The phrase "a statement congratulating the" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a formal expression of praise or acknowledgment directed towards someone or something.
Example: "The committee issued a statement congratulating the winners of the annual scholarship program."
Alternatives: "a message honoring the" or "a note commending the".
Ann Mroz, editor of Times Higher Education magazine, issued a statement congratulating the Egyptian university, adding "any institution that makes it into this table is truly world class".
On May 6th, Al Qaeda confirmed bin Laden's death and released a statement congratulating "the Islamic nation" on "the martyrdom of its good son Osama".
After the election commission declared Mr. Kenyatta the winner, the American government issued a statement congratulating "the people of Kenya for voting peacefully" but, pointedly enough, making no mention of the president-elect.
On Thursday evening, the American ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, had issued a statement congratulating the five new nonpermanent members — Chad, Chile, Lithuania, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati issued a statement congratulating the freed hostages and their families.
The president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, issued a statement congratulating the artist on the achievement: "DJ Black Coffee continues to inspire our youth with this achievement and has now become our prime international export in the music industry, as an example of the South African youth talent," he said.
After the summit, Moon issued a short statement congratulating the U.S. and North Korea on a "successful" and "historic" meeting, praising Trump for his initiative and promising to work toward inter-Korean peace.
The White House did not comment, and the State Department put out a written statement congratulating the Russian people and saying the United States "looks forward to working with the president-elect after the results are certified and he is sworn in".
In an official statement congratulating the soldiers involved, Erdoğan did not mention the Kurds.
(The level of coördination that took place is unclear, and the details of the mission have been further confused by conflicting accounts from Kurdish and Turkish leaders). In an official statement congratulating the soldiers involved, Erdoğan did not mention the Kurds.
In due course they get to their feet and silently don false beards before one of them reads out an ironic statement congratulating the men on their supremacy.
