Embassy News
Ambassador Ryan Announcing Student Visas
August 12, 2008
AMBASSADOR CROCKER: Well, good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining me for what I think is an important occasion in U.S.-Iraqi relations. I am very pleased and honored that the deputy minister of higher education, Dr. Salam Hassan Khoshnaw could be with us today as well.
Because, beginning today, here at the consular section of the new American Embassy compound, we will be issuing student visas to young Iraqis who wish to proceed to the United States for their education. This will be the first time since 1990 that visa services will be available to the public, here at the American Embassy in Baghdad. It is also the first step toward a resumption of full visa services here in Iraq.
It wasn't by accident that we made the decision to start visa services with student and exchange visitor visas. Educational relations can be one of the most important elements in an overall bilateral relationship. And they have been particularly important between Iraq and the United States, both historically and at the present.
In 1931, for example, Americans were involved in the establishment of Baghdad College. Now, we are very pleased to note the establishment of the American University of Iraq in Sulaimaniya.
Iraqis and Americans have many things in common. And one of those is that our two peoples place great importance on education. Iraqis traditionally have led the region in the numbers and the accomplishments of Iraq's university graduates. Some of them will travel under the auspices of the Fulbright program. In the coming academic year, we expect that 40 of Iraq's top scholars will travel to the United States as Fulbright grantees to pursue masters degrees.
And, Dr. Salam, we very much hope that a significant number of the students who will benefit from the Prime Minister's recently announced program for 10,000 scholarships will also pursue their higher education in the United States.
So, again, thank you for being here today on what is a new occasion, a new chapter in our important bilateral relationship with Iraq, and the strengthening of our connection and our cooperation with the ministry of higher education.
And, Dr. Salam, I would be very honored if you would care to say a few words.
(Applause.)