PM Barzani meets with new US Consul General to Kurdistan

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani met with both the outgoing and incoming US Consul Generals to the Kurdistan Region on Monday.

Ken Gross, who has served in recent years as the head of the US Consulate in Erbil, is currently helping his replacement Steven Fagin get up to speed on all the ins and outs of the position.

"Prime Minister Barzani wished Mr. Gross success in his next position and he highly valued his efforts during his tenure in the Kurdistan Region," read a KRG statement released on Monday.

Discussed in the meeting were relations between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad, the recent protests in southern and central Iraq, and the internal developments in the region.

The statement continued, "The Prime Minister also welcomed the new Consul General, saying that the KRG is ready to provide him with needed assistance during his tenure," and, "also stressed that the Kurdistan Region will continue to further strengthen its relations with the United States in all fields."

On April 23, the US Ambassador to Iraq, Douglas Silliman, along with Prime Minister Barzani, laid the cornerstone for the next US Consulate in the capital of the semi-autonomous region.

Editing by John J. Catherine