An overview of the prospects for Iraqi Kurdistan

Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, Kurdistan Regional Government High Representative to the UK outlined the progress made in Kurdistan Region to the Summer Reception in London on June 26, 2006. She said that - Today we see greater political and economic ties than ever before between Kurdistan Region and the United Kingdom. There are British companies based in Kurdistan Region with a view to later expanding in the rest of Iraq; many British parliamentarians, trades unions and members of other organisations have visited the Region and seen for themselves the progress that we are making in our efforts to strengthen democracy; Britain is expected to establish a permanent diplomatic presence in the Region; and Ambassador William Patey earlier this month announced plans to send a trade delegation to the Region in the autumn.

Bayan concluded that - We believe that a federal, democratic and pluralistic Iraq is the only way forward and the best way to ensure that we have a country in which every citizen feels he or she has a stake; an Iraq that is at peace with itself, its neighbours and the world.

Gary Kent

Full text of speech

Your excellencies, my lords, ladies and gentlemen -- good evening.

I am honoured and delighted to welcome so many of our British friends and friends from the international diplomatic community and the business sector.

Our friendship with Britain has a long history.

In recent times, thousands of Kurdish lives were saved when in 1991, Britain and the United States established a Safe Haven and No-Fly-Zone over Kurdistan in Iraq. By doing so, they protected ordinary citizens from Saddam Hussein’s brutality.

A decade later, Kurdish peshmerga and Coalition soldiers fought side by side in the war that led to the fall of the Baathist regime.

Today our friendship goes beyond just military support or cooperation. Today we see greater political and economic ties than ever before between Kurdistan Region and the United Kingdom.

There are British companies based in Kurdistan Region with a view to later expanding in the rest of Iraq; many British parliamentarians, trades unions and members of other organisations have visited the Region and seen for themselves the progress that we are making in our efforts to strengthen democracy; Britain is expected to establish a permanent diplomatic presence in the Region; and Ambassador William Patey earlier this month announced plans to send a trade delegation to the Region in the autumn.

This friendship has strengthened over the past three years as we have together confronted the many challenges facing Kurdistan Region and Iraq as a whole. And I believe that the spirit of friendship will continue as we tackle the tasks ahead of us.

Establishing security remains our biggest challenge in Iraq.

In Kurdistan, our peshmerga police and military forces, through patient hard work and diligence, have managed to secure the Region, enabling our government to focus on strengthening the economy and institutions, which are key to establishing a civil society. The achievements in Kurdistan Region that we see today are the fruits of decades of struggle and sacrifice by our people.

The task of bringing about security and stability in Iraq as a whole is more difficult but we will not shrink from the challenge, neither do we believe will our allies in the Coalition, particularly Britain.

We are now entering a new phase, both in Iraq as a whole and in Kurdistan Region.

The formation of the Government of National Unity in Baghdad is a positive achievement. Among this government’s many tasks will be the implementation of the new Constitution, not least resolving the issue of Kirkuk and the injustices suffered by its people under previous regimes.

Kurdistan’s leaders continue to play a constructive role in the Federal Government of Iraq and in shaping the country’s future in a positive way.

The Kurdistan Regional Government is also entering a new phase with the formation of a Unity Cabinet after the merger of the two administrations in our Region.

Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani has set an ambitious agenda for the new Cabinet.

The new government’s mission is to encourage women’s participation in politics, business and society; to promote sports and the arts and to improve the standards of education and healthcare for everyone

Kurdistan is rich in natural resources, but until recently much of this wealth remained untapped or the revenues it generated were used to fund aggression against us -- the people of Iraq -- or against our neighbours.

Now, within the framework of the Constitution, exploration of oil and gas has begun and more projects are planned in the future.

For the first time, the Kurdistan Regional Government has appointed a Minister for Natural Resources, and I am delighted that the Minister, Dr Ashti Hawrami, was able to join us this evening.

But Kurdistan’s natural wealth does not lie only in oil and gas, but also in the Region’s fertile lands and natural beauty. The new government’s focus is also on rebuilding our agricultural sector and upgrading the tourism industry.

The Kurdistan Development Corporation (KDC), which is a joint venture between the Kurdistan Regional Government and private investors, is playing a significant part in bringing investment to the Region.

A new investment law that is currently before the Kurdistan National Assembly is expected to be flexible and open the Region further to foreign direct investment.

Kurdistan has already become the beacon for economic prosperity in Iraq and it remains our mission to deepen our ties with the international business community.

Above all, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s aim is to continue to play a positive role in rebuilding Iraq.

Although we live in a difficult part of the world, Kurdistan Region has been, and will continue to be, a catalyst for peace, stability and friendship.

The presence of so many of our friends this evening from countries in the Middle East is a testament to the part the Kurdistan Regional Government plays both within Iraq and the wider region.

We believe that a federal, democratic and pluralistic Iraq is the only way forward and the best way to ensure that we have a country in which every citizen feels he or she has a stake; an Iraq that is at peace with itself, its neighbours and the world.

Once again, I would like to welcome you all and to thank you, our friends from Britain and wider afield, for your support as we continue on our path towards democracy and peace.