President Barzani honors Stafford Clarry on his death

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Saturday extended his condolences on the death of Stafford Clarry, a former senior advisor to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

“It was with sadness that I learned of the death of Mr. Stafford Clarry, a great friend of Kurdistan. I extend my deepest condolences to his family, and friends in the United States and Kurdistan,” President Barzani said on X.

Clarry, a Hawaiian native, was a senior advisor on humanitarian affairs and served as the first director of Erbil International Airport. He passed away on Friday.

He also once headed the United Nations’ Oil-for-Food program in Iraq that was adopted in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 986 and enabled Iraq to export some of its oil in exchange for food imports after being sanctioned for invading Kuwait.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) also paid its respects to Clarry.

“We were deeply saddened to hear the passing of one of our greatest friends, Stafford Clarry. Our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased. The Kurds have lost a true friend. Rest in peace Stafford,” the party’s foreign relations office said on X.