Chairman Barzani of the Kurdish Autonomous Region in northern Iraq visited the Syrian capital Damascus on the 3rd to meet with Syrian Transitional Government President Shallah. Sources said that Barzani's visit was aimed at speeding up the integration of Syrian Kurdish armed forces into Syrian state institutions. The Syrian presidential palace issued a statement on the same day saying that the two sides discussed strengthening regional security and economic cooperation and “many matters involving the common interests of both sides.” In another statement, Barzani stressed that he supports Syria “maintaining unity and stability.”

Chairman Barzani of the Kurdish Autonomous Region in northern Iraq visited the Syrian capital Damascus on the 3rd to meet with Syrian Transitional Government President Shallah. Sources said that Barzani's visit was aimed at speeding up the integration of Syrian Kurdish armed forces into Syrian state institutions. The Syrian presidential palace issued a statement on the same day saying that the two sides discussed strengthening regional security and economic cooperation and “many matters involving the common interests of both sides.” In another statement, Barzani stressed that he supports Syria “maintaining unity and stability.”