Kurdistan presidency delegation holds meetings with US officials, senators in Washington

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A top delegation from the Kurdistan Region Presidency arrived in Washington earlier this week, holding several meetings with American officials, representatives and senators. US partnership with the Region was among issues discussed. 

The delegation, led by Chief of staff at the Kurdistan Region Presidency Fawzi Hariri, met with US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander on Monday. 

“They highlighted the need for ongoing cooperation, in-line with US-Iraq security efforts, to ensure ISIS's lasting defeat and to enhance regional peace & stability,” the Kurdistan Region Presidency said in a post on X at the time. 

On the same day, the delegation paid a “courtesy visit” to the Iraqi embassy in Washington and “had a productive meeting with Ambassador Nazar Khairullah,” said the Presidency in another post. 

The Kurdish delegation also includes Falah Mustafa, Special Assistant to the President of Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani for Foreign Policy Affairs, and Niyaz Salih Barzani, Head of Foreign Affairs & Diplomacy at the Kurdistan Region Presidency.

On Tuesday, the delegation held meetings with representatives Mike Rogers, Adam Smith, Mike Walts and Jim Baird. 

“The delegation thanked Congress for ongoing support for the KRI,” said the Kurdistan Region Presidency in a post on X. 

On Wednesday, on the second day in the Congress, the Kurdish delegation held meetings with senators Bill Hagerty and Ted Budd and Representative Mike Turner. 

They discussed “issues of mutual interest” with three of them, the Presidency said.

The delegation on Thursday met with four US senators Joe Manchin, Chris Van Hollen, Joni Ernst and Markwayne Mullin, “sharing views on the US partnership with Iraq & #Kurdistan.”

“The delegation expressed gratitude to the senators for their support & friendship,” said the Presidency in a post on X.