President Barzani concludes his official visit to the United States

Washington, USA (KRG)
Washington, United States (KRG.org) – President Barzani concluded his official visit to Washington after a week of meetings with the President and Vice President of the United States, US administration officials, and other top business leaders, academics, media, and members of the Kurdish community.

During meetings at the White House, President Barzani discussed developments in Iraq and expressed his concern about the current political crisis engulfing the country, demonstrating that his discussions are constructive and encouraging.

"The most important point is that both President Obama and Vice President Biden reaffirmed the United States' commitment to its close and historic relationship with Kurdistan and the Kurdish people, and also reaffirmed their support for a federal, democratic, and unitary Iraq," President Barzani said.

The President also met with senior state officials and Department of Defense officials, where they discussed bilateral relations and the security challenges Iraq and the Kurdistan Region will face in implementing the services provided by the U.S. Consulate in Erbil.

Speaking to an audience at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, President Barzani provided an overview of the current political and security challenges facing Iraq, and specifically the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. He stated that unless a negotiated solution to the growing centralization of power in the hands of the Iraqi Prime Minister can be found, the prospects for stability and progress will be bleak. Following his remarks, President Barzani answered questions from the audience on a wide range of topics, from oil to the crisis in neighboring Syria, to his call for an end to violence against the PKK and for a peaceful solution with Turkey. (Watch a video of his speech on the Washington Institute for Near East Policy website.)

Regarding the business community, President Barzani participated in a roundtable discussion organized by the US-Kurdistan Trade Council, an organization established to promote economic and trade exchanges between the US and Kurdistan. The President also met with the President of the US Chamber of Commerce, where he emphasized the stable and secure investment and trade climate in the Kurdistan Region and encouraged American businesses to participate in Kurdistan's remarkable growth.

President Barzani also met with Exxon Mobil Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson. Exxon Mobil Chairman reiterated his public statement that the company will continue its operations in the Kurdistan Region. The oil company signed a contract with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) last year to explore six oil fields in the Kurdistan Region. Despite all the speculation, Tillerson stated that Exxon Mobil is committed to honoring the contracts signed with both the Iraqi government and the KRG.

The President concluded his visit with a meeting with the Kurdish community in the Washington area, briefing them on the latest developments in Iraq and the meetings held in Washington. He also visited the Iraqi Embassy. He left Washington for Budapest, where he will meet with the President and Prime Minister of Hungary.

President Barzani was accompanied by the Director General of the KRG Security and Protection Agency, Masrour Barzani; the Chief of Staff of the Kurdistan Regional Presidency, Dr. Fuad Hussein; the Minister of Natural Resources, Dr. Ashti Hawrami; the Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa; and the KRG Representative to the United States, Qubad Talabani.
The President was received by the Iraqi Ambassador, the KRG Representative, and officials from the State Department.