Iraq: US ambassador says Kurdistan should be involved in strategic dialogue

The US Ambassador in Baghdad has said that the autonomous Kurdistan region should be involved in US-Iraqi strategic dialogue, the London-based Al-Quds Al-Araby reported on Wednesday. Matthew Tueller made the comment during a meeting with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in Erbil.

According to the Kurdistan presidency, the discussions between the two officials focused on Iraq-US strategic dialogue, the agreements between them and future relations between the two countries. They also discussed the latest developments in the Kurdistan region and Iraq, the upcoming early elections, the political process in the country, the war on terror and confronting Daesh threats, Covid-19 and the vaccination programme.

Robert Palladino, the US Consul General in Erbil, attended the meeting where Barzani referred to the strategic dialogue as an important step to support Iraq not only in areas of defence and military, but also culturally, economically and in education.

Tueller reaffirmed his country’s commitment to support Iraq and the Kurdistan region. He pledged to continue the partnership with the Iraqi army and the Kurdish Peshmerga forces because the US views Iraq as vital for regional stability.

During his visit to Erbil, Tueller also met with a group of women activists and representatives of religious groups in the Kurdistan region. The ambassador spoke about a US-sponsored programme to support young people in Iraq and the region.

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