McGurk, Barzani discuss Kurdish-Iraqi developments

ERBIL, KRI, Iraq (North Press) –  Nechirvan Barzani, the president of the Kurdish Region of Iraq (KRI), received the US National Security Council Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk on January 16. The ensuing discussion touched on intra-Kurdish issues and the situation in Iraq.

Late on Monday evening, Barzani met the US official in Erbil. The meeting was also attended by the US Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, Amos Hochstein, and the US Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski.

According to a statement released by the Presidency of Kurdistan, the discussion focused on the latest political developments in Iraq, US relations with Iraq and the KRI, Erbil-Baghdad relations, as well as possible ways to resolve differences between the latter two.

Prior to this meeting, McGurk visited Baghdad and met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.

McGurk stressed his country’s support for Iraq and the KRI, underlining its readiness to expand relations with Baghdad and Erbil, and to develop joint cooperation in all aspects, especially in the field of energy security.

A statement by the KRI Presidency stressed “the importance of working together to maintain stability in the region”.

Reporting by Hozan Zubeir