On Monday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani arrived in Damascus on an invitation from Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa for his first official visit to Syria since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.

President Nechirvan Barzani was received with two large Kurdish and Syrian flags at the Syrian Presidential Palace.

“At the invitation of President [al-Sharaa], I am pleased to have visited Damascus today,” President Nechirvan Barzani posted on X.

“After many years of hardship, Syria now has a historic opportunity to recover, rebuild, and prosper. I expressed my confidence in President al-Sharaa’s vision and my belief that, under his leadership, Syria can advance toward greater stability, prosperity, and a brighter future for all its people.

“I reaffirmed our support for a stable and united Syria, where the rights of all ethnic and religious communities are protected. We also discussed the importance of Syria playing a constructive role in advancing regional peace and security.

“As neighbors, Syria, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region share many common interests, and there is significant potential to expand economic cooperation for the benefit of all our peoples.”

Syria’s state news agency SANA reported that President Nechirvan Barzani was received by President al-Sharaa and Syria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad al-Shaibani.

According to SANA, the meeting focused on bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation and coordination, particularly in the economic sector.

The officials also discussed regional developments and issues of mutual interest, underscoring the importance of supporting security, stability, and broader regional cooperation.

The Kurdistan Region Presidency said the talks focused on Syria’s relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, prospects for joint cooperation, and the latest developments in the region.