|
British minister visits Kurdistan Region
8.7.2006 |
|
|
|
Erbil,
Kurdistan-Iraq, 7 July 2006, (KRG). British Minister
of State for the Middle East Dr. Kim Howells visited
the Kurdistan Region today to reinforce and
strengthen relations with the Kurdistan Regional
Government. He expressed his "great pleasure in
visiting your wonderful country", and said he was
impressed with ideas for the future he heard from
KRG officials regarding energy and infrastructure.
Minister Howells said he supports settling the
Kirkuk issue through a free, fair, and transparent
referendum in accordance with Article-140 of the
Constitution of Iraq.
President Masoud Barzani welcomed Minister Howells
and expressed appreciation to him and to all British
people for the support that has enabled the
development of democracy to begin in the Kurdistan
Region.
At a joint press conference, KRG Prime Minister
Nechirvan Barzani welcomed Dr. Howells on behalf of
the Kurdistan Regional Government and expressed
appreciation for the support of the British
Government over the past 14 years. |
British Minister of State for the Middle East Dr.
Kim Howells (L) with Kurdistan Prime Minister
Nechirvan Barzani
Photo: krg |
|
Minister Howells noted that world attention remains
locked on Iraq during these "tumultuous and very
difficult times when news is mostly about violence
and destruction". He highlighted achievements of the
Kurdistan authorities, especially regarding efforts
to make the Constitution a "strong and viable
entity". He said his role was "to help strengthen
the Constitution in order for the people of Iraq to
realize their dreams and aspirations, and for their
country to be a pleasure to live in".
After a full day of meetings with KRG Deputy Prime
Minister Omar Fattah and other KRG cabinet members
and officials, Minister Howells toured Erbil City
and the nearby countryside. He visited the ancient
Erbil Citadel, including the textile museum of
traditional carpets, and was briefed on this oldest
continuously inhabited human settlement in the
world.
Minister Howells also toured many new constructions
including road projects, the virtually completed
conference and cultural center, housing projects,
the new expanded airport project, and the University
of Salahaddin student dormitories. He also visited
the Sami Abdul Rahman Park where he paused at the
memorial to the martyrs of the 1 February 2004
terrorist attacks in Erbil.
krg org
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
® 