Officially...the signing of a twinning agreement between Erbil and the American city of Nashville

Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw, Nashville Mayor John Cooper, and a number of political figures from the Kurdistan Region, the United States of America, and the Kurdish community officially signed a twinning agreement between Erbil and Nashville, on Saturday, September 9, 2023.

In a joint press conference following the signing of the agreement, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw and Nashville Mayor John Cooper expressed their satisfaction with the accord, describing today as a historic day.

"It's unprecedented to bring two different cultures together," Mayor John Cooper of Nashville said.

He also stated that Erbil and Nashville share many similarities, particularly in the sphere of investment, and that "we are attempting to build relationships between the people of both cities in order to strengthen our friendship, the agricultural sector between the two cities will be developed."

"Nashville is more than just a music city. I know Erbil has some excellent musicians, but Nashville is an educational center. "I believe our youth can begin to grow together," he added.

"Today is a historic day for us in Erbil, and a day full of sovereignty," stated Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw.

Meanwhile, Omed Khoshnaw conveyed Prime Minister Masrour Barzani's greetings to the Kurdish Diaspora in Nashville.

"The process of signing this agreement has been ongoing since 2014, but last year we both decided to start signing this agreement," he explained.

Khoshnaw continued, "There is no doubt that this decision was influenced by the fact that we share a number of great goals, and we will unite our goals for the mutual benefit of Erbil and Nashville." The governor hoped that the agreement would benefit the cultural, educational, health, and artistic sectors as well as trade between the two countries.

"We will not forget the role and assistance of the United States during the ISIS era, when President Barzani decided to confront the terrorists, who were defeated in coordination with the Peshmerga," Khoshnaw added.