18 March 2008

Erbil, Kurdistan - Iraq (KRG.org) - US Vice President Dick Cheney, accompanied by his wife Lynne, became the highest ranking official to visit the Kurdistan Region when he arrived today for meetings with President Masoud Barzani and senior officials in Erbil.

The Vice President said that the Kurdistan Region had achieved “quite remarkable progress in the areas of development and prosperity” and he described the Kurdistan Region as an “extraordinary example” for the rest of Iraq. Mr Cheney at the meeting with President Barzani noted that this was his first visit to the Kurdistan Region, though it is an area he knows well due to his work as Secretary of Defence during the days of Operation Provide Comfort.

President Barzani thanked the Vice President for his historic visit which he said was a symbol of American support for a federal, democratic and pluralistic Iraq and for the progress being made in the Kurdistan Region. “We want to work with the United States to stabilise Iraq. We are part of the solution and we want to be a force for stability in Iraq itself and with all neighbouring countries,” said President Barzani.

Vice President Cheney extended an invitation for President Barzani to visit Washington and meet with President George W. Bush in the near future, which the President accepted.

In his statement President Barzani, thanked President Bush and Vice President Cheney for their support and for the sacrifices which Americans have made in order to secure Kurdistan and Iraq's freedom. President Barzani said Kurdistan Region would remain a loyal and supportive ally of the United States and would assist in every way possible the common goal of a federal, democratic Iraq .

Kurdistan Region Vice President Kosrat Rasul, Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Omar Fatah joined the official meetings. The US side included American Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

During those meetings, the Hydrocarbon Law, the Provincial Powers Legislation, the US-Iraq strategic framework, the Iraqi Constitution, and relations with Turkey were discussed.

Mrs Nabila Barzani, wife of the Prime Minister, hosted a separate meeting with Mrs Cheney, her daughter Ms Liz Cheney and the wife of Ambassador Crocker at which the progress of women’s issues and economic development in the Kurdistan Region were discussed.

A copy of both statements is available via the following link:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/03/20080318-1.html

Photo Gallery: US Vice President Cheney on first visit to Kurdistan