Kurdistan Region, US sign a memorandum of understanding
The Kurdistan Region and the United States signed on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding to assist Peshmerga forces.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Region and the United States signed on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding to assist Peshmerga forces.
With the presence of the Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, a military memorandum of understanding was signed by Elissa Slotkin, the Acting Assistant of the Secretary of Defense of International Security Affairs, and Karim Sinjari Acting Minister of Peshmerga Affairs.
According to a statement released on the Kurdistan Region Presidency (KRP) website, “the memorandum makes references to military and financial support to the Peshmerga forces and also to some of the details of the Mosul operation.”
The statement added that “Barzani met with the US military delegation headed by Slotkin, and the meeting was followed by a telephone conversation between President Barzani and Ashton Carter, the US Secretary of Defense.”
“Barzani and Slotkin discussed the liberation of Mosul and the status of the preparations and readiness from the US, Iraqi and Kurdistan Region perspectives,” the statement continued.
“President Barzani focused on the importance and urgency of the liberation of Mosul and…the extreme importance of planning for post-liberation of Mosul,” the KRP report stated.
Slotkin took the opportunity to praise the role of Peshmerga in the fight against the Islamic State (IS).
She also made it clear that the memorandum of understanding is an indicator of continuous cooperation and solid friendship between the US and Peshmerga forces.
Following the signing, Omed Sabah, the KRP spokesperson held a press conference.
“This memorandum of understanding is the product of two years of work between the Peshmerga forces and the coalition,” Sabah said.
He also revealed that there was an important meeting in December 2015 between Barzani and Carter that stressed the preparation of the memorandum towards a strategic vision.
“This memorandum of understanding stressed on how to work with all forces fighting against [IS] in the Mosul operation,” he added.
“Memorandum of understanding underscores important role of Peshmerga in defeating IS and symbolizes growing partnership between the Kurdistan Region and United States,” Bayan Sami Abdularahman, the KRG Representative in the US, wrote on Twitter.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany