visit is a strong message of support and cooperation. The President hoped that the Peshmerga are viewed as part of the Iraqi defense system who work for shared objectives, which is to protect the country and to ensure stability.

Discussions also covered the threat and movements of ISIS, especially in the areas with difficult terrains and in the border areas with Syria. The two sides stressed the importance of cooperation and coordination between the army and the Peshmerga with the support from the international coalition to eradicate ISIS.