Fagan Affirms Iraq's Security a Collective Threat, US Supports Stable Iraq

Stephen Fagan, the Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, affirmed on Monday that any threat to Iraq's security constitutes a threat to everyone. This assertion came during his reception by Masoud Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, in Piramam, according to a statement issued by Barzani's office. During the meeting, Fagan expressed his pleasure at returning to Iraq for a new mission and visiting the Kurdistan Region, emphasizing his determination to maintain the pace of work and provide further support. He underscored the United States' support for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to protect security, stability, and economic development. Fagan stressed the importance of coordination among parties to preserve Iraq's sovereignty and strengthen its relations with regional countries and the international community. Fagan clarified that Iraq, in parallel with the Kurdistan Region, can play an effective role in this regard, noting the U.S. support for an Iraq free from armed militias outside government authority. This, he added, would create an opportunity to achieve political and economic stability. For his part, Masoud Barzani affirmed that the Kurdistan Region will always remain a factor of stability. He highlighted support for the Iraqi Prime Minister's efforts to consolidate stability, uphold the Iraqi constitution, combat terrorism, and persist in fighting corruption. Regarding the regional situation, Barzani emphasized that peace is always better than war, dialogue is superior to confrontation, and understanding is more beneficial than conflict and chaos, asserting that the Kurdistan Region consistently represents part of the solution and has never been part of the ongoing regional crises.