Amb. Jeffrey to Barzani: Kurdistan one of success stories in the Middle East
Barzani, who is also President of the leading Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), received the delegates in Erbil.
The US delegation consisted of officials from the State and Defense Departments. It was headed by Amb. James Jeffrey, US Special Representative for Syria Engagement and Special Presidential Envoy for the Defeat-ISIS Coalition, and included Joel Rayburn, the State Department’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Levant Affairs and Special Envoy for Syria.
Barzani and Jeffrey spoke about the latest political developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, as well as the military progress against the Islamic State and the general situation in Syria, according to a statement from Barzani’s press office.
The Kurdish leader “expressed his gratitude to the people and government of the US for their continuous support to the autonomous Kurdistan Region,” adding that “the war against ISIS would have been far costlier in terms of human lives and resources, had it not been for the intervention of the US-led coalition.”
“Ambassador Jeffrey explained that US support for the Kurdistan Region has proven a successful endeavor.” Indeed, he affirmed that “the Kurdistan Region is one of the success stories in the Middle East,” the statement from Barzani’s press office explained.
The Kurdish Peshmerga played a crucial role in containing and defeating the extremist group with support from the US-led coalition following the Islamic State’s emergence in Iraq in 2014.
Although Barzani has held no governmental posts since resigning as president of the Kurdistan Region in November 2017, he continues to play an influential role in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq more generally.
The two sides reviewed the political situation in Iraq and the improved relations between Baghdad and Erbil.
Both men expressed their optimism about a brighter future for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, following the war against the Islamic State, the statement added.
The meeting included discussion of the situation in Syria, as the parties stressed that it is imperative for all sides to find avenues that will serve the interests of the people of Syria following the end of the Islamic State caliphate.
While acknowledging that the Islamic State has suffered a significant defeat in Iraq and Syria, Barzani added that the threat it poses should continue to be “handled with caution.”
The Kurdistan Region remains a haven for 1.4 million displaced Iraqis and Syrian refugees.
Over the past year, the Islamic State has carried out various insurgent attacks, including bombings, kidnappings, assassinations, and ambushes in several areas of Iraq, despite Baghdad’s declaration of victory against the extremist group in December 2017.
The meeting comes, as the US is planning the withdrawal of its forces from Syria. On Saturday, Jeffrey met with the Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council, Masrour Barzani, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
Syria was also discussed in a meeting that Chancellor Barzani held in Erbil on Wednesday with Lt. Gen. Paul Camera, Commander of the US-led anti-ISIS coalition.
Editing by Laurie Mylroie and Karzan Sulaivany
