Washington, USA (KRP.org) – President Barzani concluded his official visit to Washington, DC, after a week of meetings with the President and Vice President of the United States, other top US administration officials, business leaders, academics, the media and members of the Kurdish community.

In his meetings at the White House, President Barzani discussed political developments in Iraq and expressed his concerns about the current political crisis that has engulfed the country. He described his discussions as constructive and encouraging.

“The most important point is that both President Obama and Vice President Biden reaffirmed that the United States is committed to its close and historic relationship with Kurdistan and the Kurdish people, and also reaffirmed support for a federal, democratic and unified Iraq,” said President Barzani.

The President also met top State and Defense department officials, where they discussed bilateral relations and security challenges facing Iraq as well as agreeing on ways to broaden the services provided by the US Consulate in Erbil.

Speaking to a dignified audience at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, President Barzani provided an outlook on the current political and security challenges facing Iraq and the wider region. He also said that if a solution to the increasing centralization of power in the Iraqi Prime Minister's hands cannot be negotiated, the prospects for stability and progress in Iraq will be bleak. Following his remarks, President Barzani took questions from the audience on a wide range of issues, from oil to the crisis in neighboring Syria to his call for the PKK to abandon violence and seek a peaceful resolution with Turkey.   Link To Speech

As part of the President's outreach to the US business community President Barzani participated in a roundtable board meeting of the US-Kurdistan Business Council, an organization established to promote trade and business between the US and Kurdistan. Furthermore, the President was received by the President of the US Chamber of Commerce where he highlighted the stable and secure business and investment climate in Kurdistan and encouraged more US businesses to participate in Kurdistan's remarkable growth.

During his visit, President Barzani also met with the Chairman, President and CEO of Exxon Mobil, Rex Tillerson. The Exxon Mobil chief reaffirmed what he had previously stated publicly that the company will continue its operations in the Kurdistan Region. The oil major signed a contract with the KRG last year to explore six fields in Kurdistan. Despite speculations to the contrary, Mr. Tillerson said that Exxon Mobil is committed to the contracts it has signed with both the Iraqi government and with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

The President concluded his visit by meeting with the Kurdish community in the Washington area. President Barzani left Washington for Budapest, where he will meet the President and Prime Minister of Hungary.