KRG President Masoud Barzani Visits Top U.S. Officials
President Barzani began a successful week of high-level meetings with US officials, with a visit to the White House where he was hosted by President Obama in the Oval Office. During the meeting, President Obama reiterated US support for the Iraqi Constitution and the democratic process in Iraq, stressing that the United States would remain strongly committed to the security and prosperity of the Kurdistan Region within a federal Iraq.
During his meeting with President Obama, President Barzani highlighted the significance of Iraq’s forthcoming elections on March 7th and reaffirmed the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to a federal, democratic and pluralistic Iraq. Moreover, he emphasized the importance for a strategic and long-term US engagement with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. In response, President Obama reaffirmed strong US support for and engagement with the Kurdistan Region and lauded the contribution of the KRG to Iraq’s development.
The President also held a separate meeting with US Vice President Biden in which they discussed a number of issues including implementation of Article-140 of the Iraqi Constitution, and the obstacles in the way, as well as disagreements between Erbil and Baghdad. The two stressed the importance of participation in the political process by all sides in Iraq.
As outstanding issues remain unresolved in Iraq, President Barzani affirmed the necessity for Iraq’s constitution to be the arbiter of internal disputes, and informed President Obama that lasting stability in Iraq can be attained if and when Iraqis abide by, and implement, all the articles of the country’s constitution. He welcomed the important engagement of Vice President Biden and stated that through the deepening and broadening of the United States’ relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, there exists an opportunity to make significant progress on the many challenges facing the country.
President Barzani extended his appreciation for the United State’s sacrifices in Iraq and for its commitment to help the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to resolve the outstanding issues. He reiterated that the leadership of the Kurdistan Region stands ready to continue playing a constructive role in building a secure, constitutional and prosperous Iraq.
President Barzani also held important meetings with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as senior US Senators John McCain, Joseph Lieberman, Lindsey Graham, and John Kerry. During these meetings, Secretary of State Clinton repeated earlier assurances that the US would support a federal and autonomous Kurdistan Region in Iraq and not abandon Iraq.
In addition to these meetings, President Barzani gave an important speech at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institute, a Washington-based think tank. The talk centered on the upcoming elections in Iraq, the future U.S. role in helping Iraq, and the relationship between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad. President Barzani noted that he is very pleased with his meetings with the U.S. officials and described them as both productive and fruitful. “We have received pledges in all our meetings with US officials that they will continue their support for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region,” said the President.
President Barzani went on to state in regards to the upcoming elections that, “We are committed to the political process in Iraq and together with our partners in Iraq we are determined to overcome our problems, as long as Iraq abides by its Constitution. However, we are not prepared to live in a dictatorship.” He characterized these elections as critical for the future of Iraq.
Answering a question on the future status of Kirkuk, President Barzani said, “Kirkuk has a Kurdistani identity according to all historical and geographical records. Article-140 of the Iraqi Constitution provides the best solution to resolve the status of this city. We don’t see any alternatives to Article-140 as viable solutions to this problem and they are only attempts to evade a real and lasting solution. We want to leave this decision to the people of Kirkuk themselves, as stipulated in Article-140. Despite this, we are willing to show flexibility on power-sharing in the city, as we have in the past.”
Following a question on disputes between Erbil and Baghdad on oil and gas contracts, President Barzani said that the dispute is on revenue sharing from oil and gas sales. “We currently have a 17% share of Iraq ’s budget, which we believe is less than what the Kurdistan Region deserves. Having said this, we have agreed to this share until a fair and accurate census is held in Iraq.
The President also visited the International Institute for Strategic Studies, met with several influential journalists, and attended a reception for the Kurdish community at the Kurdistan Region Government’s office and for diplomats in Washington.
In the last day of his visit to Washington D.C., President Barzani met with a number of representatives of the Iraqi Christian community in the United States. In this round-table meeting, a number of issues of concern to the Christian community in Iraq were discussed.
During his stay in Washington D.C, President Barzani also met a number of retired US generals in which he extended his appreciation for the United States’ sacrifices in Iraq and for its commitment to help the federal government and the KRG. He restated that the leadership of the Kurdistan Region stands ready to continue playing a constructive role in building a secure, constitutional and prosperous Iraq.
President Barzani’s delegation included Nechirvan Barzani, Masrour Barzani, Director of Security and Intelligence in the Kurdistan Region, Fuad Hussein, Chief of Staff to the President, Ashti Hawrami, the KRG Natural Resources Minister, Herish Muharam, head of KRG Investment Board, Falah Mustafa, head of KRG Foreign Relations, and Qubad Talabani, KRG Representative to the USA.
Tagged in: Barzani, U.S. diplomacy, U.S.-Kurd ties
