US Secretary of State discusses political situation in Iraq with Masoud Barzani

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The United States Secretary of State on Wednesday spoke with Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani about the political developments in Iraq, a readout from the KDP leader’s office read.

According to the readout, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo contacted KDP President Barzani to discuss the political situation and recent developments in Iraq.

During the phone call, Pompeo praised Barzani’s “important” role in the Iraqi political process after the May 12 parliamentary elections, the statement said.

Barzani and Pompeo exchanged views about the recent political developments and the dialogue between parties regarding the formation of the new Iraqi government as well as the mechanism required to form the new government as soon as possible, it added.

The KDP President and US Secretary of State also reiterated the need for continued communication and consultation between the two sides.

On Thursday, the US Department of State published its readout of the call, stating Barzani and Pompeo “stressed that formation of a new Iraqi government…should proceed according to Iraq’s constitutional timeline and reflect the will of Iraqi voters.”

Pompeo emphasized Washington’s desire “to see a strong government that includes all communities and serves all of the Iraqi people,” the readout said.

The KDP won the largest share of votes among the Kurdish parties in Iraq’s May elections, according to the results issued by Iraq’s High Electoral Commission (IHEC), receiving 25 seats in the new parliament.

Unlike Pompeo’s Aug. 15 phone call with Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani which was paired with a call to Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Wednesday’s conversation was with the KDP President alone without a parallel call with an Iraqi political figure.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany