Following the ceremony Minister Burt held a press conference at the Saad Abdulla Convention Centre. He said, “I had the opportunity to witness the signing of an extension of the relationship between the KRG and the British National School of Government. This is designed to further improve the capacity and training of government here.”
He added, “This demonstrates the commitment of the Kurdistan Regional Government to delivering services to the people they represent, and the United Kingdom welcomes this recognition.”
When asked about his meeting with Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki in Baghdad, he said, “We are well aware of the tensions between Baghdad and Kurdistan. Our advice is, as always, to encourage in a democratic process to continue to talk and find a way through difficulties in a constitutional manner which builds and supports the democratic institutions...The detailed resolution of any political problem such as that must lie with the leaders in Iraq.”
During his visit Minister Burt also met the Deputy Prime Minister Imad Ahmad with several KRG ministers. The Deputy Prime Minister said, “We value the relationship with the United Kingdom due to the role you have played in liberating Iraq. But you also have an important role to play in the rebuilding process of Iraq, especially in Kurdistan as we offer more safety and stability compared with the rest of Iraq.”
He added, “We need the experience and capabilities of British companies in the economic, investment and trade sectors.”
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