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For Immediate Release
Office of the Vice President
March 18, 2008
Remarks by Vice President Cheney and Kurdish Regional Government President Barzani After Meeting
KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani's Private Office
Irbil, Iraq
12:46 P.M. (Local)
PRESIDENT BARZANI: (As translated.) On behalf of the people of Kurdistan,
I would like to welcome very warmly Mr. Vice President, Dick Cheney, the
Vice President of the United States for a very helpful visit in Kurdistan
region. Indeed, this is a historic day; it's a very historic day for our
people. We, at this time very well -- this is a very important message for
everybody. As far as we are concerned, this is another evidence for the
confirmation of the support of the United States for Iraq, for the people
of Iraq, and also for the support of the people of Kurdistan and the
Kurdistan region, and another evidence of the support of the United States
for the democracy process and building a free, federal, democratic Iraq.
We understand very well the importance of this visit. Indeed, I would like
to reiterate our commitment that we will continue to play a positive role
in order to build a new Iraq -- an Iraq with a foundation of a great
federal, democratic, pluralistic, free Iraq.
I would like also, Mr. Vice President, to assure you that we have committed
to the constitution of Iraq, and we will continue to be playing a positive
role, to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. We will be
part of the solution for all the efforts inside Iraq and out for the
neighboring countries. We will also continue to be a factor for stability,
a factor for peace and stability in all the area.
I would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks and
appreciation for President Bush, for yourself, the people of the United
States, and also the United States military, for the sacrifices that they
have given, and also for the great decision that they have taken in order
to liberate the people of Iraq from the dictatorial, tyrannical regime.
I would also like to take this opportunity to express our sincere
condolences to the families of the victims, for all the sacrifices they
have given. And we highly appreciate these sacrifices. I would also like
to assure you that we will stay together, we will be with you in one
trench, and without any hesitation or reservation, to fight terrorism and
also to succeed in our efforts in the democratic process, and also in
building a free and prosperous Iraq.
Once again, I would like to welcome you very warmly, and thank you very
much for this visit.
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: Let me thank President Barzani for his most
gracious hospitality today, for welcoming me on my first visit to Iraqi
Kurdistan. It's a visit that's long overdue.
Just about 17 years ago this month, when I was Secretary of Defense, the
United States launched Operation Provide Comfort, to save hundreds of
thousands of Kurdish men, women and children under threat from Saddam
Hussein's regime after the Gulf War.
That operation, of course, followed just by three years the nightmare of
Saddam Hussein's brutal campaign against Iraqi Kurds, including the use of
chemical weapons against innocent civilians at Halabja.
Provide Comfort was an extraordinary mission that led to the establishment
of the American "no fly zone" over Northern Iraq. It also led to the
establishment of a very special friendship between the United States and
the people of Iraqi Kurdistan. The results have been quite remarkable for
all to see, in terms of the development and the prosperity of this part of
Iraq. The transformation that has occurred in less than two decades sets
an extraordinary example, I believe, for the rest of Iraq and for what is
possible, with patience and resolve, when the United States and the people
of Iraq join together in a common effort and strategic partnership.
President Barzani and I, and his associates, have been talking today about
the overall situation in Iraq, as well as what's happening here in Iraqi
Kurdistan. We are certainly counting on President Barzani's leadership to
help us conclude a new strategic relationship between the United States and
Iraq, as well as to pass crucial pieces of national legislation in the
months ahead.
We think it's important to lay the foundation for the kind of relationship
that will bind our people together for the future as we build on the
experiences and shared sacrifice that we've been -- that we've worked on
together in the past.
So, Mr. President, let me thank you once again for your hospitality, and
say that I look forward to having the opportunity to return the same when
you visit Washington in the near future.
END 12:56 P.M. (Local)
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