Washington DC, USA (us.gov.krd) – Representative Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman met with Steve Bitner, Director of Iraq at the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, on December 15, 2022, to discuss recent political and security developments, as well as commercial relations and congressional visits to Kurdistan and Iraq.

The KRG envoy and Mr. Bitner discussed the importance of visits to the Kurdistan Region and other parts of Iraq by members of the U.S. Congress and ways to encourage such tours. Members of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee visited Baghdad and Erbil during the Thanksgiving holiday and met high officials as well as faith leaders and representatives of NGOs. They also spent time with American soldiers based there.

Ms. Abdul Rahman and Mr. Bitner also discussed trade and investment opportunities in Kurdistan and expanding commercial ties between the Region and America.

Separately, on the same day, Representative Abdul Rahman met with Emily Barnes, Director for Iraq and Syria, at the White House National Security Council. They discussed recent security threats to Kurdistan and the political process in Iraq.