Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (KRP.org/KRG.org) - Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani today welcomed Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General Raymond Odierno, who is visiting the Region to closely observe the state of the military operations against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, known as ISIS, and the cooperation between the Peshmerga, coalition and Iraqi forces.

General Odierno praised the bravery of the Peshmarga forces and expressed his condolences for the fallen Peshmerga fighters. He stated that the United States would continue its support for Peshmerga and Iraqi forces in the fight against ISIS terrorists, adding that it would also work to further streamline its support and coordination with the Peshmarga forces.

President Barzani said that in addition to the military solution, defeating ISIS terrorists requires also a realistic settlement of Iraq’s political and security issues.

He pointed out that the Peshmarga forces face heavily armed ISIS fighters along 1,050 kilometres of frontline. He reiterated that this terrorist organisation is a global threat for the security of all, and to defeat it a joint effort is needed.

The two sides discussed the requirements of the Peshmerga forces and ways of bolstering cooperation and coordination among the Peshmerga, the Iraqi security forces, and the coalition forces.

General Raymond Odierno was accompanied by US Ambassador to Iraq, Stuart Jones, US Consul General in Erbil, Joseph Pennington and a number of US military advisers.

The meeting was also attended by Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, Kurdistan Region National Security Chancellor, Masrour Barzani, KRG Minister of Peshmarga Affairs, Mustafa Sayid Qadir, Kurdistan Region President Chief of Staff, Dr. Fuad Hussein, KRG Spokesperson, Safeen Dizayee, Deputy Minister of Peshmarga Affairs, Anwar Haji Osman, and members of the General Command of Kurdistan Protection Forces.