Statement by the Presidency of the Kurdistan
Region and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) regarding the American raid
at dawn today on the consulate of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Erbil.
11 January 2007
The Presidency and the Kurdistan Regional Government express their dismay and
condemnation of the American action against the official consulate of the
Islamic Republic of Iran in Erbil, capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The
consulate was opened by agreement between the governments of Iraq and the
Islamic Republic of Iran, and enjoys immunity and protection under the 1963
Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
Unlike other parts of Iraq, the Kurdistan Region enjoys safety, security,
stability and the rule of law. The US action does not conform to the policy of
attempting to spread security and stability throughout all of Iraq. No military
action should be taken in the Kurdistan Region without consultations with
security authorities here.
The people of the Kurdistan Region protest against and reject this action which
violates our internal sovereignty. We do not accept that disputes with our
neighbouring countries should be brought onto our soil. We call for the
immediate release of those arrested.
