As we come to the end of 2021, it’s worth looking back at the year. We cannot think of this past year without reflecting on the visit of Pope Francis in March and his message of peace, tolerance, and reconciliation. His visit not only raised the profile of Christians but also gave heart to all ethnic and religious components and to those who promote peaceful coexistence. His Holiness’s visits to Baghdad, Mosul, Najaf, Ur, and Qaraqosh were crowned with a mass for thousands of followers at Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil. The Kurdistan Region Presidency published a book this year celebrating Kurdistan’s multi-ethnic, multi-faith heritage – A Kurdistan For All: Embracing Faith and Diversity.

A month later, in April, we marked the 30th anniversary of Operation Provide Comfort, the US-led military-humanitarian mission that saved hundreds of thousands of lives. The KRG Representation in the United States was honored to host a virtual conference on the anniversary with H.E. President Masoud Barzani, former US Secretary of State James Baker, former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Hoshyar Zebari, retired American military leaders who implemented the operation, and American officials from the White House and Department of Defense. All participants noted the success and legacy of this remarkable mission. General James Jones reflects on his role in the operation in our Kurdistan in America podcast this month.

In the same week, the conference was supplemented with the introduction of the joint House Congressional Resolution (H.Con.Res.32), Commemorating the anniversary of Operation Provide Comfort. The KRG Representation has worked with members in the Senate and the House over the past year to explain the necessity of maintaining the US Kurdistan strategic partnership and continuing to support the peshmerga forces.

In July, the second round of the US Iraq Strategic Dialogue took place in Washington where several areas of cooperation were discussed. It was agreed that US combat forces would leave Iraq by the end of the year as the mission moves to stabilization, advising and assisting Iraqi forces and the peshmerga to fight ISIS.

The KRG remains committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS and appreciates the continued support that the Coalition, especially the United States, is providing.

Early elections to the Iraqi parliament were held in October and the results were ratified this week. The elections saw a low turnout across the country, including Kurdistan, which should be a cause for reflection for every political party and player. Now that the results have been finalized, the process of the new parliament electing the president, prime minister and speaker of parliament begins. 

Despite limitations imposed by the pandemic, Kurdistan Region’s leaders had high level meetings overseas this year and broadened Kurdistan’s bilateral ties. President Nechirvan Barzani travelled to Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Qatar, France, and the United Kingdom where he met with the heads of state and prime ministers of those countries. 

Likewise, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani was received by the prime ministers of Belgium, Greece, and Bahrain. While participating in the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, Prime Minister Barzani held meetings with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Brett McGurk, the White House Coordinator for the Middle East, and North Africa. 

The Kurdistan Region also hosted high level officials and dignitaries from neighboring countries and across the globe. Most notably, we were honored to welcome French President Emmanuel Macron to Erbil in August. 

We also saw great sadness, tragedies, and calamites in 2021. The Covid-19 pandemic impacted families across Kurdistan and Iraq, some of whom lost loved ones. In June, thousands of Yazidis, who already faced trauma and loss, were left homeless after fire broke out in the Sharya displacement camp. This month, several peshmerga and civilians were killed after coming under attack by ISIS terrorists. In Erbil, we faced severe flooding which killed 12 people and wrecked about 3,000 homes and businesses. During this time, the bodies of 16 Kurds who were among the migrants that drowned in the English Channel, were returned to Kurdistan. These events have left the people of Kurdistan and the diaspora shocked and saddened. Our condolences to the families of all who were affected by these tragedies.

We hope that the new year will bring peace and comfort to anyone who has lost a loved one in 2021 and that it will bring joy, prosperity, and good health to all. We look forward to growing the US Kurdistan partnership in 2022.

Representative to the United States

Kurdistan Regional Government

In an interview with Rudaw, James Franklin Jeffrey, former US ambassador to Iraq, reaffirmed America’s support to the country. He states that the United States has interests in helping Iraq to defend its sovereignty and security against enemies, starting with the Islamic State. He also discusses Iraqi government formation following the ratification of the October 10 election results. Ambassador Jeffrey also discusses the situation in Rojava and US-Iran rapprochement on the JCPOA.

This documentary sheds light on the water crisis in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Dams across the Kurdistan Region are operating significantly below their capacity, directors of two of the largest dams told Rudaw on Tuesday, as a combination of this summer’s lack of rain and water blockages from neighboring countries contribute to plummeting water levels.