Masoud Barzani talks with Brett McGurk over future of Syria for Kurds

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Masoud Barzani, the president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), "expressed concern" about the future of Kurds in Syria during a meeting on Monday with US Special Presidential Envoy Brett McGurk in Erbil.


“President Barzani expressed his concern about the future of the Kurdish nation in Syria and explained his opinion and advice about how to resolve the problems and challenges facing the Kurdish nation in Syria,” a statement from Barzani's office read.

The meeting comes at a critical time as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have cleared much of the Hajin pocket of ISIS and are closing in on the eastern banks of the Euphrates.

The SDF's primary fighting component has been the Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) which is the armed wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD).

The KDP is the largest party in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and their powerbase in Duhok borders the PYD-controlled Northern Syrian Federation that has self-administered governance without Damascus' assistance through the conflicts.

The KDP and PYD have been unable to reach a consensus on the deployment of Peshmerga from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to northeast Syria, or Rojava as it is called by Kurds.

“In the meeting, the situation of Syria and the latest developments were discussed," added Barzani's statement.

A conflict monitor reported on Sunday that delegation of 100 Rojava Peshmerga (Kurds originally from Syria but loyal to the KDP) were unable to reach a deal with the SDF regarding bolstering security along the border with Turkey in Syria.

Turkey has repeatedly threatened an offensive into northeast Syria, with the YPG and Turkish forces reportedly digging trenches on their respective territories.

"The visiting delegation presented to President Barzani the latest political and security developments of Syria and the field conditions of the war against ISIS terrorists in Syria and their country’s strategy for Syria,” Barzani's statement added.

McGurk, Trump's envoy to the international anti-ISIS coalition, was joined by Ambassador to Iraq Douglas Silliman, US State Department advisor Ambassador William Roebuck and US Consul General to Erbil Steven Fagin.

“In the meeting, opinions on the political situation of Iraq, region, Iraqi political process, and steps to complete the formation of the new Iraqi government were exchanged,” detailed the KDP leader's statement.

Iraq still has eight unfilled cabinet positions more than six months after it held a parliamentary election.

The delegation also discussed US Energy Secretary Rick Perry's visit last week to the Kurdistan Region.

 

The KRG is continuing to form a government, following KDP's announcement of its nomination of incumbent PM Nechirvan Barzani to the presidency and head of the Kurdistan Region Security Council Masrour Barzani to the prime ministry.

 

 

McGurk also met with Nechirvan Barzani on Monday, congratulating him on his presidential nomination. 

 

 

 

Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani has not been sworn into the new parliament. He is expected to have a high-level role in the next government.

 

 

"Always a pleasure to discuss the Middle East, Iraq & developments in Kurdistan, (especially as we are forming a new government) with Brett McGurk. I stressed the need for unity & for our new government to continue reforms while focusing on job creation," tweeted Talabani.

Last updated 7.41 pm