The Kurdistan Regional Government strongly condemned the cowardly missile attack on Erbil on March 13. Leaders in Kurdistan, Iraq, and friends around the world denounced the unwarranted attack. US Secretary of State Tony Blinken, in a phone call with Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, expressed support for the Kurdistan Regional Government and condemned the violation of Iraq’s sovereignty. 

The Secretary shared the U.S. commitment to work with the Iraqi government and others in the region to hold Iran accountable for its destabilizing behavior.

The KRG Presidency of the Council of Ministers called on the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, the Arab League, the Iraqi parliament and government, and the Iranian government to urgently investigate the attack and take a strong stance.

The KRG Representation team has been talking to members of the US Congress to seek their support for better protection of Kurdistan from aggression.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received a letter from US President Joe Biden earlier this week.

In the letter, President Biden reiterated that Kurdistan Region is a critical partner to the United States. He wrote that he is grateful for the close cooperation between the Kurdistan Region and the United States over the years, and reaffirmed America’s support to Iraqi security forces and Peshmerga. President Biden condemned the missile attack on Erbil and stated his administration’s continued commitment to the long-term security and stability of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Some baseless reasons have been given for the missile attack on Erbil, but many observers believe the real reason behind it was to put further pressure on Kurdish leaders in their negations with other Iraqi parties on the formation of the next federal government.

Iraq held elections in October 2021 and the main political groups in Iraq have formed blocs and alliances, but the Iraqi parliament has yet to elect a new president or prime minister. The delay in electing a president and the arrival of Ramadan this week are likely to mean that little progress will be

made in the next few weeks.

Prime Minister Barzani traveled to the United Arab Emirates and met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the UAE. Mr Barzani also took part in the Global Energy Forum and signed an MOU with UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Mohammed al-Gergawi, on governance and the exchange of information on the digitalization process.

The KRG Representation in Washington DC hosted a Newroz celebration to mark the Kurdish new year and the arrival of spring. We were delighted to welcome colleagues from the Iraqi Embassy, including Mohammed Alfityan, the chargé d'affaires, US officials, diplomats, and the Kurdistani diaspora. 

The celebration followed a more somber event – the commemoration of the genocide in 1988 in Halabja. The KRG Representation hosted an online event with Halabja Governor Azad Tofiq, State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Jennifer Gavito and Senator Chris Van Hollen among the speakers.

A delegation of American companies under the umbrella of the US Kurdistan Business Council (USKBC) visited Kurdistan in early March and were received by Prime Minister Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani.

The delegation was also hosted by US Consul General Robert Palladino at a reception at the Consulate in Erbil.

The visit enabled American companies to see the business opportunities in Kurdistan for themselves and meet KRG ministers and officials as well as the chambers of commerce and individual companies. 

This month, our podcast, Kurdistan in America, features an interview with Ashti Waissi, a Kurdish-Canadian who arrived in Canada as a child refugee. She discusses her family’s journey and her work today as a member of staff at the Canadian Parliament.

The KRG Representation in the United States hosted a webinar commemorating the 34th anniversary of the chemical bombardment of Halabja. The genocide against the people of Halabja has come to symbolize all of the atrocities committed against the people of Kurdistan.

The theme of the panel discussion was on the pursuit of justice and accountability.

Fakhir Berwari was a bomb disposal expert who disarmed thousands of landmines across Iraq.

Between the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003 and the chaos and destruction wreaked by ISIL more than a decade later, Fakhir Berwari’s unwavering bravery saved thousands of lives in Iraq.