Washington DC, US (KRG.org) – Dr Fuad Hussein, Chief of Staff to the President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani, Mr Falah Mustafa Bakir, Minister and Head of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Department of Foreign Relations, and Mr Qubad Talabani the KRG’s Representative to the US, met with senior US officials in a series of meetings and events in the latest step to further strengthen the relationship between the Kurdistan Region and the Obama administration.

The extended trip to Washington followed the meeting between President Obama and President Barzani in Baghdad earlier this month and was aimed at continuing the exchange of ideas on how best to build on Iraqi Kurdistan’s democratic foundation while addressing the still unresolved political issues in Iraq.

“We are grateful to our friends in the Obama administration for their determination to keep our friendship alive and strong, as well as for their continued dialogue with us on how we can work together to build a federal and democratic Iraq that abides by, and respects its democratically ratified constitution” Dr Hussein said.

The discussions, at the National Security Council, the State Department and the Defense Department, focused on the need to resolve Iraq’s outstanding political issues, including the resolution of the disputed territories in accordance with Article 140 of Iraq’s permanent constitution, enactment of a constitutionally regulated national hydrocarbons law and the upcoming elections in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The KRG officials also detailed the progress in building upon the foundation of democracy, including the mechanisms that will produce a record number of women elected to the Parliament of the Kurdistan Region. The Kurdistan Regional Government is proud of the progress made thus far in continuing to nurture the democratisation of the Region; last October, the Kurdistan Parliament passed one of the most liberal press laws in the Middle East.

“To come to Washington and meet with US officials, who are as determined as we are to make sure the freedoms we enjoy remain strong is reassuring to all of us” Mr Bakir said. “We know what we must do to continue to build on our democratic progress and our determination is made stronger knowing our allies will be there in support.”

The delegation also took part in a two-day forum, sponsored by The Atlantic Council, in which participants discussed the progress made on all aspects of the relationship between Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan, including the need for all involved to build on that progress.

The delegation from the Kurdistan Region met scholars at the Center for American Progress, a Washington DC based think tank and spoke to the US national media. They participated in the 3rd annual conference of the Kurdish American Youth Organisation in San Diego, California, meeting representatives from San Diego’s Kurdish community.