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Kurdistan Regional Government
Representation in the United States
Washington D.C.
Welcome to our December 2021 Newsletter 
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.

Commemorating Operation Provide Comfort

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.

Support in Congress

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.

US Iraq Strategic Dialogue

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.

Elections in October

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. 

High level visits

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. 

Tragedies 

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.

Happy and healthy new year

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.


Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman
Representative to the United States
Kurdistan Regional Government
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Kurdistan in America Podcast
The Kurdistan in America podcast is honored to have General James Jones as our guest in this special edition.

General Jones was the 32nd Commandant of the US Marine Corps, the Supreme Allied Commander for the European Command, and National Security Advisor to President Barrack Obama. He was also one of the original commanders of Operation Provide Comfort, the military-humanitarian operation that saved countless lives in Kurdistan in 1991.

General Jones shares with us his experience and insights into Operation Provide Comfort and explains why it was geo-strategically vital for the United States and not just for the people of Kurdistan. He gives his views on the US military partnership with the Peshmerga forces and lends his support for the concurrent resolution in the US Congress (H.Con.Res.32) commemorating the 30th anniversary of Operation Provide Comfort. He also speaks about his decades of service in the US military, explaining how it ultimately led him to become President Obama’s National Security Adviser.

The KRG Representation calls on the Kurdish-American community to reach out to their members of Congress to ask them to support the resolution in both the House and the Senate.
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President Barzani and PM Kadhimi stress need for cooperation

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President Barzani receives Coordination Framework delegation

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Christmas statement from PM Barzani

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PM Masrour Barzani's statement on Yazidi Holy Fasting Day

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Op-ed in Le Monde by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani

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Council of Ministers discusses how to better equip Peshmerga

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DPM Talabani meets with Head of Canadian Embassy Office

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Statement by KRG's DPM on recent ISIS attacks

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Parliament's Presidency wishes Christians a Merry Christmas

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Speaker Faiq meets with Head of Human Rights Commission

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Kurdistan in the Media
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For inquiries, please contact Delovan Barwari, the Director of Public and Humanitarian Affairs, at: delovan.barwari@us.gov.krd