British Parliamentarians hail 
Kurdistan Region’s progress and urge closer ties with UK
 
KRG High Representative to the UK Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman with the APPG delegation at Erbil International Airport  
London, UK (KRG.org) – Following a week-long fact-finding visit to the Kurdistan Region in Iraq, a delegation of British parliamentarians hailed the “substantial economic and social progress” made in Kurdistan since its previous visit last year. The parliamentarians also urged closer trade, political, cultural and educational ties between the Region and the UK.

The delegation representing the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on the Kurdistan Region, stated in its press release after the visit, "Respect for the UK remains very high in Iraqi Kurdistan, thanks to our role in establishing the safe haven in 1991 and in what is commonly referred to as ‘liberation’ in 2003. English is also the second language. But we fear that opportunities for trade, investment and a host of political, cultural and educational exchanges are not being pursued as vigorously as they should for the mutual benefit of the UK and the Kurdistan Region as part of a wider Iraq. We urge the UK to play a bigger role in helping ease tensions between the Region and the federal government in Baghdad over issues such as disputed territories and the hydrocarbon law.”

The all-party group visited the three main cities of Ebril, Dohuk and Suleimaniah, and met President Masoud Barzani, Deputy Prime Minister Imad Ahmed and Speaker of Parliament Adnan Mufti. They also met several ministers, provincial governors, journalists, trades union and women’s rights activists, university and business leaders and the Christian Bishop of Erbil. They also visited the Christian and Yezidi communities.

Ms Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, the KRG’s High Representative to the UK, accompanied the delegation. She said, "The parliamentary group was able to note areas where Kurdistan has progressed since the group's last visit in February 2008, and where more needs to be done. Their continued support for the political, social and economic development of Kurdistan and Iraq is a sign of the steadfast friendship between Kurdistan Region and Britain."

The APPG said it will next compile a detailed report on its findings and will seek meetings with key British ministers to press for “much deeper and broader political, diplomatic and commercial relations between the UK and the Kurdistan Region.”

The delegation consisted of Labour MP Derek Wyatt; Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Tim Clement Jones; Mr Mark Phillips, Conservative Chief of Staff to Baroness Neville-Jones Shadow Security Minister; and Mr Gary Kent, Administrator of the APPG and Director of Labour Friends of Iraq.
Source www.krg.org



Jalal Talabani, Pesident
Iraq

Masaud Barzani President
Kurdish Region in Iraq
 
“Our desire for security and our principles of moderation and dialogue were key factors in the proposal of all the major Iraqi political parties to create a federal, pluralistic and democratic Iraq in which power is decentralized and so less open to abuse. Iraqis of all communities recognize that only such a formula can keep Iraq intact.”

Masoud Barzani, President
Kurdistan Region in Iraq