Erbil, Kurdistan region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani received a telephone call from US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson.
Secretary Tillerson expressed his satisfaction with the recent constructive meetings between delegations from the Kurdistan Region and the Iraqi federal government, as steps towards resolving the outstanding issues between the two sides, based on the Iraqi federal Constitution.
He expressed his country's support for the talks, and asserted that the United States attaches great importance to its relations with the Kurdistan Region.
He stressed the importance of greater coordination and cooperation between the Kurdistan Region, the Iraqi federal government and the United States in confronting any threat and violence that may reemerge in the post-ISIS era.
He expressed his support for the democratic process and the upcoming elections in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and hoped that the Kurdistan Regional Government will overcome the current challenges in the Region, for which he expressed his country’s support.
Prime Minister Barzani thanked Secretary Tillerson for his government’s support to the Kurdistan Region. He deemed it necessary that the Kurdistan Region, the Iraqi federal government and the United States elaborate a joint mechanism to confront the reemergence of any threat and violence in the future, which do not seem to be have been definitively eradicated.
Prime Minister Barzani stressed his government’s stance of favouring dialogue and negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues with Baghdad. He described the talks of the past days between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government as positive, stressing that all sides’ support is needed to make further progress in the talks.
Prime Minister Barzani emphasized that the Kurdistan Region considers Washington as its ally, and it needs the support of its friends to overcome the current challenges.
Both sides also discussed the political process in the Kurdistan Region and the upcoming elections.