Israel Matzav

US establishing consulates and embassy branches in Kurdistan

The United States is establishing consular offices or embassy branches in Arbil, Mosul and Kirkuk, which are all in Iraqi Kurdistan (Hat Tip: Joshua I).

The United States is planing to establish a consulate in capital of Federal Kurdistan Region, U.S. officials said on Monday. There are also plans to open an embassy branch office in Kirkuk and Mosul.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Michael Corbin told in a press briefing that U.S. consulates are being established in Arbil as well as Basra, Umm Qasr.

The embassy branch offices in Mosul and Kirkuk will remain open for three to five years.

"There are issues in Kirkuk and in Mosul that have not only to do with Arab-Kurd issues, but also Iraq's minorities, the Yazidis and Christians, and we want to be able to address their issues." Corbin said.

Unfortunately, President Obama is unlikely to take the logical next step (opening consulates in Turkish Kurdistan) because it would offend the Erdogan junta. And Israel is precluded from following suit because it has no diplomatic relations with Iraq (Iraq's decision).

/sigh

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:10 PM