In meetings with top Kurdish officials on August 15, Steve Bitner, the newly appointed U.S. Consul General in the Kurdistan Region, expressed strong support for the U.S.-Kurdistan Region partnership, including in the field of security.

During his first meeting in the IKR with KRG PM @masrourbarzani, CG Bitner expressed U.S. support for the strong U.S.-IKR partnership, including in the security field. They also discussed the importance of holding free and fair elections on October 20. pic.twitter.com/r7sD8ZNdHK

— U.S. Consulate General Erbil (@USCGERBIL) August 15, 2024

During his first meeting with Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, the U.S. Consulate General in Erbil in a post on X said that they discussed the importance of holding free and fair elections on October 20.

Read More: New U.S. Consul General Meets with Kurdish Officials

Moreover, Prime Minister Barzani congratulated Bitner on his appointment and wished him success in his role. He also thanked Mark Stroh, the former U.S. Consul General in the Kurdistan Region, who was present at the meeting, for his efforts in strengthening bilateral relations.

According to the Prime Minister’s office, U.S. Consul General Bitner expressed the United States’ readiness to enhance and fortify relations with the Kurdistan Region across all sectors. He underscored the Kurdistan Region’s significant role as a key partner in promoting security and stability in Iraq and the wider region.

Furthermore, U.S. Consul General Bitner referenced Prime Minister Barzani’s official visit to the United States in February of this year, noting its importance in updating senior officials on the changes and developments in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the broader area. He reportedly expressed hope that such visits would continue.

“The discussions also included preparations for the Kurdistan parliamentary elections, necessary reforms within the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, the crucial need to address issues between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government, safeguarding the constitutional rights of the Kurdish people, and the implementation of the 2020 Sinjar Agreement,” the Prime Minister’s office said.

CG Bitner was honored to meet with KDP President @Masoud_Barzani to discuss the important and lasting partnership between the U.S. and people of the IKR. pic.twitter.com/5qsnAOmA8V

— U.S. Consulate General Erbil (@USCGERBIL) August 15, 2024

U.S. Consul General Bitner also met with former Kurdistan Region President and Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani, in which he discussed “the important and lasting partnership between the United States and the people of the Kurdistan Region.”

The Barzani Headquarters said that, during the meeting, former President Barzani expressed his gratitude to the government and people of the United States for supporting the people of Kurdistan at various phases of Kurdish history.

He emphasized that U.S. support was especially important during the establishment of the safe zone in Kurdistan after the Kurdish uprising in 1991, as well as during the overthrow of the previous Ba’ath regime in Iraq in 2003 and the war against terror.

Additionally, the discussions covered the upcoming elections in the Kurdistan Region, former President Barzani’s recent visit to Baghdad, the relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Iraqi federal government, and the political situation in Iraq and the region.