President Barzani meets President Obama in Baghdad

Erbil, Kurdistan - Iraq (KRG.org) – President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani yesterday met US President Barack Obama in Baghdad. This was President Obama’s first trip to Iraq since his inauguration in January 2009.

In their meeting President Barzani and President Obama discussed many issues including the latest developments in the Kurdistan Region and the overall situation in Iraq. President Barzani made clear that the Kurdistan Region remains committed to being part of the solution in Iraq and invited President Obama to visit the Kurdistan Region on a future trip.

President Barzani said, “The Kurdistan Region has always worked to be a part of the solution not the problem in Iraq. We contributed in the political process, which culminated in the creation of the Iraqi constitution. We want to emphasise our full commitment to working with all parties and abiding by the Iraqi constitution to support a democratic, federal Iraq”.

With regards to the hydrocarbon law, President Barzani said that oil contracts in the Kurdistan Region were made in a legal and transparent manner in full accordance with the Iraqi constitution, stating “Oil and gas in the country belongs to all the people of Iraq and all revenues should be shared equally.”

President Barzani noted that America played an important role in Iraq’s liberation and expressed his appreciation for the many sacrifices made by the men and women of American and coalition forces. He fully understood that America would not stay in Iraq permanently, hence the importance of continuing to work together to resolve any outstanding issues and fight terrorism, both through military and political means.

President Obama thanked President Barzani for sharing his views. He said that he was mindful of the tragic history of the Kurds, and had good impressions of the progress in the Kurdistan Region which was the result of hard work and strong leadership.

President Obama also expressed his pleasure that relations between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey have been improving, and noted that during his recent visit to Turkey he discussed those relations. At the conclusion of the meeting, President Obama noted that strict adherence to the Iraqi constitution remains the best mechanism for peace and stability in Iraq and said he looked forward to hearing from President Barzani and working closely with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to make further progress.

President Barzani was accompanied by KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani; Dr Roj Nouri Shawis, President Barzani’s Special Envoy to Baghdad; Dr Fuad Hussein, President Barzani’s Chief of Staff; and Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations.

Accompanying President Obama were Mr Rahm Emanuel, President Obama’s Chief of Staff; General James L. Jones, National Security Advisor; General Raymond Odierno, Commander of the Multi-National Forces in Iraq; and Ms Patricia Butenis, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the US Embassy in Baghdad as well as several other advisers and representatives from President Obama’s administration.