Kurdistan Regional Government
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British Consulate hosts Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration in Erbil

MON, 4 JUN 2012 17:16 | KRG.org

Erbil, Kurdistan Region - Iraq (KRG.org) – The UK’s Consulate General in Erbil on Saturday organized a celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday and her Diamond Jubilee – her 60-year reign as Queen of the Commonwealth countries.

Britain’s Ambassador to Iraq Michael Aron joined the British Consul General in Erbil, Mr Chris Bowers, in welcoming the guests. He spoke of the long and positive history between Britain and the Kurdistan Region, recalling the support of the British government for people of the Region during the 1991 crisis and through the implementation of the No-Fly-Zone that helped protect the Region until the fall of the former regime in 2003.

The Ambassador said that he was amazed with the progress Kurdistan has seen since that time, and he said that he was impressed with the ongoing political and economic growth that is taking place.

Guests included many senior Kurdistan Region officials, along with diplomats and representatives from the consulates and foreign offices in Kurdistan, and members of the local British business community at the Erbil Rotana Hotel.

Mr Bowers highlighted the growing diplomatic, social and economic relations between Britain and the Kurdistan Region, pointing out that a large number of Kurdish students are now pursuing their graduate study in the UK through the KRG’s Human Capacity Development Programme (HCDP), and that UK companies have now made significant investments into the oil and gas industry in Kurdistan.

On behalf of President Masoud Barzani and Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, Minister Falah Mustafa, the Head of KRG Department of Foreign Relations, congratulated the government and people of Britain on the happy occasion.

Speaking of the long history between the British and Kurdish people, he said, “Our relations with the government and people of the United Kingdom have grown dramatically over the years. Britain is now a major trading and investment partner from the western world, and we’re very pleased to see this relationship continue to grow.”

He went on to thank the government of the United Kingdom for opening its Consulate General in Erbil, and for the coordination of the British Council and the activities of the private sector throughout the Region.



Baronness Emma Nicholson, Founder and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Business Development in Iraq and the Regions in the British House of Lords, also delivered a short address in which she highlighted Kurdistan’s openness toward the international community and the many opportunities that remain available in Kurdistan.

In addition to a large number of diplomats and representatives of the international community, the President’s Chief of Staff, Dr Fuad Hussein, attended on President Barzani’s behalf. Former Iraqi Prime Minister and current Chairman of the al-Iraqiya political block, Dr Ayad Allawi, attended along with other representatives of political parties, businesses and universities as well as a number of KRG ministers and officials, including: KRG Minister for the Interior Karim Sinjari; Minister of Natural Resources Dr Ashti Hawrami; Minister of Trade Sinan Chalabi; Minister of Higher Education Dr Ali Saeed; Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Hassan Mohammed; and the Governor of Erbil Nawzad Hadi.

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