KRG Ministry of Natural Resources

17 December 2011

Washington DC - United States of America (KRG.org) - A senior delegation from the Kurdistan Region today concluded a visit to the United States by highlighting the successes in Iraqi Kurdistan since 2003, while calling on the US government not to lose sight of the country despite the American troop withdrawal. 

The delegation consisted of Dr Fuad Hussein, Chief of Staff of Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, Dr Ashti Hawrami, the Minister of Natural Resources, Minister Falah Mustafa, the head of the Department of Foreign Relations, and Qubad Talabani, the Kurdistan Regional Government Representative to the US. 

The delegation met with senior officials from both the executive and legislative branches of the US government. The Kurdish officials held further discussions with senior State Department officials including Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman and met numerous friends in Congress including Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman as well as House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Middle East Subcommittee Chairman Steve Chabot, Congressman Allen West and many other members of the Kurdish American Congressional Caucus. 

The delegation also had timely meetings with leading U.S. corporations committed to doing business in the Kurdistan Region as well as American companies already investing in the Region and impressed upon them the KRG's commitment to Iraq's constitution. 

“Iraq's security and stability requires political leaders to implement the principles of power sharing and wealth sharing as required by the constitution. Therefore, as recently agreed with Prime Minister Maliki, the KRG is preparing to submit a draft law for revenue-sharing and management of the hydrocarbons to the Council of Representatives for their consideration,” said Minister Hawrami. 

During their discussions, the Kurdish officials shared their views and concerns and were open about the challenges that lie ahead in Iraq. They highlighted both the economic and political progress in Kurdistan and stressed that the Region’s relative safety and security has allowed it to develop and thrive, and be a positive model for other parts of Iraq. 

Reiterating the importance of the visit, Representative Talabani said, “Kurdistan is a great success story in post-war Iraq and it is important for my government to tell that story to Americans, whether in government, in Congress in academia or in the private sector."