U.S. opens general consulate in Iraq’s Kurdistan

ARBIL / IraqiNews.com: The United States has opened a general consulate in Arbil, the capital of north Iraq ’s Kurdistan Region on Sunday, in a celebration attended by a large number of Kurdistan and U.S. officials.   “Today (Sunday) we are opening the first general consulate in Kurdistan Region, that shall represent the American people, through cooperation with our colleagues in Basra and Baghdad , to cover the cities of Arbil, Sulaimaniya and Dohuk,” the new American Consul General in Kurdistan Alex Scares said in his speech at the opening of the consulate.   On his part, the U.S. Defense Department’s Undersecretary, Thomas Nice, said: “The opening of our consulates in southern and northern Iraq , together with our Embassy in Baghdad , shall help to link this active (Kurdistan) Region, that has no other synonym in Iraq ’s national policy.”   The President of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani, in his speech, had reiterated the significance of opening of the American Consulate, saying: “Today is an important day in the relations of Kurdistan people with America, crowning the long-range relations that we have shed bloods to achieve it today.”   “We shall continue our positive role in Iraq and try to settle all our problems in Kurdistan Region,” Barzani said.   The celebration had witnessed the playing of the Iraqi, Kurdish and American national anthems , whilst the American flag was raised on the building of the newly-opened U.S. Consulate General in Ainkawa township, northwest of Arbil.   The celebration of the General Consulate’s opening was attended by the U.S. Defense Department’s Undersecretary, Thomas Nice, the U.S. Ambassador in Iraq, James Jeffery, The President of Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani, the Premier of Kurdistan Region, Barham Saleh, Kurdistan Parliament’s Speaker, Kamal Karkuki and the Wife of Iraq’s President, Jalal Talabani, Mrs. Hearo Ibrahim Ahmed.   SKH (RT)   697