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US Congressmen complete fact-finding visit
to the Kurdistan Region
2.3.2008
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March 2, 2008
Erbil-Hewler, Kurdistan Region 'Iraq',-- 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 Massoud 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,www.ekurd.net
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 Pense, 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.
krg org
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