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Kurdistan Regional Government
Representation in the United States Washington D.C.
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Welcome to our September 2022 Newsletter | |
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The news from Kurdistan and elsewhere in Iraq over the past few days illustrates not only the exceptional pressure that we are under but also our resilience.
Unprecedented attack
The Kurdistan Region was targeted in a swarm attack of missiles and drones from Iran, which injured more than 50 and killed at least 13 people, including an American citizen. The unprecedented attack was launched in apparent retaliation for the protests inside Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) blamed Iranian-Kurdish groups in Iraqi Kurdistan for the eruption of protests across Iran since the death of Jina Mahsa Amini while in police custody.
The attack on Iraqi Kurdistan was condemned by Kurdish leaders, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and friends of Iraq in Washington and other capitals as a breach of Iraqi sovereignty and an atrocity.
Many other Iraqi leaders, however, have been silent.
Struggle to advance political process
Perhaps they have been distracted by renewed efforts at government formation. One year after Iraq’s elections in October 2021, political leaders have yet to agree to a coalition government, with the constitution at times being ignored or trampled on. Tomorrow, October 1, protests are expected by supporters of the October 2019 demonstrations against corruption and systemic state failure and by supporters of Shia leader Muqtada Sadr.
Hoshyar Zebari, former Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq, provides a sharp and comprehensive analysis of the Iranian bombardment of Kurdistan and the struggle to advance the political process in Baghdad in an interview with Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The video of their discussion is available below.
Pentagon-Peshmerga MOU
A very positive development this month was the renewal of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs and the US Department of Defense.
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The signing ceremony took place in Erbil under the auspices of President Nechirvan Barzani and has been praised as an important step in the US-Kurdistan partnership and the enduring defeat of ISIS.
High-level engagement
Other positive signs of the partnership are the exchange of high-level visits. US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander attended the MOU signing ceremony and was received by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani.
General Matthew McFarlane, Commander of the Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, also visited Kurdistan and met with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Peshmerga Affairs.
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf also visited Erbil this month and made strong statements on the oil and gas dispute fueled by the Iraqi Ministry of Oil against the KRG and international oil exploration and services companies. The statements were timely and important in making clear that these unnecessary provocations harm not only the Kurdistan Region but all of Iraq.
Higher Education Minister
Fortunately, Kurdistan’s relations with the United States are getting broader every day. Dr. Aram Qadir, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, is in Washington DC this week for meetings with the Department of Education, Department of State, and various educational institutions. Minister Qadir and his delegation are here to discuss the Kurdistan Regional Government’s commitment to developing higher standards for the Region’s academic institutions and bringing best practices to the education system.
International Day of Sign Languages
I was honored to celebrate the International Day of Sign Languages with world leaders by participating in the World Federation of the Deaf’s ‘Global Leaders Challenge.’
I joined Kurdish Deaf leaders in the Kurdistan Region and the United States in releasing a video on social media in Kurdish Sign Language (Zmani Hêmay Kurdi - ZHK) stating, ‘Sign languages unite us.’
You can read more about these and other developments in our newsletter below and catch up with our monthly podcast, Kurdistan in America.
Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman
Representative to the United States
Kurdistan Regional Government
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Representative Abdul Rahman attends the signing of MOU between Peshmerga Ministry and Pentagon
Representative Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman attended the signing ceremony on September 21, 2022, for the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry...
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KRG Representative welcomes delegation led by Minister of Higher Education
Representative Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman welcomed Dr. Aram Mohammed Qadir, KRG Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and...
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Minister Dr. Aram Qadir meets officials at the departments of State and Education
Dr. Aram Mohammed Qadir, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, met with the US State Department, Department of Education, and visited the...
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KRG envoy joins world leaders to recognize the International Day of Sign Languages
Representative Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman celebrated the International Day of Sign Languages with world leaders by participating in the World Federation of...
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KRG team welcomes Hoshyar Zebari, former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister
The Kurdistan Regional Government Representation welcomed His Excellency Hoshyar Zebari, former Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and...
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The Kurdistan in America podcast is honored to have Dr. Lori Mason as its guest in the ninth episode of Season Three.
Dr. Lori Mason is a Senior Technical Expert for IREX, a global development and education organization. She has over twenty years of experience leading a wide range of education programming, with nearly a decade in the Kurdistan Region.
Dr. Mason has designed programs to improve the overall relevance of higher education, institutionalizing changes within the current system and providing high-level guidance and support to the KRG's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in broad-level change. She has also helped facilitate collaboration between the U.S. government, KRG's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and U.S. university partners.
The discussion is about IREX's programs in the Kurdistan Region, the education reform initiative by the KRG, her personal life story, and her experience in Kurdistan.
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A statement from the President of the Kurdistan Region regarding the Sept. 28 drone attack in Koya
We condemn the bombing of the Kurdistan Region by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s forces on several targets and the casualties among civilians as we categorically reject the repetition of these attacks. The Kurdistan Region’s position is clear that it will not allow any security threat to the neighboring countries from its borders...
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Joint Statement on the Renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Defense and the Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs
On September 21, 2022, Assistant Secretary of Defense Celeste Wallander and Kurdistan Regional Government Minister of Peshmerga Affairs Shoresh Ismail Abdulla signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Department of Defense and the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs to continue support to...
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President Nechirvan Barzani attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
On the second day of his visit, President Nechirvan Barzani joined dignitaries and leaders from around the world to attend the state funeral service of the late Queen Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey in London, UK, on Monday.
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President Nechirvan Barzani meets with US Assistant Secretary of State
President Nechirvan Barzani received the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Mrs. Barbara Leaf, and her accompanying delegation in Erbil.
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PM Masrour Barzani meets US Assistant Secretary of Defense | Prime Minister Barzani and Assistant Secretary Wallander discussed the Memorandum of Understanding - to be signed today - concerning the continuation of US support to Peshmerga forces between the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs and the US Department of Defense. | | | |
PM Masrour Barzani meets Commander of US CENTCOM | Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday met with Lt. General Michael Kurilla, the Commander of the US Central Command. | | | |
PM Masrour Barzani meets Commander General of Coalition Forces | Prime Minister Masrour Barzani today met with Major General Matthew McFarlane, the Commanding General of Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria. | | | |
PM Masrour Barzani sets foundation stone for several projects in Zakho | Prime Minister Masrour Barzani today set the foundation stone for numerous projects budgeted at over 26 billion Dinars in the Zakho Autonomous Administration. The projects include the construction of several highways and schools, as well as the renovation of Zakho's old bazaar. | | | |
PM Masrour Barzani inaugurates new highway in Soran Autonomous Administration | Prime Minister Masrour Barzani today inaugurated the new Spilk-Khalifan highway in the Soran Autonomous Administration. The 8.5km highway has been implemented at a cost of 64.2 billion Iraqi Dinars. | | | |
Deputy PM Qubad Talabani meets with US Assistant Secretary of Defense | Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani today met with Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Celeste A. Wallander, US Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski, and US Consul General in Erbil, Irvin Hicks Jr. to discuss the security partnership between the US and the Kurdistan Region. | | | |
Deputy PM Qubad Talabani directs Ministries to fight violence against women | Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani on Monday visited the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of the Interior to discuss ways to prevent violence against women. | | | |
Deputy PM Talabani meets with US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs | Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani on Wednesday met with the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Barbara Leaf, and the US Ambassador to Iraq, Elina Romanowski, to discuss recent political developments in Iraq and disputes between Erbil and Baghdad regarding oil and gas. | | | |
Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq meets with President Masoud Barzani | Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq on 21 September 2022 visited President Masoud Barzani in Pirmam (Salahaddin). Speaker Faiq and President Masoud Barzani discussed the drafting of the Kurdistan Constitution and preparing for a referendum on the issue. | | | |
Parliament's Media Directorate meets with US Consulate General's Public Affairs Officer Mr. Doug Morrow | The Head of Kurdistan Parliament's Media Directorate, Mr. Saman Ahmed Bakir, on 22 September 2022 with his colleagues met with Mr. Doug Morrow, the US Consulate General's Public Affairs Officer in charge of cultural, educational and media relations. Mr. Bakir was accompanied by Rozhyar Ghazi, the editor-in-chief... | | | | |
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H.E. Hoshyar Zebari, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Finance, joins Jon Alterman for a conversation on the unfolding political situation in Iraq, Erbil-Baghdad relations, and the security situation in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Mr. Alterman is the Center for Strategic International Studies' Senior Vice President, Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy, and Director, Middle East Program.
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As protests rage on, Iran carries out strikes against Kurds in Iraq
Iran carried out deadly cross-border attacks Wednesday in northern Iraq, targeting the headquarters of three Iranian Kurdish opposition parties...
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Halbousi remains parliament speaker, new deputy elected
Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament Mohammed al-Halbousi retained his position after his resignation was rejected during Wednesday’s parliament session...
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UN Refugee Agency says Iranian attacks affected refugees in Koya
"UNHCR is gravely concerned about today’s attack, which impacted the Iranian refugee settlements in Koya, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq," it said.
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Deaf people call on the government to grant them driving licenses
A number of deaf people on Friday called on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to allow them to drive vehicles. Friday was International Day...
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KRG pockets $1.5 billion in oil sales in 2nd quarter of 2022
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) profited a net amount of about $1.5 billion in crude oil sales between April and June, selling a barrel of oil...
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US shoots down Iranian drone threatening Erbil: CENTCOM
“At approximately 2:10 PM local time, US forces brought down an Iranian Mojer-6 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle headed in the direction of Erbil as it appeared as a...
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US consul general inaugurates Erbil solar panel project
The United States consul general to Erbil on Sunday inaugurated a solar panel project in the Kurdistan Region’s capital, set to provide 200KW of clean energy...
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Prime Minister Masrour Barzani receives Vatican Ambassador to Iraq
Prime Minister Barzani reiterated his commitment to maintain a culture of forgiveness and coexistence within the Kurdistan Region.
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US issues strong warning to Iran against missile, drone attacks on Kurdistan Region
State Department Spokesperson Ned Price issued a strong statement on Wednesday morning, condemning the Iranian attacks on the Kurdistan Region...
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Reforms on the way, assures Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister
In a discussion with Rudaw English, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Qubad Talabani said that enacting reforms and streamlining...
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U.S. confirms American citizen killed in rocket attack in Iraqi Kurdistan
U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel on Thursday confirmed that a U.S. citizen was killed in the Iranian rocket attack that targeted...
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Kurdistan opens data center for government services
The government of Kurdistan has opened a data center in the autonomous region of northern Iraq. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said that the facility...
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For inquiries, please contact Delovan Barwari, the Director of Public and Academic Affairs, at: delovan.barwari@us.gov.krd
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