Washington, DC, USA (us.gov.krd) – Representative Bayan Sami Abul Rahman had a virtual meeting with Andrew Griffin, Deputy Director in the Office of Global Change of the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, on Wednesday, June 23. 

The two discussed environmental challenges facing Kurdistan and Iraq and the opportunities for cooperation and assistance, especially in water-related matters, fuel emissions, and preserving Kurdistan’s biodiversity.

Representative Abdul Rahman noted concerns in Kurdistan and Iraq as a whole on declining water levels due to the building of dams by neighboring countries.

Mr. Griffin is a career Foreign Service Officer with more than 15 years of diplomatic experience. He previously served as the Acting Economic and Political Counselor position at the U.S. Embassy in Santiago from March to July 2020, and as the Economic Unit Chief served from July 2017 to March 2020. Before his assignment to Chile, he served from 2013-2017 as the Regional Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) Hub Officer for South America, based in Lima, Peru.