The prime minister received a telephone call from the White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday, January 26, 2023, talked by phone with White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Brett McGurk and discussed the recent developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. He also stressed the importance of unity among Kurdish parties and improving relations between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

Masrour Barzani also discussed the recent decision by the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court to deny the payment of the Kurdistan Region’s share of the budget. The prime minister Masrour Barzani expressed his disappointment with the Court’s ruling in light of the “positive atmosphere” and improving relations between Erbil and Baghdad and described the ruling as “politically motivated” and an overreach of the Court’s authority.

The US envoy McGurk confirmed his country’s support for Peshmerga reforms, developments in the energy sector, infrastructure improvements, and combating climate change.

Moreover, they both agreed on the need to remove all obstacles to the development of the energy sector, and greater U.S. investment in the Kurdistan region. They concluded the call by agreeing to stay in close contact.