Washington—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Representative Michael T. McCaul, the Committee’s Ranking Member, today released the following statement on the occasion of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi’s visit to Washington:

“A strong U.S.-Iraq bilateral relationship is critically important. We hope Prime Minister Kadhimi and his team will continue to work with the United States on the security, economic, and humanitarian challenges facing Iraq.

“We applaud Prime Minister Kadhimi’s announcement that his government would hold accountable those who committed acts of violence against peaceful protestors. We encourage full respect for the rule of law and basic freedoms in Iraq, as well as continued steps to rein in non-state militias and prepare for free and fair elections in 2021. Additionally, the Government of Iraq must take all appropriate action to protect U.S. diplomats and servicemembers in Iraq.

“We strongly support a sovereign and democratic Iraq safe for all its citizens.”

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