SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) deputy prime minister, Qubad Talabani, and the White House Coordinator for Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk, met in Erbil, on Tuesday.
The deputy prime minister welcomed a high-ranking U.S. delegation and discussed Kurdistan-Baghdad relations and the internal issues and the Kurdistan Region’s position in the region, according to a press release.
The press release said that the U.S. delegation reiterated America’s support to the Kurdistan Region, stressing to continue supporting the Peshmerga forces and the reform within the Peshmerga ministry.
The U.S. delegation also hoped the Kurdistan Region political parties to address the internal issues through dialogue and negotiations
Moreover, discussions with the US.S delegations also touched up the Kurdistan Region oil and gas policy, the press release added.
“The Kurdistan Region and the Federal government must act quickly to agree on oil and gas law in order to mark the end of the years-long disputes between both sides,” the deputy prime minister said, according to the press release.
Speaking on the Kurdistan-Baghdad relations, the deputy prime minister pointed out, “The relations are in good shape at this stage,” he said, adding that “We must use this opportunity to make a durable comprehensive agreement in the oil and gas law including the budget which be in the interests of all citizens of both the Region and Iraq.”
In the meantime, in return, the U.S. delegation expressed their support to assist the Region as well as the Federal governments to reach a comprehensive agreement that is in the service of protecting the region’s security and stability.
Moreover, earlier, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) President, Bafel Talabani received McGurk and his accompanying delegation at the PUK headquarters in Erbil.
Talabani and McGurk discussed the latest political, economic, and security developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, according to Talabani’s office
“The latest political developments were discussed. The unification of efforts to better serve the people of KRI was emphasized during a productive meeting,” Talabani wrote in a tweet.
