Peshmerga ministry seeking to expand Erbil-Washington protocol: Official
Peshmerga ministry seeking to expand Erbil-Washington protocol.
Erbil (BasNews) An official from the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga Ministry stated that the latest visit of the US delegation to Erbil had a major impact on the Washington-Erbil relations.
Halgurd Hikmat, head of the Peshmerga Ministry’s Media Department, told BasNews that the aim behind the US delegation’s visit to Kurdistan Region was for the new administration to be closely enlightened about the latest developments on the ground, especially the anti-Islamic State (IS) efforts.
Regarding the protocol signed on July 12, 2016 between the US Department of Defense and Peshmerga Ministry to boost bilateral cooperation in combating IS, the official said the Ministry of Peshmerga is seeking to renew and expand the approach, noting that its time limit will end soon.
“This protocol could turn into a strategic agreement in the future, and this also needs political talks between the Kurdistan Region and the United States,” he said.
A high-level US delegation, consisting of Jared Kushner, a senior adviser to the US President, Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other military and political officials, visited Erbil on Tuesday where they met with Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani and other Kurdistan Region officials.
The US delegation ensured the Kurds of their continued support and stated that Washington is in need of a coordination with Erbil.