US-Iraqi meeting discusses strategic ties

US Vice President Joe Biden discussed late on Tuesday with Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Barham Saleh the strategic relationship between the United States and Iraq.
The White House said in a statement that Biden met Saleh at the White House and they discussed "a range of regional, political and security matters, including the enduring strategic relationship between the United States and Iraq.
"Vice President Biden praised the dynamism of Iraq's Kurdish region and the historic friendship and partnership between the Kurdish and American people," added the White House.
"I genuinely believe that a democratic, federal Iraq may well represent a very viable option for the Kurds of Iraq... so far, we have proven that to be the case," Saleh told The Washington Times.

"Should Iraq be dismembered, I can say that it won't be the Kurds who will be the agents of division", he added while affirming that Kurds would not seek independence "so long as the constitution of Iraq is respected." "Undeniably, we are concerned and we must be concerned about the new face (of Iraq) in the aftermath of American redeployment from Iraq," concluded Saleh about the withdrawal of US troops from his country before the end of this year.
Source: BNA