Kurdistan Regional

Kurdistan Regional (741)

Head of DFR and new Representative in Washington strengthen bilateral ties with US

Washington, DC, USA (dfr.gov.krd) - Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir , Head of the Department of Foreign Relations, and the newly appointed Representative to the United States, Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, concluded their week-long round of meetings in Washington DC by seeing officials at the White House and State Department.

The Kurdistan Regional Government delegation has been in the US capital to introduce the new Representative and to update the Administration, Congress, media and business community on developments in Kurdistan and Iraq.

Four key White House advisors met with Minister Bakir and Ms Abdul Rahman on Thursday to discuss the growing collaboration between the KRG and the US in the fight against terrorism. 'The US has long been an important, strategic ally of the people of the Kurdistan Region,' Mr Bakir told the team from both the President and Vice-President's offices. Ms Abdul Rahman said, ‘As the KRG Representative here in Washington, I will continue to build the strategic partnership between our people, on all fronts.’

Philip Gordon, a special assistant to President Barack Obama and the White House coordinator for the Middle East, welcomed Ms Abdul Rahman and said he was encouraged by the presence of the KRG office in Washington and frequent visits by Minister Bakir. He recognised and thanked the peshmerga for their dedication and sacrifices in combating the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Also at the meeting were Colin Kahl,Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor to Vice President Joe Biden; Robert Malley, Senior Director of the National Security Council; and ‎Andy Kim, Iraq Director at the National Security Council.

The two sides discussed the political progress in Baghdad under Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi ‎and the current debate in the Iraqi parliament on the budget law which for the first time allocates funds for the peshmerga as part of Iraq's defence system. They also talked about security developments as the peshmerga regain all Kurdistani territories and the continuing humanitarian crisis.

The delegation also met with senior officials on Friday at the State Department to discuss the issues of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, US support for the peshmerga, and the recent negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad.

The Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Ambassador Anne Patterson, updated the delegates on US efforts to combat ISIL and praised the peshmerga for their successes in Sinjar.

In a separate meeting at the State Department, Kelly Tallman Clements, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, expressed her concern for the 1million people displaced into the Kurdistan Region since last year who joined the 1million or so fellow Iraqis and Syrians who had been sheltering in Kurdistan before that. Minister Bakir thanked the US for its support, but said that aid from the international community needs to continue, especially through the cold winter months.

Minister Bakir and Representative Abdul Rahman also met General Jim Jones, a friend of Kurdistan since 1991 who is now chief executive of the US-Kurdistan Business Council. They discussed Kurdistan's economic recovery in 2015 and ways to expand commercial ties between the two countries.

The KRG delegation continued its introductory meetings on Capitol Hill, including with members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and House Committee on Appropriations. Speaking on the growing cooperation between KRG, US, and Iraqi forces, Senator Pat Roberts said, ‘If we are to be successful in Iraq, the Kurds will lead the way.’

These meetings came at the end of a week-long round of talks by the KRG delegation with congressmen and ‎senators who sit on key committees or are interested in Kurdistan, Iraq and the Middle East.‎ The Minister and Representative also called on the Iraqi Ambassador, Lukman Faily, met with the KRG Representation team in Washington and spoke to the media.

KRG delegation holds talks with Department of Defense and Capitol Hill

Washington DC, USA (dfr.gov.krd) - A Kurdistan Regional Government delegation held meetings with the Department of Defense, congressmen and‎ senators in Washington DC on Thursday to discuss the latest developments in the fight against ISIL and the humanitarian crisis in Kurdistan.

In a key meeting with Lisa Kenna, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy, and her colleagues at the Department of Defense, Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations, said, ‘The peshmerga are a competent, coherent force and they have retaken almost all the territory lost to the terrorists in the summer. The peshmerga are the boots on the ground and are winning thanks to the help of the US and coalition airstrikes‎. We need your support for the long term to turn the peshmerga into a national force.'

Since August, the US has conducted over 1,600 of airstrikes targeting the Islamic State in in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Minister Bakir also introduced Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, the new KRG Representative to the United States, who thanked the Pentagon for its timely and critical assistance. Minister Bakir was in Washington ‎to introduce the Representative and to update the Administration and Congress on the political, humanitarian and security situation in Kurdistan and Iraq.
The KRG delegation repeated its request for heavy, advanced weapons ‎as well as equipment to counter mines and unexploded devices, and training for the peshmerga.

The delegation also held a meeting with the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce. In December, Chairman Royce introduced a bill that would allow the US to directly arm and train Kurdish peshmerga forces. The Congressman told the delegation, ‘We are working to get the peshmerga the tools they need to defeat ISIL,' he said.
Although the Congressman’s bill has not been voted on, Congress has passed other measures to bring defence equipment to the peshmerga, including the Iraq Train and Equip Fund which passed as part of the National Defence Authorisation Act.

Mr Bakir and Ms Abdul Rahman also talked with Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and ‎Congressman Adam Kinzinger, both of whom are on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

At the Senate, the KRG delegation‎ spoke to Jim Inhofe, senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee who also supports arming and training the peshmerga. 'The Kurds in Iraq have proven themselves to be fierce fighters in combatting ISIL,' he said. 'Providing them with the necessary weapons and equipment will be key to enabling them to successfully defeat this well-funded and organised terrorist organisation.'

In all its meetings, the KRG delegation also outlined the severe winter conditions now facing the internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees from Syria in Kurdistan and the particular targeting of ethnic and religious minorities by ISIL. They thanked America for its contribution towards the relief effort and asked that it continue to do so.

Minister Bakir said, 'We are pleased to have so many friends who support the development of the KRG and have shown solidarity and support in the fight against ISIL as well as support for the KRG's efforts to help the IDPs and refugees.'

There are about 2 million refugees and IDPs, stretching Kurdistan's services to the limit. These issues were highlighted in talks with Senators Ron Johnson and Pat Roberts and Congressmen Adam Smith, Kay Granger and Nita Lowey. Earlier in the week, the delegation met several congressmen and senators, including Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher‎ and Steve King, as well as the senior staff of some of the committees.

President Barzani Meets ICRC President Peter Maurer

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, in Salahaddin today.

The ICRC President briefed President Barzani about their operations in the Kurdistan, in particular their regular visits to detention centers, providing aid to the civilians in conflict zones, and their efforts to help IDPs return to their liberated towns and villages. He expressed his appreciation to the KRG for its close cooperation with ICRC local staff and hoped that this cooperation would continue.

President Barzani expressed full KRG support for the work that ICRC has been conducting in the Kurdistan Region and pledged continued support for their operations. He also reiterated KRG commitment to international humanitarian laws and welcomed ICRC’s efforts to help IDPs return to their homes.

Prime Minister Barzani visits West of Tigris and Zummar frontlines

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (KRG.org) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday visited the Peshmerga forces, fighting against the Islamic State terrorist organization, known as ISIS, on the West side of River Tigris in Sihailah and Zummar frontline.

In a meeting with the military commanders and officers of the two sectors of the front, Prime Minister Barzani was briefed and updated on the latest military developments on the front, the continuous advances of Peshmerga forces and their recent victories in repelling ISIS terrorists. He also followed up the Peshmerga forces’ needs and logistics in the battlefront.

The meeting was followed by a visit by Prime Minister Barzani to the town of Zummar, where he visited the local branch offices of both the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the only two Kurdish political parties who returned to their offices in Zummar after the liberation of the town from ISIS terrorists, earlier last month.

The Prime Minister met both parties’ officials and discussed the situation in the area, the ways to ensure the return of the displaced people to the town and the provision of basic services, particularly electricity power. The Prime Minister stressed that he will urge the relevant authorities to resolve these issues, as soon as possible, to ensure the return of all public services to the area.

Prime Minister Barzani also visited the main office of Nineveh Oil Board and the Northern Oil Company in Ain Zala, meeting the directors and supervisors of both the board and the company.

They discussed the situation in the area, the nature of the work, and the importance of protecting such infrastructure following its liberation from ISIS terrorists.

Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani visits Sinjar Mountain

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday visited the recently liberated town of Sinoun and Sheikh Sharaffadin Shrine on Sinjar Mountain.

Meeting members of the Kurdish Yezidi community in the area and commanders of the battlefront, fighting against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, known as ISIS, Prime Minister Barzani was briefed on the latest developments and the situation in the recently liberated areas, the process of the return of the displaced families to their homes and the provision of basic public services in the town. Prime Minister Barzani stressed that Kurdistan Regional Government will dispatch special teams to the area in order to assess its basic needs.

Prime Minister Barzani hailed the role of the commanders and the Yezidi Peshmerga forces for their resilience and confronting ISIS from the beginning of the attacks by this terrorist organisation.

Visiting Sheikh Sharaffadin Shrine, Prime Minister Barzani told the press, “The aim of our visit to the Shrine of Sheikh Sharaffadin and meeting these brave fighters who have been resisting for months, is first to express the KRG’s gratitude for their resilience and sacrifice in defending Sinjar Mountain; and secondly, to send a message to our beloved Yizidi sisters and brothers, that the KRG respects your community and understands your deep distress. However, thanks to God and due to the resilience and the hard work of these brave fighters this entire area has been liberated from ISIS terrorists.”

The Prime Minster pointed out that together with local administrative officials they have discussed the necessary steps to be taken in order to reconstruct and reintroduce basic public services. He said, “We hope to make all the necessary services available after the complete liberation of the town of Sinjar that would allow the return of life to the region and the displaced people to their homes.”

Regarding compensations for the region, the Prime Minister said, “The KRG committees will visit the area and we will do our best in compensating the people of the region and helping them to return to their homes.”

Regarding possible international recognition of the atrocities committed by ISIS against Yezidi Kurds in Sinjar as genocide, Prime Minister Barzani said, “For this purpose, we have formed a commission, where two KRG ministers are among the members as well as eye witnesses. We believe that what happened to the Yezidis is genocide, and the government will spare no effort in helping that the crimes committed against the Yezidi Kurds be internationally recognised as genocide.”

Regarding the advance of the Peshmerga forces towards Sinjar, Prime Minister Barzani said, “Liberating Sinjar town was not in the plan of the recent operation, started later last month. It targeted only the liberation of Sinjar Mountain, Sinoun town and the surrounding areas. Now, Peshmerga forces look at Sinjar as their next step. When the military commanders deem the time has come, the operation of complete liberation of Sinjar will be launched.”

He also reassured the Yezidi community that the KRG “continues to exert great efforts to free the Yezidi women and young girls, abducted by ISIS terrorists. However, the plans cannot be disclosed to the media.”

Sheikh Ismaiel, Yezidi religious dignitary in Sheikh Sharaffadin Shrine, considered Prime Minister Barzani’s visit to the shrine as visiting the homes of the entire Yezidi community.

He said that since the main route to the mountain has been freed, humanitarian relief starts to reach the displaced Yezidis.

He said, “Our main request will be to free the abducted Yezidi women from the hands of ISIS terrorists. We would also like to create a province for Sinjar, attached to the Kurdistan Region, and linking Sinjar’s electricity grid to Kurdistan Region, which is currently dependent on Mosul.”

Qasim Shesho, one of the Yezidi commanders who stayed in the mountain and fought against the ISIS terrorists, considered President Massoud Barzani and Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani’s visit to the region as historical.

He said, “We want to tell those who were saying that Peshmerga forces did not assume their duty in Sinjar when ISIS attacked, that it is with the Peshmarga sacrifices and blood that the route to the mountain has been freed.”

Responding to the statements reportedly calling to create an independent Region for Sinjar, Qasim Shesho said these statements are against the will and desire of the people of the town. We are and will remain part of Kurdistan, but we ask the Prime Minister to create a province for Sinjar.”

Prime Minister Barzani also met the military commanders and officers who stayed on the mountain from the early days of ISIS attacks and protected the mountain, the displaced Yezidi Kurds and the Shrine. He was briefed on the latest military developments and the Peshmerga forces military operations.

Minister Bakir and Representative Abdul Rahman call on State Department and Congress

Washington DC, USA (www.dfr.gov.krd) - Falah Mustafa Bakir, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations, called on Brett McGurk of the State Department and several senators and congressmen to introduce the new Kurdistan Regional Government Representative to the United States, Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman.

The Minister is in Washington as Ms Abdul Rahman assumes her post as Representative to update Administration officials, congressmen and the media on the peshmerga's advances against ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham)‎ and the need for heavy weapons and humanitarian aid.

The Minister ‎and Representative met Mr McGurk, who is Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs at the State Department, on Tuesday. They thanked him for his support for Kurdistan and Iraq and for the warm welcome with which he received them.

Minister Bakir said, 'We thank the United States for stepping in to assist Kurdistan in 1991, for liberating Iraq in 2003 and then for proving to be our friends again in 2014 when your air strikes boosted the morale of our people and peshmerga against ISIS.'

Ms Abdul Rahman said she looked forward to working with Mr McGurk at this critical time in the US-Kurdistan relationship when they are fighting ISIS terrorists together.

Mr McGurk agreed that the United States and Kurdistan were in a strategic partnership that benefited both sides. He and the KRG delegation discussed the military needs of the peshmerga, who are spearheading the fight against ISIS, and the humanitarian crisis in Kurdistan and Iraq. Both sides welcomed the atmosphere of cooperation between Erbil and Baghdad.

Yesterday, the KRG delegation met senior members of congress, including Senator Bob Corker who chairs the Senate Foreign ‎Relations Committee and represents Tennessee which hosts the largest Kurdish community in the United States. They discussed the situation in Kurdistan, Iraq and Syria, what further assistance the United States could provide to the peshmerga, and the protection of Iraq's minorities who have found a safe haven in Kurdistan.

Similar discussions were held with Congressman Devin Nunes, chairman of the Intelligence Committee, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Senator Tim Kaine, who sits on various committees, and Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen who heads the defence sub-committee of the Appropriations Committee.

Minister Bakir and Ms Abdul Rahman also held discussions with Congressman Gerry Connolly and separately Congressman Dana Rohrabacher who are longtime friends of Kurdistan.

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