Collected Department Releases: Secretary Pompeo's Call With Former Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Barzani
The below is attributable to Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino:
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo spoke yesterday with Masud Barzani, former President of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and current leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). The Secretary expressed appreciation for Barzani’s continued engagement as leader of the KDP and for his commitment to improving Baghdad-Erbil relations. In his conversation, the Secretary emphasized the importance of forming a KRG government that is responsive to the expectations of the people of the Iraq Kurdistan Region. Finally, the Secretary highlighted the persistent ISIS threat in Iraq and re-emphasized U.S. commitment to work with Iraq, at the invitation of its government, to ensure an enduring defeat of ISIS.