Kurdistan
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani (right) receives outgoing EU Ambassador to Iraq Thomas Seiler (left) in Erbil on August 24, 2025. Photo: Kurdistan Region Presidency
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met on Sunday with outgoing European Union Ambassador to Iraq, Thomas Seiler, to discuss Erbil-Baghdad relations and the broader political situation in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, as Seiler marked the end of his diplomatic tenure.
In a statement, the Kurdistan Region Presidency said President Barzani expressed “thanks and appreciation for the work and efforts” of Ambassador Seiler, especially in “advancing the European Union's relations with Iraq.”
Barzani also extended his best wishes to Seiler for success in his future endeavors and reaffirmed the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to strengthening ties and expanding cooperation with the EU.
Ambassador Seiler, for his part, thanked President Barzani and Kurdish authorities for the “support and cooperation” provided during his tenure, stressing the EU’s continued “commitment to assisting and supporting Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.”
The meeting also addressed ongoing issues in Erbil-Baghdad relations and the general political and security landscape in both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
Also on Sunday, President Barzani received US Senator Joni Ernst, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to discuss key security and political developments in the region.
The talks focused on the United States' continued support for peace and stability in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, as well as the ongoing threat posed by the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria.
Senator Ernst's visit came as part of a broader congressional tour of the region.
On Tuesday, Ernst, alongside a US congressional delegation - held meetings in Damascus with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, and Interior Minister Anas Khattab, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
The delegation included Senator Markwayne Mullin and Representatives Jason Smith and Jimmy Panetta.
A day earlier, the same delegation met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, according to Jordan’s state news agency, Petra. The Monday discussions focused on regional developments, particularly in Syria, where King Abdullah stressed the importance of supporting efforts to preserve the country's security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
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