ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani arrived in Damascus on Monday and met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, inviting the Syrian leader to visit the Kurdistan Region.
Barzani and his delegation were received at Damascus International Airport by Mohammed Taha Ahmed, a senior official at the Syrian foreign ministry.
Barzani was later welcomed by Sharaa at the presidential palace.
A giant Kurdistan flag was displayed at the entrance of the palace to welcome Barzani.
"During the visit, President Barzani will meet with President al-Sharaa to discuss Syria's relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, prospects for joint cooperation, and the latest developments in the region," read a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency ahead of the visit.
Both leaders discussed "ways to enhance cooperation and coordination, especially in the economic field, alongside addressing recent developments in the regional situation, and a number of issues of common interest, contributing to supporting security and stability and enhancing regional cooperation," according to Syrian presidency.
Dilshad Shahab, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region Presidency, told Rudaw's Solim Mohamadamin that Barzani invited Sharaa to visit the Kurdistan Region. Notably, Barzani's trip to Damascus came at the invitation of the Syrian leader.
The visit follows a series of high-level contacts between Erbil and Damascus over the past two years, including meetings between President Barzani and Sharaa in Antalya, as well as with senior Syrian officials on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
It also comes amid growing diplomatic engagement between the Kurdistan Region and Syria's new leadership, as well as ongoing regional security challenges following months of conflict between the United States and Iran.
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