US Government Delegation Visits Iraqi Kurdistan

Kurdistan Newsline

On June 26th, Kurdish Leader Jalal Talabani received a United States Government
delegation visiting Iraqi Kurdistan. The delegation included Ms. Sherry Kraham, Iraq Desk
Officer at the State Department, and Mr. Jonathan Cohen, Political Councilor at the US
Embassy in Ankara. The discussions were wide ranging with specific emphasis on the
domestic situation in Iraqi Kurdistan and the ongoing review by the United States on Iraq
policy.

Dr. Barham Salih, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, also received
the US delegation. Dr. Salih emphasized the achievements of the Kurdish administration in
providing services to the people, particularly in education and health fields, as well as
providing security and welfare for the citizens, despite the existence of constant threats. The
fact that crime rate has diminished considerably is an indication of the political stability
prevailing in Kurdistan. He outlined some of the obstacles preventing further progress in the
region such as the limited revenues of the government, the fragile peace process and the
coercive ethnic-cleansing Arabization campaign carried out by the Iraqi regime against
Kurds and Turkomans in Kirkuk and other areas.

The delegation explained the commitments of the new administration of President Bush
toward the Kurdistan region and its humanitarian needs. The delgation also expressed
satisfaction at seeing the political and economic progress in the region and hoped for further
consolidation in the peace process. The discussion covered projects and activities under the
aegis of the United Nations Oil for Food Program authorized by the Security Council
Resolution 986.
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