“Welcoming large numbers of IDPs and refugees — who were fleeing terror — by the people and Kurdistan Regional Government, the bravery of Peshmerga in eliminating the fear and the threat of Daesh on all levels, and the military and humanitarian aid of America to the Kurdistan Region, were discussed,” read a KRG readout.
Barzani hosted Graham and US delegation including Ambassador to Iraq Douglas Silliman, Consul General Ken Gross, and Deputy Commanding General of CJTF-OIR Major General Walter Piatt.
Pleased to receive my friend and US Senator Lindsey Graham and his accompanied delegation in Erbil. Improving the already excellent ties between the Kurdistan Region and the U.S. remains a priority of my government. pic.twitter.com/hZQQLNKzI1
— Nechirvan Barzani (@PMBarzani) July 3, 2018
The Kurdistan Region continues to host more than 1.3 million IDPs and refugees registered through the Joint Crisis Coordination Centre.
The rights of the many ethnic components being sheltered in Kurdistan and facilitating their returns were discussed.
Barzani expressed "the readiness of the government for any facilitation, collaboration or cooperation" towards this regard.
The premier also met with a US delegation on Sunday to discuss religious freedoms at the recommendation of US Vice President Mike Pence, who has previously announced initiatives focused on more direct aid for minorities in the Middle East.
KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani (right) hosts a delegations of US officials including US Senator Lindsey (left) on July 3, 2018, in Erbil, Kurdistan Region. Video: Rudaw TV
The Kurdistan Region is diverse and home to Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, Turkmen, Yezidis, and other ethno-religious components who bore the brunt of the ISIS conflict in the disputed or Kurdistani areas of Nineveh, Kirkuk, Diyala, and Saladin provinces.
Peshmerga withdrew from the disputed areas after an October 16th incursion by the Iraqi Army backed by Iran-backed Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitias. Some local and displaced groups like Kakai Kurds have asked for Peshmerga to return after kidnappings, killings, and robberies.
With Erbil and Baghdad both claiming the disputed areas and Iraq yet to form its new government, there are concerns of a security and governance vacuum.
Barzani hoped for the political progress in Iraq to progress forth, announcing the readiness of the Kurdistan Region to be a participant “in a way that the rights of the Kurdish nation and all the other components be protected according to the constitution."
Regional issues were also discussed, according to the KRG. Graham and fellow Senator Jeanne Sheehan met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday, and then members of civil and military councils in Manbij, Syria, on Monday.
Graham is a member of the US Senate's committees for armed services, appropriations, and budget.
The US House of Representatives passed a Fiscal Year 2019 spending bill that included funding for the Syrian Democratic Forces and Iraqi Security Forces. Through the ISIS conflict, the US paid salaries of two brigades of KRG Peshmerga.
The spending bill and defense appropriations act will move to the senate, where amendments and changes are expected which will better indicate if and how the US is able to provide support to the Peshmerga in 2019.
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