1 march 2008

Erbil, Kurdistan Region - Iraq (KRG.org) - A bipartisan delegation of six US Congressmen has completed a visit to Erbil, capital of the Kurdistan Region, as part of a fact-finding tour of Iraq.

The delegation, led by Representative Jim Costa, Democrat of California, was in the Kurdistan Region to see the progress being made in Iraq's most stable and prosperous region.

Mr Masoud Barzani, the Kurdistan Region's president, briefed the Congressmen on the current political situation in Iraq, the recent history of the Kurdistan Region and its current priorities. He said, "I want to thank the delegation for their visit. It is important for them to understand how grateful the Kurdistan Region is for the US Government's continued assistance and our sincere desire to create a long term and strategic partnership that will benefit the people of the Kurdistan Region and all Iraq."

During their meeting with President Barzani, the Congressmen said they were happy to have seen for themselves the progress being made in the Kurdistan Region and that the achievements of the region should act as a model for the rest of the country.

The delegation also met Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani. Prime Minister Barzani discussed KRG relations with Baghdad, especially the KRG's policy on Article 140 which deals with Kirkuk and other disputed territories, the national hydrocarbons law, and revenue sharing mechanisms.

Regarding Article 140, the Prime Minister said, "This is a question of property rights and righting a historical wrong in a peaceful, democratic and constitutional way. We believe the people of the disputed areas should have the right to determine by whom they are governed."

On the KRG's recent oil contracts, Prime Minister Barzani confirmed that the oil exploration agreements signed by the KRG strictly adhere to the Iraqi constitution.

The Prime Minister commended the delegation's visit. "We want more Congressional delegations to come to the Kurdistan Region," he said. "We are proud of what we have achieved. We want to express our gratitude to the United States for removing the former regime. The Kurdistan Region is now making good progress, we are the gateway to Iraq and an engine of economic growth. It is important that US lawmakers come and see this with their own eyes."

The other members of the delegation were Representatives Mike Pence, Republican of Indiana; Joseph Crowley, Democrat of New York; J. Gresham Barrett, Republican of South Carolina; and Addison Graves "Joe" Wilson, Republican also of South Carolina, Michael Arcuri and their staff.