President Nechirvan Barzani chaired a meeting today in Erbil, attended by the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Mr. Masrour Barzani, the US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Ms. Celeste Wallander, the accompanying delegation, the Kurdistan Region Vice Presidents, the Kurdistan Regional Government Deputy Prime Minister, the US Ambassador to Iraq, and a number of Ministers and military advisors, in which a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Ministry of Peshmerga and the US Department of Defense.

The President delivered a speech at the meeting, in which he highlighted the heroism of the Peshmerga in the fight against terrorism and the support of the United States and its allies in defeating ISIS in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

The President also stressed the cooperation and coordination between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi army to fight the terrorist threats and thanked Mr. Mustafa Kadhimi, Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces.

In his speech, President Nechirvan Barzani stressed the commitment of the Kurdistan Region to partnership with the United States and thanked the US and friendly countries for their assistance and support in the reforms of the Ministry of Peshmerga and the process of reunification of the Peshmerga forces.

The following is a readout of President Nechirvan Barzani’s speech:

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning,
And welcome everyone,

I would like to extend a special welcome to Ms. Celeste Wallander, US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs and her accompanying delegation. You are most welcome.

I am pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Peshmerga of the Kurdistan Regional Government and the US Department of Defense. The Peshmerga Ministry and the Pentagon signed their first MOU in 2016 under the chairmanship of President Masoud Barzani.

At the time, the MOU was a pioneering effort. It assured the Peshmerga that they can continue the fight against ISIS, and created confidence in the Peshmerga that our partner and ally, the United States, will support them in the fight against terrorism.

The fight against ISIS is a source of great pride for the heroic Peshmergas who, along with friendly US soldiers and other allied troops, were able to defeat the terrorists of ISIS. In this battle, the Peshmerga proved their heroism to the whole world with their lives and blood and became a source of pride for the entire people of Kurdistan.

On this day, we pay tribute to the souls of all the heroic Peshmergas who gave their lives to protect the Kurdistan Region. We will always remember them and their sacrifices with utmost dignity.

We will never forget the support of the United States and its international allies to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and the sacrifices of their forces for freedom and defense. The people of Kurdistan Region have always appreciated the effective role and military support of the United States and its allies in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

On this day, we pay tribute to the souls of all the heroic Peshmergas who gave their lives to protect the Kurdistan Region. We will always remember them and their sacrifices with dignity.

Since 2016, the MOU between the Peshmerga Ministry and the Pentagon has been extended several times. This would not have been possible without the support of the US Congress, US administrations and governments. I would like to thank them all. We are pleased that this time, with the efforts of both sides and based on the needs of the time, a new memorandum will be signed.

The most important point of this memorandum is that both sides agree that ISIS is still a serious and real threat and that it is still a common duty of Kurdistan, Iraq, the United States and its allies, to continue the cooperation between the two sides until the final defeat of ISIS. This is not only a common goal of the Kurdistan Region, Iraq and the United States, but also a common goal of an international coalition that includes dozens of countries.

In addition, this memorandum of understanding will make it possible for our US partners to meet the needs and shortcomings of the Peshmerga and support the success of the reform process in the Ministry of Peshmerga and the unification of its units and its forces.

Here, I would like to reiterate the Kurdistan Region’s gratitude for the support and assistance of the United States and our friends in the reform process in the Ministry of Peshmerga and their efforts to reunite its forces.

I would like to assure everyone that despite all the difficulties and problems, we in the Kurdistan Regional Government are serious and committed to reunite the Peshmerga and make the process a success. We will not give up and we will continue to work on it on the political level. For this purpose, we are in constant dialogue with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

We and our friends know that the Kurdistan Region needs an organized, unified and professional national Peshmerga force. This is our clear objective and must be worked on seriously. This issue should not cause disappointment for the people of Kurdistan and friends of the Kurdistan Region.

Although ISIS is still a real threat to the Kurdistan Region, Iraq and Syria, it is not the only threat and challenge we face. There are also regional and international conflicts in the region that need to be dealt with seriously. Along with the Iraqi army, the Peshmerga, as part of the Iraqi defense system, must be strong and ready to play a role in maintaining peace and stability in the country.

With the support and assistance of our friends in the international community, there should be full cooperation and coordination between us to maintain peace and stability in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, which has a direct impact on regional peace and stability.

The Kurdistan Region is fully prepared to cooperate and coordinate to fight terrorism and security threats. Therefore, the cooperation between the Iraqi army and the Peshmerga should continue and expand.

We are grateful to the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Mr. Mustafa Kadhimi, for his efforts to strengthen the cooperation and coordination between the army and the Peshmerga.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are aware that the talks between the Ministry of Peshmerga and the Pentagon were held in a friendly atmosphere on the basis of partnership and friendship. This is a matter of joy and appreciation. This Memorandum of Understanding is important and beneficial to both sides. It will protect the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

I would like to thank the teams of both sides for preparing this memorandum. I would like to thank in particular, Dana Stroul, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East Affairs, for her efforts. We reiterate that the Kurdistan Region is committed to partnership with the United States and the international coalition to eradicate terrorism, ISIS and any other threat in the region.

Thank you all and I wish you a good day.

Welcome again and thank you very much