Tuesday, September 7th 2010 Barzani meets new US commander and ambassador
Erbil, The President of Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani, met on Monday with the newly appointed commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, General Lloyd James Austin III, according to the website of the Kurdistan Region’s Presidency.
The commander was accompanied by James Jeffery, the new U.S. ambassador to Iraq as well as a delegation.
In the meeting Barzani commended the role of the former U.S. forces Commander in Iraq, General Raymond Odierno as well as Christopher Hill, the former U.S. ambassador to the country.
Barzani described Odierno and Hill as "friends" while expressing his happiness over the appointment of the two officials.
For his part, Gen. Austin appreciated the warm welcome by the president and underlined that he would do his best to build up the ties between Iraq and the U.S.
During the meeting, obstacles for forming the new Iraqi government as well as the general situation in the country after the withdrawal of the U.S. combat forces were discussed. The two parties also emphasized that all the wining blocs should contribute to the structure of the new Iraqi administration.
The U.S. commander and ambassador explained the attitude of their country towards Iraq and its future, stressing that the U.S. supports a political democratic process in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
Seven months after Iraq’s parliamentary elections, the country’s political forces have not formed a government yet as a result of the deep disagreements over the top three state positions.
The last U.S. combat brigade left Iraq in August. However, a residual force of less than 50 thousand troops will stay in the country until the end of 2011 to train and advise the Iraqi security forces.
http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/179791/
