Kurdistan VP: Issues Between Erbil and Baghdad Must Be Resolved Through Dialogue

Kurdistan VP's Media

Kurdistan VP Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa's meeting with U.S. CG Steven Bitner.

Sheikh Jaafar Sheikh Mustafa, Vice President of the Kurdistan Region, received Steven Bitner, U.S. Consul General in the Kurdistan Region, on Monday, 21 July 2025, to discuss a range of pressing political and security matters.

The meeting covered recent developments in Iraq and the wider region, with a particular focus on the reform and unification of the Peshmerga forces, and ongoing efforts to resolve outstanding disputes between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government in Baghdad. Both sides stressed the importance of resolving these issues through dialogue and mutual understanding, in line with the Iraqi Constitution.

Vice President Sheikh Jaafar also raised concerns about the persistent threat posed by the Islamic State (ISIS), underscoring the need for enhanced coordination between the Peshmerga forces, the Iraqi Army, and international coalition partners to safeguard regional security and stability.

The two officials also discussed the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections and broader developments in Syria and the Middle East, reaffirming the importance of continued cooperation between the United States and the Kurdistan Region.



PUKMEDIA