ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday emphasized the strength of the “credible” alliance between the United States and the Kurdistan Region, voicing support for US President Donald Trump’s “policy of peace” and underscoring Erbil’s role in fostering regional stability and development.
PM Barzani expressed gratitude to “President Trump, the US government, this administration, and the American people for their continuous support to our people, to our [Kurdish] Peshmerga who have fought alongside the Americans against terrorism.”
“We are friends and allies - credible allies, I hope - to the United States, and we expect that our relationship will deepen and continue for our common purposes,” the Prime Minister stated, highlighting, “We share many of the values of the United States.”
PM Barzani also voiced his strong belief in President Trump’s peace policy.
“I deeply believe in President Trump’s policy for peace, stability, and economic development,” he said, adding, “We are here to seek American support to do just that in our region.”
“Now is the time to contribute to a more stable and more developed region,” the Kurdistan Region Premier added.
PM Barzani made the remarks to reporters, including Rudaw’s Diyar Kurda, on the sidelines of his meeting with US Congressman Abraham Hamadeh - one of the first Kurdish Americans elected to the US congress.
Calling the Kurdistan Region a “success story,” Hamadeh stressed the need to ensure the Region has “the tools and policies necessary to flourish,” especially in the face of upcoming challenges.
“They have my support, and they have the support of many members of Congress as well,” he underscored.
The Kurdistan Region Premier arrived in Washington on Saturday for high-level discussions focused on energy cooperation and broader regional developments, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
During the visit, PM Barzani oversaw the signing of energy and infrastructure deals valued at a combined $110 billion over their lifetimes. The agreements are part of Erbil’s larger initiative to achieve round-the-clock electricity access and a testament to “Kurdistan’s commitment to peace and progress through economic development,” the Premier noted.
The US congressman told Rudaw’s Diyar Kurda that the signing of the deals is “a positive development,” adding, “It looks like a lot of good economic development wants to go into Kurdistan, so we have to allow that to happen.”
He also commended the Kurdistan Region for its protection of minority communities as well as its own people.
“They have been a beacon of hope and stability for a very long time,” Hamadeh said. “We’ve got to make sure that their success continues.”
He further lauded the Kurdish Peshmerga for their decisive role in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), calling them a reliable partner during times of need.
“When we saw the rise of ISIS… nobody wanted to take them on - yet the Kurdish Peshmerga, they did such an effective job at rooting out terrorism,” Hamadeh underscored, vowing to do “whatever we can to make sure that society is flourishing economically.”
“We have got to make sure that the [Kurdistan] Region is protected,” the US Congressman emphasized.
