During the years of combat and conflict, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has been an island of stability, prosperity and coexistence amongst Muslims, Christians and other religions. It has remained stable and secure. No American has been injured or killed as a result of hostile action in the Kurdistan Region. Economically and politically, Kurdistan is evolving into a model for the future of Iraq and a positive example for the entire Middle East.

As the U.S. begins drawing down its forces in Iraq, we look forward to increased diplomatic and economic relations between the U.S., Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Moreover, the KRG welcomes the U.S. Department of State’s decision to establish a diplomatic consulate in Erbil to solidify our mutual strategic, business and cultural interests.

This day is an important one to remember and celebrate, as we owe great thanks to those Americans who defend freedom, democracy and a peaceful future for Iraq and elsewhere, while paying homage to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice securing our freedom.

Happy Independence Day

On behalf of the people of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, I wish our American friends the best on this day of national celebration.  Today, 234 years ago, a group of Americans sought to control their own destiny and to provide a better future for their families and fellow countrymen. Over the centuries, this new state—the United States of America—has as a result become a symbol of hope, freedom and prosperity the world over. It remains so today.   

The Kurdistan Regional Government is proud of its friendship and partnership with the United States of America. We are today seeking to cement our own destiny within a constitutional framework in a federal and democratic Iraq; and through our elected government, aspiring to a brighter future for our citizens.  This opportunity is today possible because of the United States’ liberation of Iraq from Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship.

So again, to all Americans—especially American troops, veterans and their families—I wish you the best Fourth of July.

Qubad J. Talabani

Representative to the U.S.

Kurdistan Regional Government

The June 15-16 conference was hosted by the Kurdistan Regional Government U.K. Representation, with strong support from the UK government, and was designed to provide insight into foreign investment opportunities in the Kurdistan Region. The conference was well attended by a wide range of companies such as HSBC, Pepsico, Caterpillar, Lufthansa, Shell, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Motorola, as well as embassies like Germany, Spain, Turkey, the United States and the Czech Republic.

Currently, the majority of investment in the Kurdistan Region comes from Turkey and Lebanon, but conferences like these allow for other foreign companies and governments to learn about the potential of the Region. The U.A.E. has since announced its plans to double investment in the Kurdistan Region to $6 billion by 2013, citing the Kurdistan Region as an important partner.

With over 1,200 foreign companies already present in the area, the Kurdistan Region’s economy is predicted to outpace Iraq’s expected overall growth rate of 7.3 percent this year.

The Region’s investment sectors continue to evolve, now reaching into the telecom, IT, infrastructure and agriculture sectors. Additionally, the financial industry is also taking off, with HSBC considering opening branches in the Region and a new stock exchange set to launch later this year.

The Kurdistan Region’s growth potential remains extensive, and as we hold more trade and investment conferences, we look forward to developing relationships with new international business partners. The London conference was an enormous success, largely thanks to the KRG U.K. team who worked tirelessly to organize the conference.

During the conference, foreign companies, governments, economists and industry analysts will have the chance to meet with KRG leadership, chambers of commerce, and major firms from the Region.

Prime Minister Salih, along with the KRG Ministers for Natural Resources, Trade and Industry, Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Interior and Agriculture and Water Resources, will speak at the event chaired by my counterpart in London, KRG Representative to the U.K., Ms. Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman. The KRG Head of the Investment Board and Head of Foreign Relations and will also attend, as will the Chairman of Iraq’s National Investment Commission and other officials from the Federal Government.

Conferences like these allow foreign companies to discover the Region’s rich potential and learn about unique investment opportunities.  Already, the Kurdistan Region is booming with involvement from numerous international brands, such as Coca Cola, Pepsi, Mercedes Benz, Ford and Land Rover. Foreign investment has been a key driver to the Kurdistan Region’s economy, and we are committed to increasing the number of foreign firms successfully doing business in the area.

While I am proud to be the son of Jalal Talabani, and the Grandson of Ibrahim Ahmed, the PUK has never been, nor will it ever be a family run party.  Although I feel that over the past ten years I have developed my career, and have worked tirelessly to serve Kurdistan, and strengthen Kurdistan’s relations with the United States, my decision to withdraw my candidacy serves the best interests of the PUK at this crucial time.  As I stated in a recent interview with Awena, every member of the PUK must put their party’s interest before their personal interest.

My decision to withdraw my candidacy, will in-no-way slow me as I continue serving the people of Kurdistan. Nor will it dampen my efforts to continue reforming the PUK.

I want to thank all the PUK members who have expressed their support to me during the party Congress, and wish all the delegates that are running for leadership posts the best of luck in the upcoming leadership elections.

–End–

What makes this Congress all the more special, is that it’s the first for nine years, and comes off the back of major defections within the party.  Over two years ago, several members of the party’s leadership broke ranks and formed a new political movement in Kurdistan called Change.  The Change Movement did surprisingly well in challenging the PUK’s dominance in Sulaimani during the Regions parliamentary elections in July 2009, and gave a good showing in the national elections this March.  So as close to two thousand PUK delegates, including myself, gather in Sulaimani to change the party’s platform, by-laws, structure and leadership you’d think that all the residents of Sulaimani (the party’s main support base) and delegates  would be gripped with Congress fever.    Well not quite.

In between debates about the future of one of Kurdistan’s main political parties, is real concern for the safety and perseverance of Jan Geum. Yes friends, Jan Geum fever is also gripping Kurdistan.

A South Korean TV show named “Jewel in the Palace” has the residents of Kurdistan hooked to KurdSat (a Kurdish satellite TV channel) and is very much ‘the talk of the town’. The soap opera portrays the story of Suh, Jang-geum, who struggles in life as the child of fugitives, to being a Court Lady of the Royal Kitchen, to becoming the first Female Royal Physician of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty.  Sub-plots and twists has PUK party members, in between bouts of campaigning and electioneering, fervently discussing the previous nights episodes and wondering if Jang Geum will ever get to record the truth about the attempted failed poisoning and subsequent murder of Queen Jeheon. (Jang Geum’s father, a former Royal Guard of the King, executed the Queen after an apprentice cook of the royal kitchen had attempted to poison her)

This pleasant, if at times confusing break from party politics is a refreshing sign that while politics is very much a part of many Kurds’ lives, that there is actually life beyond politics.  The continued normalization of our society, amidst Iraq’s, and at times the Kurdistan Regions political machinations is a healthy development for Kurdistan.  So is the fact that so many members of the PUK are passionately debating the party’s future and the need for continued political, economic and social reform at the Congress.

While Jan Geum will likely overcome the schemers and plotters inside the Korean dynasty’s Royal Court; I am certain that the PUK will overcome the set-back caused by its defectors, and its own plotters and schemers from within the party, and rise from this Congress stronger, more progressive and more in-touch with its base and supporters than ever before.  Something tells me that it’s no coincidence that this gripping show, is on, during these gripping times.

PUK Delegates vote during 3rd Party Congress in Sulaimani

Poster of Korean TV Show that has everyone in Kurdistan glued to the TV

I have frequently mentioned Kurdistan’s economic progression and development; but just seeing so many non-Kurds on board this flight to Erbil made me realize how far we have come, in such a short period of time.  I remember a time, not too long ago that a visit by a ‘foreigner’, be they a reporter, an NGO worker or a foreign government official, would create such a buzz that almost all leading officials and local journalists would know about their visits and would try to meet with them.  Nowadays, thousands of travelers, from all over the world visit Kurdistan and go about their business on a monthly basis, with no fuss from anyone.

I also remember a time, again not too long ago, when travelling to Kurdistan seemed daunting. If we tried to go through Turkey, we would have to endure the hours of waiting at the Xabur-Zaxo crossing, only to be infuriated by mundane and at times insulting questions from Turkish border guards.

If we tried to go through Syria, after arriving in Damascus, we would have to board this ancient plane from the rear, look in horror at the patchwork of duct tape and string holding the plane door together and experience the petrifying flight from Damascus to Qamishli  (I would not wish that experience on my mortal enemy).  Then we would take the pleasant, yet unsteady ‘boat ride’ across the river and across into Iraqi Kurdistan–again after being held up and questioned by Syrian security agents on the border.

And last, and definitely not least, the ‘interesting’ experience one faces traveling to Kurdistan via Iran.  If you survive the questioning from Iranian “airport security officials” upon arrival in Tehran, and the subsequent flight from Tehran to Kermansha,  you may not be so lucky surviving the treacherous drive from Kermansha to the Parwez Khan border crossing (A Taxi playing ‘Chicken’ with an 18 wheel truck grows old very fast).  Then comes more infuriating –and again –insulting questions from security officials at the border (does anyone see a pattern here?) until you finally cross into Iraqi Kurdistan.

Thankfully, we are now able to check in at airports all around the world, hand over our luggage and fly over those borders and touchdown in our beloved homeland.  Unless you have experienced one (or more) of the experiences I outlined above, you cannot appreciate how pleasant travelling to Kurdistan – by plane -has become.

As our Airports continue to develop, more flights will connect the Kurdistan Region to the rest of the world. As more airlines enter our emerging market, competition will drive down prices opening up Kurdistan to even more passengers, including tourists who wish to see Kurdistan’s natural beauty and experience our hospitable culture.

This progress would not have been possible were it not for the KRG’s progressive development policies, the diligence of the Region s security services in keeping Kurdistan safe and of course, our brave peoples warm and embracing welcome.

As we prepare to celebrate the opening of the new terminal at Erbil International Airport, we also celebrate the world getting that one step smaller.

Currently, I am in the Kurdistan Region. Yesterday U.S. House Representatives Lincoln Davis and Brian Baird also visited Kurdistan. During their visit they expressed recognition and appreciation for the friendship of the people of the Kurdistan Region toward Americans and the U.S. government. Our appreciation is especially true this Memorial Day.

In fact, when President Barzani met with the Congressmen, he reminded them that not a single U.S. soldier has been killed or even wounded in the Kurdistan Region since the war in Iraq began in 2003. This is a sign of the friendship and appreciation that exists between our people and the United States.

So this day is an important one to remember and celebrate, as we owe great thanks to those Americans who have fallen and continue to fight for freedom, democracy and a peaceful future.

The visit was a follow-up to Prime Minister Barham Saleh’s February trip to the UAE in which the importance of strengthening bilateral ties and UAE assistance to Kurdish businessmen were discussed.  For its part, the UAE has been receptive to trade discussions and supports investment and economic collaboration with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, specifically.

The UAE intends to double investment in the Kurdistan Region to $6 billion in the next three years, particularly in the power sector. Dana Gas currently operates in the Kurdistan Region and aims to increase production to 200 million standard cubic feet per day by the end of this year. Abu Dhabi’s national energy company Taga is also considering investment.

Already, the UAE has seized opportunities in the Kurdistan Region’s up-and-coming travel industry. Etihad Airlines will begin flights next month into Erbil International Airport’s new terminal, where Abu Dhabi-based Dnata has signed on as ground handler. Flydubai and Air Arabia have also shown interest in expanding their services to the Region.

Additionally, in September Abu Dhabi-based Rotana Hotels will open a five-star hotel in Erbil, and next year Millennium and Copthorne Middle East Holdings will open two hotels in Sulaimaniyah, with plans for more in Erbil. Even retail giant Emke Group, also based in Abu Dhabi, is considering opening shops in the area.

Our region sees value in promoting trade with foreign countries and has taken steps to facilitate opportunities with incentives and legal guarantees to protect investment. A continued partnership between the UAE and the Kurdistan Region will play an important role in contributing to the diversifying market of the Kurdistan Region while also benefiting the UAE economy.

The resolution affirms continued U.S. commitment to the stability, prosperity and democracy of the Region, even after U.S. troops redeploy under the Status of Forces Agreement—an agreement that originally raised concern over future U.S. support.

While seventeen countries are represented in Erbil, currently consular and citizen services are only provided by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, more than 200 miles away from the safe and secure Kurdistan Region. U.S. citizens and visitors to the Region must travel this distance to receive such services. Establishing a consulate in Erbil, the Kurdistan Region’s capital, will increase travel to the Region and encourage more business investment and government and NGO missions to the area.

The House Resolution accomplishes several goals including: assisting to safeguard Iraqi territory from external aggression and supporting diplomatic initiatives to prevent outside interference in Iraq’s affairs; fostering continued dialogue between the United States and the KRG; and contributing to continued diplomatic initiatives between the KRG and Turkey.

I would like to thank the co-authors of the resolution and members of the Kurdish-American Congressional Caucus who supported this resolution. I also want to thank members of the Kurdistani-American community who worked tirelessly to exercise their rights as American citizens to meet with and encourage members of Congress to support the resolution. Through their efforts to meet with their respective members, we as Kurds have achieved this monumental goal.

If I had a take-away message for the audience, it basically was that the U.S. needs to get more involved—as noted in a summary of the event:

“Mr. Talabani urged the Washington foreign policy community to stay engaged in Iraqi issues, despite the new focus on the Af-Pak region and the imminent U.S. troop drawdown. He called on the U.S. administration to exert pressure on Iraq to achieve formation of a new government. Any further delay could destabilize the region. There is a long process ahead, and it is unlikely that a perfect Iraq will emerge. But if Iraq can become a relatively democratic, relatively stable, relatively pro-Western country, it could both play a stabilizing role in the region and act as an important and reliable exporter of hydro-carbons.”

This understanding was reiterated in a LA Times article written on the discussion:

“It would be a shame to see an undemocratic government, after all the sacrifices,” Talabani said in an interview after an appearance at the Nixon Center think tank in Washington…. “There has got be serious thought given to how the United States applies its leverage,” he said. “They’ve got to help us get our act together.”

This is something I firmly believe in. In fairness to the U.S., they are trying to avoid looking like they’re meddling in Iraq’s affairs or trying to concoct democracy in the country.  But at the same time, the U.S. did not sacrifice thousands of lives and trillions of dollars for an un-democratic Iraq.

Much like the current conversation in the U.S., the conference focused on improving the effectiveness and transparency of government, opening up information, and making data readily accessible for potential investors.

Although the KRG established the Information Training Technology Center in Erbil in September 2009, ministries still send regular mail to communicate with each other and some have yet to develop IT departments. Now it is a priority to establish a sound, secure network to connect ministries and to enable the ease of sharing information with citizens.

But the KRG cannot fulfill such a goal alone. We’ve brought in experts from the UK, Scotland, Bahrain, Geneva and Ireland to make sure our goals are realistic and transparent.

Currently the KRG IT department is drafting its vision and mission for information technology in the Kurdistan Region, with the ultimate goal of supporting economic development, modernizing administration and service delivery through electronic government, and enhancing the KRG’s technology capacity. It’s just one more step we’re taking to ensure our Region is well suited for long-term economic development and continued modernization.

The Kurdistan Regional Government strongly condemns the kidnapping and murder of Sardasht Osman, who was kidnapped on May 4 by a number of unknown persons in Erbil, and his body was found two days later in Mosul.

The Kurdistan Regional Government considers the murder of Sardasht Osman a major crime, whose aim is to attack stability in the Region as well as jeopardizing people’s lives and freedom. Therefore, the relevant security agencies will continue their vigorous investigation until the criminals are found and are justly tried in court.

The Kurdistan Regional Government is responsible for the safety and security of citizens and takes all legal measures to prevent crime and punish criminals.

While the Kurdistan Regional Government conveys its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sardash Osman, it reiterates that it will spare no effort in finding those who committed this heinous crime.

Just recently, the Region has attracted international power providers (IPP) to build two plants to generate electricity. Even though the lights may still go out every few hours, the electricity switches back on immediately. The people in the Kurdistan Region experience a lot less disruptions then 30 years ago, during Saddam Hussein’s era, when power would be down several hours a day. And, when a third plant is completed by the end of this year, we hope to provide 24 hour power supply to our Region. Now the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity is following the Kurdistan Region’s example and seeking contracts with IPPs.

We have come a long way, and still have much to do, but we are proud of how we as a Region are setting a positive example. All this is possible because the Kurdistan Region is fulfilling its goals of self-improvement and good governance. We must continue to work hard to attract foreign investment, while improving our governance and accountability. There remain so much investment and business development opportunity in the Kurdistan Region and I am thankful that this is finally being recognized.

This continually developing relationship bodes well for the people of the Kurdistan Region, as well as for the U.S., which has increasingly aligned allies in the Middle East.

By investing early and more than any other country, Turkey has a reaped the benefits, earning approximately 80 percent of goods sold in the area. Turkey also accounts for 55 percent of the foreign companies registered in the Kurdistan Region. Turkish Consul General Mehmet Aydin Selcen estimates the country’s investment at over $9 billion.

The KRG is now looking to expand trade relationships beyond the Middle East, focusing on opportunities in the U.S. and European countries. The Import and Export Association is sending a delegation to France to develop deals with French companies to bring their products to Region. We, of course, also highly encourage the U.S. to promote increased trade and investment.

While we as a government MUST focus on developing locally produced or manufactured goods, we do welcome quality foreign ones. I am pleased to see our efforts to strengthen Kurdistan’s economic ties with foreign countries blossoming as these steps will forge lasting bonds of friendship and interdependency.

Etihad is among several airlines that have moved to the Kurdistan Region, impressed by our growth and progress. Bahrain’s Gulf Air, Royal Jordanian Airlines and Austria’s own Austrian Airlines already fly to the Kurdistan Region. Recent additions include Air Berlin, which commenced alternating flights between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah in February, and Lufthansa, which will begin flights this month.

While many carriers are taking advantage of Iraq’s emerging market, the United States still operates under Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) Number 77. The regulation dates back to 1996 during the regime of Saddam Hussein, and it prohibits flight operations within the territory and airspace of Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region by any U.S. air carrier or commercial operator.

Today, the policy is exceptionally antiquated as the country is a vastly different place and a peaceful partner of the United States. The U.S. should join the likes of Western and international carriers and lift SFAR 77. Until they do, they will be missing the opportunity to compete in our emerging market.

“After two months and 20 days of working and 13 sessions of discussions on the Kurdistan Region’s 2010 draft budget, and after all the articles and paragraphs of the draft law were scrutinized, discussed in detail, and voted for separately, the Kurdistan Regional Parliament voted for and passed the budget….”

Within this year’s budget, education and housing have been given increased importance, reflecting the KRG’s goals of investing in the Region’s people to insure our future. The budget allocates funding for higher educational standards and more scholarship opportunities for university students abroad.

Building on previous governments’ achievements, this year’s budget was effectively prepared in the public forum, incorporating feedback and debate in a transparent manner. The whole Region was able to following the process. In doing so, we’re working to ensure that public funds are being spent fairly and appropriately to meet the needs of the people of the Kurdistan Region.

This is exactly the type of step I spoke of last week. Steadily the KRG is progressing, fulfilling its goals of self-improvement and good governance. We have come a long way, and still have much to do, but we be proud about how we as a Region are setting a positive example.

ئه‌مڕۆ هه‌لی ئه‌وه‌م بۆ ره‌خسا له‌ چواره‌مین کۆنفرانسی ساڵانه‌ی حوکمڕانیی دروست (good governance) له‌ زانکۆی جۆرج مێیسن بۆ خوێندکارانی کاروباری نێوده‌وڵه‌تی بقسه‌ بکه‌م. زانکۆی زانکۆی جۆرج مێیسن له‌ ویلایه‌تی ڤه‌رجینیه‌ نزیکه‌ی 200 قوتابی کوردی لێ ده‌خوێنێت‌.

بابه‌تی حوکمڕانیی دروست بابه‌تێکی پربایه‌خ و هه‌میشه‌. وه‌ک هه‌ر حکومه‌تێکی تر، حکومه‌تی هه‌رێم به‌ده‌ر نییه‌ له‌ گیروگرفتی وه‌ک گه‌نده‌ڵی یان به‌دبه‌کارهێنانی دارایی گشتیی. له‌ کاتێکدا په‌ره‌سه‌ندنێکی به‌رچاومان ئه‌نجام داوه‌ له‌ بواره‌کانی بنیاتنانی دامه‌زراوه‌کان و گه‌شه‌سه‌ندنی ئابووریدا، دان به‌وه‌دا ده‌نێین که‌ هه‌ندێک بواری حوکمڕانی و شه‌فافییه‌ت پێویستیان به‌ پته‌وترکردنه‌.

بۆ به‌ره‌نگاربوونه‌وه‌ی ئاسته‌نگه‌کانمان،‌ ئێمه‌ کارمان به‌ راوێژکارانی هه‌ره‌ به‌ناوبانگی ئاستی جیهان له دامه‌زراوه‌ی (PricewaterhouseCoopers) کرد بۆ هه‌ڵسه‌نگاندنی هه‌رێمی کوردستان و داڕشتنی نه‌خشه‌ڕێگایه‌ك بۆ چۆنیه‌تی په‌ره‌سه‌ندن. ئێستا، ستراتیجێک له‌ ئارادایه‌ و کاری پێده‌کرێت بۆ تاوتوێی ئه‌و بابه‌تانه‌ی په‌نجه‌ی ده‌خه‌نه‌ سه‌ر، هه‌روه‌ها دیاریکردنی کاتبه‌ندییه‌ک و چه‌ند قۆناغێک بۆ ئه‌و کاروبارانه‌ی که‌ پێویسته‌ حکومه‌تی هه‌رێمی کوردستان بۆ په‌ره‌سه‌ندن بیانبڕێت.

هه‌ندێک له‌و بابه‌تانه‌ی‌ راپۆرته‌که‌ی (PricewaterhouseCoopers) په‌نجه‌ی خستۆته‌ سه‌ر بریتین له‌ یاسای سزادانی کارپێکراو، یاسای کارگێڕی، و سیستمی کڕیاری. له‌ تشرینی یه‌که‌می 2009 دا، هه‌رێمی کوردستانی ده‌ستی به‌ کارکردن له‌سه‌ر ئه‌م بابه‌تانه‌ کرد و ئێستا یاسایه‌کی نوێی سزادان چاوه‌ڕوانی په‌سه‌ندکردنه‌، هه‌روه‌ها بابه‌تی تری وه‌ک رێساکانی ره‌فتار بۆ به‌رپرسان، و دامه‌زراندنی فه‌رمانگه‌ی جێبه‌جێکاری بۆ حوکمڕانی و نه‌زاهه‌ بۆ چاکسازی له‌ ناوه‌وه‌‌. ئێمه‌ ته‌نانه‌ت پێداچوونه‌وه‌ی (رێوشوێنه‌کانی کاروباری کڕیاریی)مان ته‌واو کردووه‌ بۆ بره‌ودان به‌ شه‌فافییه‌ت و جه‌ختکردنه‌وه‌ له‌وه‌ی ته‌نها ئه‌و کۆمپانیایانه کار بکه‌ن له‌ کوردستان که‌ به‌ باشترین شێوه‌ کار ده‌که‌ن.

ئه‌مه‌ ته‌نها سه‌ره‌تایه‌که‌ بۆ حوکمڕانیی باش له‌ هه‌رێمی کوردستان و زۆر شتی تر هه‌یه‌ ئه‌نجام بدرێن. حوکمڕانیی دروست هه‌میشه‌ پرۆسه‌یه‌کی به‌رده‌وامه‌ و درێژه‌ی ده‌بێت، به‌لام ئێمه‌ به‌ ئاڕاسته‌ی دروستدا به‌ره‌وپێشه‌وه‌ ده‌چین.

ده‌توانیت لێره‌دا ته‌واوی وتاره‌که‌م بخوێنیته‌وه‌:

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for inviting me here today.

It is a pleasure to be at George Mason. Your international affairs program clearly has a superb reputation. And I’m pleased to hear that there is close to 200 Kurdish students currently studying here at graduate and under-graduate levels across of range of majors.

When we share our educational experiences, we share our cultures and viewpoints. In this we build bridges of understanding that transcend political boundaries cultures and other barriers. So I’m glad to be here, and I’m glad Iraqi Kurds are welcome here.

I’d also like to thank Allen Merten, President of George Mason, and Professor Shiraev (Shrive) for their leadership and efforts

We’re here today to discuss good governance. 

Good governance is the foundation for stability and economic prosperity.  A goal that most governments yearn to achieve, but regrettably, many fall short of.

The nature of government is to be in a constant state of reform, revision, change and—most importantly—renewal.  

So no matter how noble the cause of any individual to rid government of corruption, over time without the proper mechanisms and diligence in place, inefficiency and ineffectiveness will seep in.

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is in a unique situation. Having been effectively running our own affairs since 1992, our Region has undergone significant transformation; transformation in the size and proficiency of our government and in the increased scale and speed of our economic development. 

In just 8 years, we went from being in a humanitarian crisis to starting to develop our economic base. 18 years since our first experiment in governance, we are leading the charge in building our institutions infrastructure and society.  During Saddam’s rule, Iraq, to include the Kurdistan Region was under international sanctions.  Our Region of the country, was also under Saddam, and at times, regionally enforced embargos.

Add to that a bloody internal conflict that almost irreparably split our society and you could say that we, as a government did not have the best starting point.

Thanks to our American friends, notably then Secretary of State Madeline Albright, we overcame those internal differences and began the difficult task of unifying our administration and society.  For Kurdistan, this laid the foundation for what was to come.

After the just decision was made to liberate Iraq, unlike the rest of Iraq, at the fall of  Saddam’s regime, the Kurdistan Region was more experienced in democracy, and the delivery of public services. In short order, we’ve been able to build a fully-functioning and legitimate government under the auspices of the Iraqi Federal Constitution. 

But I am not here to tell you that everything is now fine, that we are perfectly incorruptible and transparent!

I’m not going to do that. The fact is, like any government anywhere, the KRG has not been immune to corruption or misuse of public funds. We have come to learn that we can always improve upon the level of transparency and public accountability.

We are, however, taking steps to address these facts. Not singular steps, but fundamental moves that will protect the people and the government from corruption, and ensure public funds are used for their intended purpose—whether tomorrow or twenty years from now.   We are taking this issue seriously, before it is too late, and before it becomes much harder to wrong the rights within our system.

What’s important is that we recognize we can strengthen our system

We’ve recently held two regional elections. Both were declared free and fair by the United Nations, the U.S. government and numerous NGOs.  We’ve also participated with enthusiasm in the nationwide elections to ensure our strength at a federal level.  

We’ve seen numerous related successes:

• Almost 80 percent of the Region’s 2.5 million eligible voters voted in our Regions elections last summer.
• At least 30 percent of Kurdistan’s parliament is women.  It is well known that parliaments with large percentages of women better perform their oversight role and decrease level of corruption.
• And every religious and ethnic group is represented—not just Kurds, but Chaldeans, Assyrians, Turkmen, Yazidis and more.

Good government begins with good elections. But it doesn’t end there.

So what is the KRG doing about governance issues and transparency?

Well, we’re doing a lot.

After years of deliberation on the best approach, we hired world-renowned consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers—an American firm—to first assess the situation in the Kurdistan Region, and then provide a roadmap for how best to improve.

Through no prodding from outside elements, we hired an outside consultant, a third-party, using our own funds. Why did we do this?

As I’ve said, having lived under Saddam’s tyranny, the people of the Kurdistan Region know bad government. We’ve been gassed, tortured and tormented. Attempts were made to shatter our culture and civilization.. On top of that, we’re not exactly in the best of neighborhoods.

Despite all of that, we want to build businesses ourselves and have a stake in the way our government is renewed and transformed. We want to provide opportunities for our children. We want to build real, enduring connections to members of the global community. Because, in the end, we know that we need to make this work. And to make this work—to make our place in Iraq work—we need to be increase accountability to our citizens and better deliver public services and transparently use our resources as we develop our infrastructure.  

So it is about actually accomplishing what we set out to achieve and also about doing it in a credible manner.

PwC has worked with dozens of nations worldwide. They are independent, with no interests in the Region. And they will attest to the fact that the KRG has given them complete and total access. There have been no Sacred Cows. Nothing has been off limits.

In 2006, PwC commenced their initial assessment. They met with government officials. They met with citizens. They met with business leaders. They examined documentation, records, bookkeeping, and strategies.

Last year, they completed the assessment and provided a report.  In July 2009, three years later, standing side-by-side former Prime Minister of Kurdistan—Nechirvan Barzani—PricewaterhouseCoopers announced the Strategy to address what they found in their assessment. They also set forth the timeline and benchmarks for what the KRG has to do to improve.

This includes delivery of services, transparency of government and concerns over possible corruption. Aside from noting where we are doing things right, the PwC report lays out a series of gaps and shortcomings in the KRG approach to governance and transparency.

No one took it and said you’re wrong. There was no push back. We as a government—as a people—said we have to fix what needs fixing.

To give you a sense of what we’re dealing with, let’s look at three examples of the types of problems they found.

• First, the KRG’s penal code did not conform to United Nations recommendations. In fact, it was the same penal code from 1991, as under Saddam. Clearly, this was not good.
• Second, the Region lacked an up-to-date Administrative Law, an enforceable code of conduct for government officials. You can’t be called out for doing something wrong, if there’s nothing that say you’re behaving improperly. This is basic, but important.
• Third, the procurement system was antiquated and allowed for not only graft to seep in from within, but allowed the government to be taken advantage of from contractors. It also allowed for the procurement of goods that did not result in the highest quality at the lowest possible price. This had to change.

Knowing about the problem is one thing. Fixing it is another. So what are we doing?

Following upon the delivering of the report and recommendations of PricewaterhouseCoopers, the KRG began taking steps in October 2009 to resolve the many issues it faces.

Let’s return to those three issues.

• First, we have updated our penal code—through coordination with PwC and the Harvard Law School’ s Director of the  Institute on Global Law & Policy. That law is now is pending for approval by the government.
• Second, to address the Administrative Law issue, we drafted a Code of Conduct for Executive Officials of the KRG, which was passed by the Council of Ministers. It will now be implemented by the newly established Executive Office of Governance and Integrity. This office not only will implement the Code of Conduct but act as a champion to drive the implementation of the governance and transparency strategy.
• Third, to reform our procurement system, we looked at the new rules in place from Iraq’s federal government. Along with PwC, we revised these rules, tightening them up and are adding extra provisions—such as features unique to the Middle East.

This includes, for example, a provision to ensure that contractors who seek to do business in the region are responsible and reliable companies.

They must have a verifiable Anti-Corruption Compliance Program—in much the same way that the U.S. Federal Acquisition Guidelines require companies to have effective compliance programs as a condition to doing business with the government. 

Companies who fail to meet this requirement will be declared ineligible to do work with the KRG.

So we put in place a draft revision of the procurement law. That will dramatically change how procurement is done, making sure everything is transparent and competitive.

There’s still much to do. In fact, we have a multiple year program of initiatives.

With these types of programs, everyone wants to see quick wins. So do we. We want to point to evidence of real progress. But we’re in this for the long-haul. We’re not trying to paper over our issues.

So how do we know if it’s working?

• There are soft benchmarks, such as the laws we pass.
• The big test is going to be when we have accountability actions against those people who don’t get onboard and follow the rules and procedures that we are now establishing.
• And there are other tests, such as how outside groups view the KRG—from civil society organizations, such as Transparency International, to business organizations, like the Chamber of Commerce. How do we rate, and are companies—respectable companies—doing business with us.

As I’ve said, the Kurdistan Regional Government knows its faults. We’ve highlighted them, and we’re filling them in. And we’re doing this on our own. We are moving in the right direction.

In fact, just the other day the Kurdistan Region passed its budget for the year. This may not seem like much to outsiders. But it is a considerable achievement. We encourage—and survived—all the public debate and scrutiny. We made it through the parliamentary procedures. And at the end of the day, we built upon the accomplishments of the previous KRG administration.

Our budget is now available online, on the Kurdistan Parliaments website.

Good governance is a challenge faced by every country in the world. It’s an immense challenge. We are going to have setbacks, challenges and limitations. But we’re moving forward.

And I can say, even with a change of government last fall, our progress has not slowed. On the contrary, the current cabinet, led by Dr. Barham Salih, has adopted this program fully and is adhering to the KRG’s new governance principles of:

• The Rule of Law
• Public Service is Public Trust
• Governmental Functions Shall be Open and Transparent
• Public Funds Must Always be used for Their Intended Purposes

Everything we do is tailored to us building institutions, a foundation upon which our regional government can build a successful future. We’re not looking for big personalities or publicity stunts. We’re looking for results.

Through this, we hope to live up to the sacrifices made by Iraqis, in particular Kurds, and American and other coalition partners to free Iraq from tyranny. We look to restores its place in the Middle East as a positive actor. I am confident, that this will begin with the Kurdistan Region.

So this is what we’re doing. We’re proud of it. We believe it will deliver results. And we’re committed to it.

Thank you.

Good governance is a critical and ever-present issue for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Like any government, the KRG isn’t immune to problems such as corruption or misuse of public funds. And while we have made significant progress in terms of institution building and economic development, we recognize that there are areas in governance and transparency that need strengthening.

To address our challenges, we’ve hired world-renowned consultants from PricewaterhouseCoopers to assess the Kurdistan Region and provide a roadmap for how to improve. Now, a strategy is in place to address their finding, as well as a timeline and benchmarks for what the KRG needs to do to improve.

Among the issues the PwC report pointed out were the KRG’s antiquated penal code, Administrative Law, and procurement system. In October 2009, the Kurdistan Region began addressing these issues. We now have a new penal code pending approval, and a code of conduct for officials with an Executive Office of Governance and Integrity championing reform from within.  We have even revised our procurement procedures to improve transparency and ensure that only the companies with best practices work with us.

This is just the beginning of good governance for the Kurdistan Region and there is much more to do. Good governance will always be an ongoing process, but we are moving in the right direction.

Here is my ful speech:

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for inviting me here today.

It is a pleasure to be at George Mason. Your international affairs program clearly has a superb reputation. And I’m pleased to hear that there is close to 200 Kurdish students currently studying here at graduate and under-graduate levels across of range of majors.

When we share our educational experiences, we share our cultures and viewpoints. In this we build bridges of understanding that transcend political boundaries cultures and other barriers. So I’m glad to be here, and I’m glad Iraqi Kurds are welcome here.

I’d also like to thank Allen Merten, President of George Mason, and Professor Shiraev (Shrive) for their leadership and efforts

We’re here today to discuss good governance. 

Good governance is the foundation for stability and economic prosperity.  A goal that most governments yearn to achieve, but regrettably, many fall short of.

The nature of government is to be in a constant state of reform, revision, change and—most importantly—renewal.  

So no matter how noble the cause of any individual to rid government of corruption, over time without the proper mechanisms and diligence in place, inefficiency and ineffectiveness will seep in.

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is in a unique situation. Having been effectively running our own affairs since 1992, our Region has undergone significant transformation; transformation in the size and proficiency of our government and in the increased scale and speed of our economic development. 

In just 8 years, we went from being in a humanitarian crisis to starting to develop our economic base. 18 years since our first experiment in governance, we are leading the charge in building our institutions infrastructure and society.  During Saddam’s rule, Iraq, to include the Kurdistan Region was under international sanctions.  Our Region of the country, was also under Saddam, and at times, regionally enforced embargos.

Add to that a bloody internal conflict that almost irreparably split our society and you could say that we, as a government did not have the best starting point.

Thanks to our American friends, notably then Secretary of State Madeline Albright, we overcame those internal differences and began the difficult task of unifying our administration and society.  For Kurdistan, this laid the foundation for what was to come.

After the just decision was made to liberate Iraq, unlike the rest of Iraq, at the fall of  Saddam’s regime, the Kurdistan Region was more experienced in democracy, and the delivery of public services. In short order, we’ve been able to build a fully-functioning and legitimate government under the auspices of the Iraqi Federal Constitution. 

But I am not here to tell you that everything is now fine, that we are perfectly incorruptible and transparent!

I’m not going to do that. The fact is, like any government anywhere, the KRG has not been immune to corruption or misuse of public funds. We have come to learn that we can always improve upon the level of transparency and public accountability.

We are, however, taking steps to address these facts. Not singular steps, but fundamental moves that will protect the people and the government from corruption, and ensure public funds are used for their intended purpose—whether tomorrow or twenty years from now.   We are taking this issue seriously, before it is too late, and before it becomes much harder to wrong the rights within our system.

What’s important is that we recognize we can strengthen our system

We’ve recently held two regional elections. Both were declared free and fair by the United Nations, the U.S. government and numerous NGOs.  We’ve also participated with enthusiasm in the nationwide elections to ensure our strength at a federal level.  

We’ve seen numerous related successes:

• Almost 80 percent of the Region’s 2.5 million eligible voters voted in our Regions elections last summer.
• At least 30 percent of Kurdistan’s parliament is women.  It is well known that parliaments with large percentages of women better perform their oversight role and decrease level of corruption.
• And every religious and ethnic group is represented—not just Kurds, but Chaldeans, Assyrians, Turkmen, Yazidis and more.

Good government begins with good elections. But it doesn’t end there.

So what is the KRG doing about governance issues and transparency?

Well, we’re doing a lot.

After years of deliberation on the best approach, we hired world-renowned consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers—an American firm—to first assess the situation in the Kurdistan Region, and then provide a roadmap for how best to improve.

Through no prodding from outside elements, we hired an outside consultant, a third-party, using our own funds. Why did we do this?

As I’ve said, having lived under Saddam’s tyranny, the people of the Kurdistan Region know bad government. We’ve been gassed, tortured and tormented. Attempts were made to shatter our culture and civilization.. On top of that, we’re not exactly in the best of neighborhoods.

Despite all of that, we want to build businesses ourselves and have a stake in the way our government is renewed and transformed. We want to provide opportunities for our children. We want to build real, enduring connections to members of the global community. Because, in the end, we know that we need to make this work. And to make this work—to make our place in Iraq work—we need to be increase accountability to our citizens and better deliver public services and transparently use our resources as we develop our infrastructure.  

So it is about actually accomplishing what we set out to achieve and also about doing it in a credible manner.

PwC has worked with dozens of nations worldwide. They are independent, with no interests in the Region. And they will attest to the fact that the KRG has given them complete and total access. There have been no Sacred Cows. Nothing has been off limits.

In 2006, PwC commenced their initial assessment. They met with government officials. They met with citizens. They met with business leaders. They examined documentation, records, bookkeeping, and strategies.

Last year, they completed the assessment and provided a report.  In July 2009, three years later, standing side-by-side former Prime Minister of Kurdistan—Nechirvan Barzani—PricewaterhouseCoopers announced the Strategy to address what they found in their assessment. They also set forth the timeline and benchmarks for what the KRG has to do to improve.

This includes delivery of services, transparency of government and concerns over possible corruption. Aside from noting where we are doing things right, the PwC report lays out a series of gaps and shortcomings in the KRG approach to governance and transparency.

No one took it and said you’re wrong. There was no push back. We as a government—as a people—said we have to fix what needs fixing.

To give you a sense of what we’re dealing with, let’s look at three examples of the types of problems they found.

• First, the KRG’s penal code did not conform to United Nations recommendations. In fact, it was the same penal code from 1991, as under Saddam. Clearly, this was not good.
• Second, the Region lacked an up-to-date Administrative Law, an enforceable code of conduct for government officials. You can’t be called out for doing something wrong, if there’s nothing that say you’re behaving improperly. This is basic, but important.
• Third, the procurement system was antiquated and allowed for not only graft to seep in from within, but allowed the government to be taken advantage of from contractors. It also allowed for the procurement of goods that did not result in the highest quality at the lowest possible price. This had to change.

Knowing about the problem is one thing. Fixing it is another. So what are we doing?

Following upon the delivering of the report and recommendations of PricewaterhouseCoopers, the KRG began taking steps in October 2009 to resolve the many issues it faces.

Let’s return to those three issues.

• First, we have updated our penal code—through coordination with PwC and the Harvard Law School’ s Director of the  Institute on Global Law & Policy. That law is now is pending for approval by the government.
• Second, to address the Administrative Law issue, we drafted a Code of Conduct for Executive Officials of the KRG, which was passed by the Council of Ministers. It will now be implemented by the newly established Executive Office of Governance and Integrity. This office not only will implement the Code of Conduct but act as a champion to drive the implementation of the governance and transparency strategy.
• Third, to reform our procurement system, we looked at the new rules in place from Iraq’s federal government. Along with PwC, we revised these rules, tightening them up and are adding extra provisions—such as features unique to the Middle East.

This includes, for example, a provision to ensure that contractors who seek to do business in the region are responsible and reliable companies.

They must have a verifiable Anti-Corruption Compliance Program—in much the same way that the U.S. Federal Acquisition Guidelines require companies to have effective compliance programs as a condition to doing business with the government. 

Companies who fail to meet this requirement will be declared ineligible to do work with the KRG.

So we put in place a draft revision of the procurement law. That will dramatically change how procurement is done, making sure everything is transparent and competitive.

There’s still much to do. In fact, we have a multiple year program of initiatives.

With these types of programs, everyone wants to see quick wins. So do we. We want to point to evidence of real progress. But we’re in this for the long-haul. We’re not trying to paper over our issues.

So how do we know if it’s working?

• There are soft benchmarks, such as the laws we pass.
• The big test is going to be when we have accountability actions against those people who don’t get onboard and follow the rules and procedures that we are now establishing.
• And there are other tests, such as how outside groups view the KRG—from civil society organizations, such as Transparency International, to business organizations, like the Chamber of Commerce. How do we rate, and are companies—respectable companies—doing business with us.

As I’ve said, the Kurdistan Regional Government knows its faults. We’ve highlighted them, and we’re filling them in. And we’re doing this on our own. We are moving in the right direction.

In fact, just the other day the Kurdistan Region passed its budget for the year. This may not seem like much to outsiders. But it is a considerable achievement. We encourage—and survived—all the public debate and scrutiny. We made it through the parliamentary procedures. And at the end of the day, we built upon the accomplishments of the previous KRG administration.

Our budget is now available online, on the Kurdistan Parliaments website.

Good governance is a challenge faced by every country in the world. It’s an immense challenge. We are going to have setbacks, challenges and limitations. But we’re moving forward.

And I can say, even with a change of government last fall, our progress has not slowed. On the contrary, the current cabinet, led by Dr. Barham Salih, has adopted this program fully and is adhering to the KRG’s new governance principles of:

• The Rule of Law
• Public Service is Public Trust
• Governmental Functions Shall be Open and Transparent
• Public Funds Must Always be used for Their Intended Purposes

Everything we do is tailored to us building institutions, a foundation upon which our regional government can build a successful future. We’re not looking for big personalities or publicity stunts. We’re looking for results.

Through this, we hope to live up to the sacrifices made by Iraqis, in particular Kurds, and American and other coalition partners to free Iraq from tyranny. We look to restores its place in the Middle East as a positive actor. I am confident, that this will begin with the Kurdistan Region.

So this is what we’re doing. We’re proud of it. We believe it will deliver results. And we’re committed to it.

Thank you.

Anfal commenced in mid-April, some 22 years ago. The series of attacks on the Kurdish people were lead by Saddam Hussein and Ali Hassan al-Majid—known as “Chemical Ali”, who was tried and executed for these crimes just last January. Villages were razed, civilians were displaced, and many were executed. Others were sent to concentration camps. Children were taken from their mothers. Approximately 180,000 people died or disappeared during the campaign.

On Tuesday, the recovered bodies were finaly laid to rest in a ceremony in Chamchamal. Peshmerga fighters buried the coffins draped with Kurdish flags in a cemetery created specifically for the ceremony. More than 4,000 people attended, including Barham Salih, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and Nechirvan Barzani, former Prime Minister. Other KRG officials, foreign diplomats and family members of victims were also there.

This is a tragic reminder of the brutality the Kurds suffered under Saddam Hussein’s reign. Now, however, the children are finally getting the respect they deserve. We must never forget them, or anyone who became victim to the tyranny of government.