On Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski encouraged all Kurdish political parties to swiftly form a government following the October 20 Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections, which saw voter turnout of over 72%.
“I met with President Nechirvan Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to congratulate them on the successful election,” she posted on X. “I encourage all political parties to form a government without delay. We commend the people of the Kurdistan Region for their commitment to democracy.”
I met with President Nechirvan Barzani and PM Masrour Barzani to congratulate them on the successful IKR election. I encourage all political parties to form a government without delay. We commend the people of the IKR for their commitment to democracy.
— Ambassador Alina L. Romanowski (@USAmbIraq) October 29, 2024
The Prime Minister’s office in a readout said that Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani discussed the recent Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections and their results with Ambassador Romanowski.
Ambassador Romanowski congratulated Prime Minister Barzani on the success of the elections and highlighted the orderly and peaceful manner in which they were conducted, with a high turnout of voters.
During the meeting, they also both agreed on the importance of starting the procedures to form a new government.
Prime Minister @masrourbarzani met with Alina Romanowski, the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq. They discussed the recent Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections and their results.https://t.co/OfynMTp33q
— Kurdistan Regional Government (@Kurdistan) October 29, 2024
During the two-day MERI Forum, Prime Minister Barzani stated that he hopes everyone will accept the outcome of the elections despite any concerns. “The election process was supervised by the international community, ensuring a very transparent election. Everyone should respect the will of the people and their votes."
In a separate meeting, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also discussed the results of the Kurdistan parliamentary elections with Ambassador Romanowski.
The Kurdistan Region Presidency in a readout stated that both officials highlighted the importance of cooperation among political groups to form a government.
Moreover, they also discussed the relationship between Erbil and Baghdad, expressed appreciation for the ongoing dialogue aimed at finding mutual understanding, and concurred that resolving the issues between Erbil and Baghdad would enhance the overall stability of the country.
Additionally, they discussed the current instability in the Middle East and “reiterated the importance of Iraq remaining detached from regional conflicts and issues.”
Today at #MERIForum, I outlined the KRG’s future: a new government focused on citizen satisfaction, service delivery and strong institutions.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) October 29, 2024
That should be a common agenda. pic.twitter.com/rcABOTQKde
