US Ambassador Bids Farewell to Kurdistan Region

[CalvinLed]

US Ambassador Bids Farewell to Kurdistan Region

Posted on 28 May 2012.

President Masoud Barzani welcomed US Ambassador James Jeffrey on Sunday for a farewell visit to the Region as he concludes his term in Iraq.

Ambassador Jeffrey thanked President Barzani and the Kurdistan Regional Government for their important role during his two year posting in Iraq.

“I thank you for your support and cooperation. Under your leadership, Kurdistan has seen a lot of growth and prosperity and it is part of US policy in Iraq to protect this success,” said the outgoing Ambassador, who is scheduled to leave Iraq later this week.

President Barzani and Ambassador Jeffery discussed the current political crisis in Iraq and the ongoing efforts to resolve this crisis, particularly the recent meetings held in Erbil and Najaf.

The Ambassador reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to the democratic process in Iraq and said his government will support any decision that the Iraqi people make within the framework of the democratic and constitutional process.

Ambassador Jeffrey was confirmed as the US Ambassador to Iraq in August 2010 when he replaced Ambassador Christopher Hill in that post. Prior to this role, he served as the US Ambassador to Turkey. He also previously completed assignments as the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State for Iraq, Deputy Chief of Mission in Baghdad, and US Chargé d’Affaires to Iraq.

Ambassador Jeffrey is expected to be succeeded by Mr Brett McGurk in the near future. Mr McGurk was nominated as the new US Ambassador to Iraq by US President Barak Obama on 27 March, and he is now awaiting a confirmation hearing by the US Senate.

The farewell meeting was also attended by President Barzani’s Chief of Staff, Dr. Fuad Hussein, and the Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa.

(Source: KRG)

http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/category/politics/

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