President Bafel meets with coalition forces commander for Iraq and Syria

Bafel Jalal Talabani, President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and President of Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, received Major General John W. Brennan, coalition forces commander for Iraq and Syria, and his accompanying high-level delegation.

The Minister of Peshmerga, Head of Zanyari Intelligence Agency, the Chief of Staff of the Peshmerga forces, and a number of Peshmerga commanders and officials attended the meeting which focused on the process of reforms in the Peshmerga Ministry.

The meeting discussed the latest steps on the unification of the Peshmerga forces, the existing obstacles to the process, and a US proposal regarding the unification efforts were also discussed at the meeting.

President Bafel expressed his thanks and appreciation to the American forces and the international coalition forces for their support for the Kurdistan Region in the war against the ISIS and supported the Peshmerga forces in the terms of training, armament, and the development of military capabilities.

Talabani explained that your keenness to unify and reform the Ministry of Peshmerga is a commendable and appreciated by us, we welcome any plan that is developed to unify the Peshmerga forces, but it is necessary to take into account the current conditions and the reality of today in the Kurdistan Region, and the balance is essential for the success of this national project and to put it into effect according to the Kurdistan program, and that any step taking place must be in the service of protecting the security of the Kurdistan Region.

President Nechirvan Barzani expressed the Kurdistan Region’s appreciation to the United States and its allies for their continuing support in the the fight against ISIS, and reaffirmed the support of the Kurdistan Region Presidency and the Kurdistan Regional Government for the process of reforms and unification of the Peshmarga forces.

For his part, Mr. Brennan stressed that the United States will continue to support and assist the Peshmerga to unite under the Peshmerga Ministry with a single command, and to become a skillful national force effectively executing its duties.

Discussions also covered the latest developments in the war against terrorism, the need for cooperation between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army, and the continued support of the international coalition to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.



PUKmedia