Kurdish Leader Barzani Meets US, French Officials, Stresses Constitutional Government Formation
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani met with senior American and French delegations in Pirmam on Tuesday, with discussions centered on the formation of new governments in both Baghdad and Erbil following recent elections.
In his meetings, Barzani emphasized that the next federal government of Iraq must be shaped on a strict constitutional basis and reflect the will of all Iraqis. He also confirmed that dialogue among Kurdish parties to form the next Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet is ongoing.
Barzani first received a US delegation led by Joshua Harris, the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Baghdad, and attended by Consul General Mark Stroh.
The discussions focused on the evolving political landscape in Iraq after the parliamentary elections, including the steps to form the new federal cabinet and the current state of relations between Erbil and Baghdad.
The US delegation congratulated Barzani on the election process and praised his efforts in ensuring its success, according to a readout of the meeting.
In a separate meeting, Barzani met with French Ambassador to Iraq Patrick Durel, who was accompanied by Consul General Yann Brem.
Ambassador Durel congratulated Barzani on the election results and expressed hope that talks among political forces in both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq would lead to the formation of an effective government capable of meeting citizens' expectations.
Barzani reiterated that the KDP seeks to form the new KRG cabinet through dialogue and understanding with other Kurdish political forces. The meeting also covered regional developments, security challenges, and France's long-standing role in supporting the Kurdistan Region.
The Kurdistan Region is currently engaged in negotiations to form its new regional cabinet after recent parliamentary elections. These internal discussions are taking place amid broader efforts to resolve political differences among Kurdish parties.
Simultaneously, at the federal level, Iraq is navigating its own post-election phase, with political parties negotiating the composition of the next government in Baghdad.
