KRG Minister Mustafa briefs Washington on developments in Kurdistan and Iraq
In meetings at the White House and the Department of State, Minister Mustafa highlighted the positive developments in Kurdistan and discussed various challenges facing Iraq’s federal government. He reiterated the importance of holding fair and transparent national elections, scheduled for April 30, on time.
He called for continued international support for the Syrian refugees in Kurdistan and for the US to stay engaged in Iraq. The Minister also emphasised the need to remove the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), two Kurdish political parties, from the US Patriot Act’s Tier III designation.
On energy, Minister Mustafa explained that Kurdistan is a reliable source and the region is able to use those resources for the betterment and progress of all. He outlined the importance of Kurdistan's relations with Turkey and the on-going dialogue with the federal government in Baghdad.
Minister Mustafa met with the newly appointed senior director at the National Security Council, Robert Malley, at the White House where he congratulated him and assured him of the KRG’s continued cooperation. For his part, Mr Malley spoke about the US administration’s full support in removing the two Kurdish political parties from Tier III designation through a legislative amendment to the Patriot Act in a timely manner.
The US administration went on record during recent testimony at a Congressional House Foreign Affairs Committee meeting to say that it is working closely with all sides to remove such designation as it does not portray reality.
Separately Minister Mustafa discussed the mass influx of Syrian refugees into Kurdistan with Ms. Anne C. Richard, the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. He stated that over a quarter of a million declared refugees had crossed the border into the region. The KRG provides aid and assistance for them as well as for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have come from the rest of Iraq, with a large influx from Anbar in the past few months due to the deteriorating security situation there.
The KRG continues to welcome refugees from Syria as well as IDP’s from Iraq and attempts to provide them with assistance and access to education, healthcare and shelter despite its limited resources. Assistant Secretary Richard thanked the KRG for the support being provided to refugees and IDP’s highlighting that she had seen these efforts firsthand during her recent visit to Kurdistan and would work in garnering aid for those in need.
The Head of the DFR also met with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Brett McGurk where they discussed a number of important issues pertaining to Iraq and Kurdistan. They discussed the ongoing efforts taking place to remove the KDP and PUK from the US Patriot Act’s Tier III designation, working towards recognition of the crimes committed by the former regime as genocide and the latest political and security developments in Iraq and Kurdistan.
Both sides reiterated the importance of holding the Iraqi parliamentary elections on time on 30 April of this year and discussed the situation of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), given that their role is crucial to ensuring the elections are not delayed. At the conclusion of the meeting, Minister Mustafa said, ‘It is imperative that the US reiterates its continued engagement in the greater region and Iraq, particularly in Kurdistan.’
