ISIS continues to threaten region: McGurk and Barzani
ERBIL, KRG, Iraq (North Press) – On Wednesday, President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Nechirvan Barzani and a high-level US government delegation headed by White House Coordinator for Middle East and North Africa Affairs Brett McGurk stressed the necessity of continuing the war against ISIS, as it “continues to be a threat to the region.”
The US delegation also included US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Joey Hood, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle Eastern Affairs Dana Stroul.
According to a statement by the Presidency of the Region, the two parties stressed that ISIS still represents a serious threat and danger, and that its confrontation must continue until the group’s elimination, in addition to the need for joint work and cooperation between all to achieve security and stability in the region.
The two parties discussed Iraqi-American strategic dialogue, the importance of the Kurdistan Region’s participation in it, the relationship between Erbil and Baghdad, and the coordination between them to fight ISIS, according to the statement.
Earlier on Wednesday, the US delegation visited the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government Masrour Barzani and discussed “ways to strengthen relations between the two parties.”
A statement issued by Barzani’s office said that the delegation considered its visit as an affirmation of the president and the US government’s desire to consolidate relations with the Kurdistan Region, “as it is an important ally of the United States in the region.”
The American delegation praised, according to the statement, “the reform process initiated by the Kurdistan Regional Government, especially the reforms in the Ministry of Peshmerga.”