Prime Minister Salih Urges Continued Partnership between the U.S., Iraq and the Kurdistan Region
Prime Minister Salih, KRG Rep. to the U.S. Qubad Talabani and Farhad Ala'adeen, the PM's Chief of Staff meet with visiting Congressional delegation
Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Iraq – Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government Dr. Barham Salih stressed the necessity of continued support and engagement of the United States with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Speaking during a meeting with a visiting U.S. Congressional Delegation headed by Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla) to Sulaimani, Dr. Salih highlighted the political, economic and security gains made in the Kurdistan Region, and emphasized that Kurdistan’s success story can be replicated throughout Iraq.
The Prime Minster urged the delegation to ensure that the U.S. remains critically engaged in Iraq during this delicate government formation period and more importantly during and after the withdrawal of U.S. Forces from Iraq. “It must be in the U.S. national security interests that a stable, democratic and federal Iraq emerges” stressed Salih. “This is not about U.S. interfering in our internal affairs, rather the continuation of a strategic partnership between the U.S., Iraq and the Kurdistan Region” he added.
Other issues discussed in the meeting included Iraq’s post election government formation process. All sides agreed that an inclusive government; one that is competent and has the ability to cement the country’s fledgling institutions, manage the oil resources and ensure civilian and constitutional control over Iraq’s army, is essential to ensuring a smooth redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq.
Prime Minister Salih engages Senators Inhofe and Voinovich in Sulaimani
The delegation included Senator Voinovich (R-OH), Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Rep. John Kingston (R-GA), and Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) were accompanied by the head of the U.S. RRT in Erbil Andrew Snow.
Tagged in: Barham Salih, KRG, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Qubad Talabani, U.S. Congress
