Kurdistan region President Masoud Barzani receives US Republican delegation

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Kurdistan region President Masoud Barzani discussed the region’s current political stalemate and the position of the Peshmerga on Wednesday with a Republican congressional delegation visiting Erbil, vowing to bring back political stability for the Kurdistan region.

According to a statement issued by Barzani’s office, the republican delegates talked about the bravery, confidence and durability of the Kurdish Peshmerga and expressed their happiness to recent developments in the region.

The US delegates met Barzani in his Erbil office on Wednesday. The delegation included US Ambassador to Iraq Stuart E. Jones, Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senators Tom Cotton, Mike Rounds and Joni Ernst and US House Representative Andy Barr.

“We appreciate the US-led coalition striking ISIS, and we are happy because airstrikes have not inflicted any civilian casualties,” said Barzani according to the statement. “Our top priority is to stabilize the region, protect its elements and remove threats posed by ISIS.”

Economic crisis, human losses and high expenditures due to the fight against ISIS “have strained our financial capabilities,” added Barzani. “At the end of the day, we will overcome all the crises and can solve our political stalemates too.”

Kurdistan region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, former Iraq Deputy Prime Minister Roj Nouri, Kurdistan region presidency chief-of-staff Fuad Hussein and Falah Mustafa, the head of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s foreign relations department, accompanied Barzani in the meeting.