The Sharaa welcomes the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq for the first time in Damascus and discusses cooperation and coordination with him

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa received the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Nechirvan Barzani, in a visit that marks the first since the overthrow of the ousted regime. During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation and coordination, particularly in the economic sector, as well as the latest developments in the region and a number of issues of mutual interest, in a manner that contributes to supporting security and stability and strengthening regional cooperation, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

Syrian state media reported that the visit aimed to embody the continuous communication between the two sides and to explore ways and prospects for developing and elevating bilateral relations in a manner that serves the shared interests of both parties.

Barzani said on the X platform yesterday: “I was pleased to visit Damascus, in response to a gracious invitation from His Excellency President Ahmad al-Sharaa. After years of suffering, Syria today stands before a historic opportunity for recovery, reconstruction, and prosperity. I have expressed my confidence in President al-Sharaa’s vision and my belief that Syria, under his leadership, is capable of moving toward greater stability and prosperity and a brighter future for all its citizens.”

He added: “I reaffirmed our support for a stable and united Syria, in which the rights of all national and religious components are safeguarded. We also discussed the importance of Syria’s role in enhancing peace, security, and stability in the region.”

Barzani noted that Syria, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region share numerous common interests, and that there are significant opportunities to expand economic cooperation to achieve mutual benefits for all.

A Syrian government source, who requested anonymity, told the French news agency AFP that the visit aims to discuss the “January 29 agreement” and procedures for integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the Syrian government.

A Syrian diplomatic source told the agency that the visit would primarily focus on following up on the agreement between the state and the SDF, and suggested that Barzani would meet with its commander, Mazloum Abdi.

Barzani had previously welcomed the agreement between Damascus and the Kurdish forces, describing it as “an important step in the right direction.” He expressed hope at the time that it would “pave the way for rebuilding a united Syria, protecting the rights of Kurds and all components in the upcoming constitution, and achieving peace for Syria and the entire region.”

President Ahmad al-Sharaa had previously met with Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and the accompanying delegation on April 17 on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey.