U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller met with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani yesterday in Erbil. They discussed the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Dialogue, KRG’s ongoing budget negotiations with Baghdad, relations between Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s political parties, and the importance of press freedom. They also discussed the security situation in the western provinces and the importance of ensuring a safe and secure environment for the continued return of the Yezidi population to Sinjar. The U.S. continues to support a strong Kurdistan region within federal Iraq.