President Barzani Meets With U.S. Commander of CENTCOM‏

Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (presidency.krd) – President Masoud Barzani yesterday received a United States government delegation headed by General Joseph Votel, the Commander of the United States Central Command.

The meeting was attended by a number of United States military personnel as well as the United States ambassador to Iraq.

Accompanying the President were a number of military officials from the Kurdistan Region as well the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council.

The meeting discussed the current political turmoil in Baghdad and both sides agreed that there needs to be a speedy solution to the crisis as that crisis has a negative effect on the ongoing war against the terrorists of the Islamic State.

President Barzani expressed his appreciation on behalf of the people of the Kurdistan Region to the United States and other allies for their military support against the terrorists. On his part General Votel expressed his satisfaction and appreciation for the cooperation and professionalism of the Peshmerga forces.

President Barzani and General Votel also discussed the anticipated liberation of Mosul from the terrorists of the Islamic State and stressed that the presence of the terrorists in Mosul, one of Iraq’s largest cities, delays all other progress in Iraq.

President Barzani reiterated his position regarding the need for planning post liberation management of the City of Mosul stressing that this step is of equal importance to the military operation to liberate the city.