KRG U.S. Liaison Office Newsletter – June 2010
House Backs Consulate in Erbil
On May 19 the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling for the establishment of a U.S. consulate in the Kurdistan Region. Approval of this resolution – a key goal of the KRG-U.S. liaison office signals America’s continued support for the stability, prosperity and democracy of the Kurdistan Region. Four Congressmen spoke in favor of Resolution 873, which was passed with no opposition. The resolution’s sponsor Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) said, “A strong relationship with the Kurdish people serves the ideals of peace, stability and democratic governance… the Kurdish part of the country has served as a model for democracy” since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He said the establishment of a consulate in Erbil would “underscore the great friendship between the U.S. and the Kurdish people.” He called it a moral and practical resolution.
The resolution states, “The Kurds of Iraq have been willing partners with the U.S. in the democratic transition in Iraq since 2003 and the Kurdistan Region has served as a model of Iraq’s democratization since Operation Iraqi Freedom. The establishment of a U.S. consulate in the Kurdistan Region will demonstrate a U.S. commitment to maintaining and building upon the success and stability of this prosperous and democratic Iraqi region.” It notes that a consulate “will both be helpful in attracting greater U.S. business and investment to the region and ensuring that the region continues to serve as a ‘gateway’ to U.S. business success in other parts of Iraq, as a number of U.S. government agencies have advocated.”
Click here to view the newsletter (pdf)
