“In the meeting, relations between the Kurdistan Region and US were discussed, and his Excellency Gross expressed gratitude for KRG’s assistance and facilitations in his work and activities over the past two years of his service. Gross hoped the assistance and facilitations will continue for the new consul,” a statement released by the KRG said.
“The US delegation hoped relations between the Kurdistan Region and US will be developed further in all areas. They expressed their readiness to support the political process in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
“The Kurdistan Region’s prime minister wished success for Ken Gross in his new duty and valued his work and activities during his tenure in the Kurdistan Region,” the statement added.
Gross represented the US in Erbil through a bumpy period in Kurdish-US relations. Although the US threw its support behind the Peshmerga in its fight against ISIS, many Kurds felt let down by their powerful ally when America refused to endorse the Region’s independence referendum in September 2017.
Kurds also felt abandoned when the US did not restrain Iraqi and Hashd al-Shaabi forces when they seized the disputed territories and Kirkuk on October 16.
Prime Minister Barzani “reiterated the Kurdistan Region will continue developing its relations with the US in all areas, and showed the readiness of KRG institutions to assist and facilitate things for his Excellency, the new consul”.
“Relations between Erbil and Baghdad, recent events in southern Iraq, and internal situations of the Kurdistan Region were also part of the discussion,” it added.
Incoming council general Steven Fagin is an Iran specialist – in interesting choice of candidate at a time when the Trump administration is turning up the heat on the Islamic Republic and courting groups opposed to Tehran.
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