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The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

A place to post daily news of Kurdistan from valid sources .

Re: The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

PostAuthor: Anthea » Thu Nov 02, 2023 10:32 pm

Peshmerga Unification Progress

Kurdistan Ministry of Peshmerga on Thursday received a delegation from the US-led Global Coalition to review the memorandum of understanding between the two sides, including ongoing efforts to unify Peshmarga forces

"The meeting reviewed the implementation of the memorandum of understanding and emphasized the need to accelerate the steps to reorganize the different units of the Peshmerga forces according to the strategic plan for the unification of the forces," read a statement released by the Peshmerga Ministry today.

Senior staff of the Peshmerga Ministry stressed that they continue and intensified their efforts to reorganize the different Peshmerga forces and fortunately important and good steps have been taken and the desire to advance this process continues."

For his part, Commander of US Central Command General Kenneth McKenzie "expressed his satisfaction with the efforts of the Peshmerga Ministry and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to implement the provisions of the memorandum."

The unification of Peshmerga forces has made significant progress under this cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) led by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, with 28 brigades already unified.

This KRG cabinet, in collaboration with the International Coalition forces, has achieved considerable progress in ongoing endeavors to reform, unify, and institutionalize Peshmerga forces. The main objective of this effort is to centralize the command of these forces under the Ministry of Peshmerga.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/828963
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Re: The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

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Re: The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

PostAuthor: Anthea » Sat Nov 04, 2023 8:31 pm

Elections to be held in Kirkuk

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi Provincial Council elections to be held on Dec. 18 in Kirkuk will be the first of their kind in 18 years

In Kirkuk, 870,920 people are eligible to vote to elect 15 members of the Kirkuk provincial council from 248 candidates selected from 10 coalitions, five independent lists, and three independent candidates.

In the elections, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has 30 candidates, while the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has formed an alliance with the Kurdistan Communist Party, also totaling 30 candidates.

In the 2005 elections, Kurdish political parties in Kirkuk participated in the provincial council elections with the Kirkuk Brotherhood list. This list won 26 out of 41 seats as the first list in Kirkuk.

    The Kurds are trying to restore the city's Kurdish identity, which they allege was distorted by the events of Oct. 16, 2017
The Kirkuk Provincial Council has 15 seats. Since Oct. 16 2017, an authoritarian administration has taken over all administration joints.

The Kurds claim they became marginalized from most administrative positions and replaced by Arabs and Turkmen, which previously represented a minority in provincial councils and elections.

The chief position of governor and more than 100 other administrative positions were then taken away from Kurds.

Moreover, the new administration prohibits raising the Kurdistan flag or using the Kurdish language in official documents and public displays.

Kirkuk is home to a mix of ethnicities, primarily Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen, and is the most emblematic of territories disputed between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan region.

Recently in August, Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani’s cabinet stressed the normalization of the Kirkuk situation, ordering the restoration of the KDP’s office in the province.

Sudani’s decision led to major protests by the Arabs and Turkmen in the city, who retaliated by blocking the Erbil-Kirkuk Road. Kurdish counter-protests immediately ensued. Four Kurdish protestors were shot dead.

The oil-rich province was under Kurdish Peshmerga forces' protection after ISIS emerged in 2014 and the subsequent collapse of the Iraqi army.

    However, Kurdish attempts at secession from Iraq in 2017 led to a military invasion by the Iraqi Armed Forces, at the time causing a power vacuum that allowed ISIS to resurge, albeit slightly
The Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) led a ground assault on Kirkuk in Oct. 2017, a campaign pioneered by the renowned Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani.

That was the last of the Kurds in Kirkuk. They felt betrayed by the United States, who in the present setting has criticized Iran for arming and training proxy militias all over the region, in response to the Hamas-Israel conflict.

At the time, the US reasoned that a united, federal Iraq was the best weapon to defeat ISIS. The State Department Spokesperson at the time, Heather Nauert, reasoned "But holding a referendum or even a non-binding resolution at this time would distract from urgent priorities and that be the defeat of ISIS, the stabilization, the return of displaced people, managing of the region's economic crisis, and resolving the region's internal political disputes."

    That reasoning must seem to haunt the State Department at this very moment, as Iran-backed proxy militias continue to pound American bases with rockets and drones. Ultimately, the oil-rich province of Kirkuk has provided a lifeline of cash flow that has strengthened these militias
In the end, the US assassinated both Soleimani and senior PMF commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis with an airstrike in Jan. 2020.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/33 ... -in-Kirkuk

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Re: The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

PostAuthor: Anthea » Tue Nov 07, 2023 6:39 pm

KDP, PUK Stress Coordination

Senior delegations from the two major parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), held a meeting on Tuesday to highlight the ongoing challenges facing the Kurdistan Region

The delegations included Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, who also serve as KDP vice-presidents, with PUK represented by party’s leader the lying traitorous Bafel Talabani and Kurdistan Region Deputy PM Qubad Talabani.

The main focus of the meeting was on the situation in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq in particular and the “sensitive” situation in the Middle East in general, a joint statement said following the meeting.

“Both sides stressed the need for coordination and cooperation, and the need to gather the strength and capacity of all political forces and parties to protect the [constitutional] entity of the Kurdistan Region, and to formulate a joint strategy that is compatible with the course of events and changes,” the statement added.

“Both sides agreed to strengthen common points and resolve problems in the direction of Kurdistan's national interests.”

In addition to the critical discussions, particular attention was given to the endorsement of the Kurdistan Regional Government's efforts in ensuring the disbursement of financial entitlements and salaries to the dedicated employees of the Kurdistan Region.

“This initiative operates within the framework of Iraq's permanent constitution, signifying a commitment to the well-being of the Region's citizens,” the statement concluded.

Since the PUK’s congress in September, the two parties had not held any meetings of this kind.

Speaking to reporters, Nechirvan Barzani, the Deputy President of the KDP, expressed optimism that the parliamentary election would proceed as scheduled in remarks to reporters following the meeting. He described their interaction with their counterparts from the PUK as constructive.

The meeting was welcomed by the Dutch Consulate General in Erbil, saying: “We congratulate the leadership of PUK and KDP on the joined meeting today and their commitment to continue this vital dialogue. We await further steps from the parties to address the pressing issues the KRI is currently facing.”

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/829468
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Re: The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

PostAuthor: Anthea » Wed Nov 08, 2023 10:43 am

KDP, PUK agree to resolve disputes

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) met on Tuesday in the Erbil suburb of Pirmam to discuss several pressing issues in the region, according to a joint statement by the two parties

In the meeting, the parties discussed the political climate in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, in addition to the region as a whole.

Both sides stressed the significance of coordination and cooperation, as well as the need to bring together all political forces and parties to protect the sovereignty of the Kurdistan Region.

The two sides further agreed to strengthen their common points and make compromises on disputes in order to promote the national interests of the Kurdish people.

Another topic of discussion was the support of the Kurdish government in providing financial entitlements and salaries to Kurdish civil servants within the framework of the Iraqi constitution.

Both sides agreed to hold future meetings that would develop an appropriate method of distributing salaries.

Moreover, KDP Deputy President Nechirvan Barzani told journalists after the meeting that they “are hopeful the parliamentary election will be held on time.”

Meanwhile, the KDP deputy president further told Kurdistan 24 that the meeting with their PUK counterparts was “positive.”

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/33 ... e-disputes

The KRG should NOT negotiate anything with PUK while the evil, traitorous dictator Bafel Talabani remains in sole control BUT should DEMAND the reinstatement of Lahur Talabany, the LEGAL co-chair of Sulaimani’s ruling party the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)
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Re: The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

PostAuthor: Anthea » Thu Nov 09, 2023 10:35 pm

Stability in Iraq

Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), on Thursday received Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, highlighting stability in Iraq and other topics

The meeting was also attended by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani as well as Secretary and members of the KDP Political Bureau, the Barzani Headquarters said in a statement.

The discussions were focused on the tensions and developments in the region, the situation in Gaza, ways to deliver humanitarian aid to area, as well as the challenges and threats to stability in Iraq and the region.

According to the statement, the meeting also shed light on the latest political developments in Iraq, and the relations between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/829737
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Re: The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

PostAuthor: Anthea » Sat Nov 11, 2023 3:53 am

Peshmerga, Iraqi army share military posts

The Peshmerga and the Iraqi army have agreed to share control of military posts in Makhmour that were at the centre of a deadly altercation last month between the two forces after the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced their withdrawal, a Kurdish commander said on Friday

“It has been decided to divide the three military posts into six - three will be controlled by Peshmerga and the others will be ruled by the Iraqi army,” Ghazi Faysal, a commander of a Peshmerga volunteer unit in Makhmour, told Rudaw.

Clashes broke out between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi army late last month near Makhmour Refugee Camp following the withdrawal of the PKK from three military posts. The altercation was initially reported as a dispute over who should replace PKK fighters in the area, but Kurdish officials later attributed it to a “misunderstanding.”

Makhmour Refugee Camp houses thousands of Kurds who fled Turkey decades ago. The camp has often come under Turkish bombardment. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has claimed that it is a “breeding ground” for the PKK - an armed group struggling for increased rights of Kurds in Turkey but designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara.

Faysal said residents of the camp are opposed to the presence of Peshmerga forces affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which enjoys close ties with Turkey.

Residents of Makhmour Refugee Camp protest against Peshmerga and Iraqi army agreement over military posts near the camp on November 2, 2023.

“First, they have issues with the KDP friends and they believe that the Iraqi government can provide them with ground and aerial protection,” noted Faysal, who is affiliated with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

Sirwan Barzani, commander of Peshmerga forces in Makhmour, said on Thursday that he met with a senior delegation from the Iraqi army and “agreed on the exact positions to ensure better coordination for the safety of the area.”

The same day, residents of the camp held a protest against the agreement. The Iraqi army told angry protesters that no military post had been handed over to the Peshmerga, according to Faysal.

Four members of Peshmerga forces, including a brigade commander and his deputy, were killed in the Makhmour clashes and several others were injured.

The Iraqi army had demanded control of the vacated military posts in return for providing security for the camp. The posts, however, are located within the jurisdiction of the Peshmerga forces. Makhmour sits along the disputed border between the Kurdistan Region and the rest of Iraq. There is a plan to establish joint Peshmerga-Iraqi brigades to secure these disputed areas, including Makhmour, but it is yet to be fully implemented.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/04112023
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Re: The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

PostAuthor: Anthea » Mon Nov 20, 2023 10:42 am

Violations of Iraq Constitution
    Risks Destabilization
Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in a speech on Monday warned that recurrent constitutional violations in Iraq are a major cause for concern, risking insecurity, destabilization, and a return to sectarianism

"Recent developments in Iraq are also concerning. Repeated violations of the Iraqi Constitution, and a lack of adherence to the agreement that led to the formation of the current government risks destabilisation, and the re-emergence of sectarianism and divisions among the major constituencies," the Kurdish leader said during opening remarks he made at the Middle East Peace and Security Forum organized by the American University of Kurdistan in Duhok.

Should unilateral decisions continue to be imposed and government institutions continue to be controlled by one group, the feeling of injustice will only deepen. The by-products of these factors; corruption, injustice and poverty will prove fertile ingredients for a return to instability. Insurgency feeds from such conditions."

The prime minister also stressed that a "wholistic approach to the governance of Iraq and the unfinished business of the region is well overdue."

In recent months and as a direct result of violations of the Iraqi constitution and financial entitlements of the people of the Kurdistan Region, Erbil has encountered difficulties in ensuring timely salary payments to its civil servants. These issues primarily arise from budget disputes with Baghdad and the continued halt in its crude oil exports since March of this year.

The Kurdistan Region is actively seeking lasting resolutions to address these ongoing issues in its relationship with Baghdad, while upholding the country's constitution and respecting the existing agreements between the two parties.

Full text of Prime Minister Barzani's speech:

President of Kurdistan, His Excellency Nechirvan Barzani

Esteemed leaders, scholars, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning,

A very warm welcome to all of you who have assembled here for the fourth meeting of the
Middle East Peace and Security Forum, hosted by the American University of Kurdistan.

Once again, we are joined by an impressive gathering of scholars, business leaders, and decision-makers, all of whom have deep knowledge of our region and a shared commitment to navigating its many challenges. The tests we face as nations and as peoples remain profound. Each and every one of you here today will, at some point in the past year, have spent time confronting many of the issues that we will debate in coming days. And I’m sure, like me, you will at times have wished that the answers were easier than they are.

The agenda put together by the conference organisers does not shy away from a formidable array of issues faced by us all. Topics such as climate change, mass migration, extremism and its drivers, sustainability and systems of governance are all up for debate. And I would expect that some of the discussions here will inform decision making and policy choices. For that is the test of gatherings such as this - how the intellectual heft displayed here can help drive meaningful outcomes.

I am pleased by the regional participation in this conference. To our friends who have travelled from neighbouring states and beyond, I welcome you and look forward to deepening our engagements. Your presence here affirms your commitment to dialogue as a driver of understanding. Whether it be on a local, or global scale, there will never be a substitute for sitting down across a table thrashing out solutions to challenges. We must continue to meet and debate.

Friends,

We must also be prepared to acknowledge that some of the issues that will be debated here are existential to us all. A rapidly warming planet will have cruel implications for our part of the world, fuelling food insecurity, water scarcity and mass migration. This is not a problem to kick down the road. It is happening now. Heatwaves are more frequent. Floods in our lands are happening more frequently, we are having to dig deeper wells to find water. Recent indications show that predictions of temperature rises in the Middle East, made not long ago, will be well short of reality. We need to do better to manage emission of carbon. We have every reason to do so, and no reason not to.

Now is not the time to avoid responsibility or to wish our problems away. We need to act in a collective good, as citizens first and foremost, but with an added global dimension. Remaining wedded to a narrow sense of who we are leaves us ill-equipped to deal with the common challenges facing us all. Kurdistan will not escape the effects of a warming Kuwait. Bahrain and Basra are linked not just by sea - but by a common climate destiny.

Our common humanity demands we confront a warming planet, as it does the scenes of war and deprivation we have witnessed over the decades and continue to witness now.

We can never allow such images to be normalised.

We have all seen heart-breaking videos showing innocent civilians, children and elderly as victims of another devastating war. These scenes must be a wakeup call. Violence on the scale we are observing is never a solution and will not bring peace but endless cycles of destruction and calamity.

We must not only condemn war and violence but find peaceful solutions to outstanding disputes and problems before escalating into military confrontation. We must not wait to solve problems while we can before losing control of events. We must accept each other’s differences and learn to live together with respect and not look for excuses to reject the other side.

We have all been horrified by the renewed violence in the Middle East. But the framing of the decade-old conflicts is also problematic. For example, for 30 years the call for a two-state solution for Palestinians and Israelis has been seen as a just and necessary model. Kurds have also demanded the same rights and dignities, yet our cause has often been forsaken. How do you reconcile resounding support for one just cause and deafening silence for another? It is time to do better. Intractable problems require bold responses. And, as the world looks for ways to turn the Palestinian crisis into an overdue solution, I urge a fresh approach to how we as Kurdistanis coexist with our neighbours.

Recent developments in Iraq are also concerning. Repeated violations of the Iraqi Constitution, and a lack of adherence to the agreement that led to the formation of the current government risks destabilisation, and the re-emergence of sectarianism and divisions among the major constituencies.

Should unilateral decisions continue to be imposed and government institutions continue to be controlled by one group, the feeling of injustice will only deepen. The by-products of these factors; corruption, injustice and poverty will prove fertile ingredients for a return to instability. Insurgency feeds from such conditions.

A wholistic approach to the governance of Iraq and the unfinished business of the region is well overdue.

Friends,

While you are among us, I encourage you to embrace what we have to offer as Kurdistanis. Through you, I extend an invitation to the world to witness the strides we have made economically and the communities that coexist peacefully among us. We have much to show you, and we invite your participation.

As we commence this Forum, I urge you to draw upon the collective wisdom within this room. May our discussions be an impetus for innovative ideas and pragmatic solutions.

Once again, I extend a heartfelt welcome to each and every one of you to the Middle East Peace and Security Forum.

Thank you.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/830833
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Re: The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

PostAuthor: Anthea » Mon Nov 20, 2023 10:49 am

Kurds Deserve Rights
    Dignity as All Nations
The people of Kurdistan deserve the very same rights as other nations, notably the right to exist without persecution and marginalization, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani emphasized in a speech on Monday

"We have all been horrified by the renewed violence in the Middle East. But the framing of the decade-old conflicts is also problematic. For example, for 30 years the call for a two-state solution for Palestinians and Israelis has been seen as a just and necessary model," the Kurdish leader noted during opening remarks he made at the Middle East Peace and Security Forum organized by the American University of Kurdistan in Duhok.

    Kurds have also demanded the same rights and dignities, yet our cause has often been forsaken. How do you reconcile resounding support for one just cause and deafening silence for another? It is time to do better. Intractable problems require bold responses. And, as the world looks for ways to turn the Palestinian crisis into an overdue solution, I urge a fresh approach to how we as Kurdistanis coexist with our neighbours."
He underscored that nations should accept each other's differences and live in peace together, adding that problems and simmering tensions must be addressed peacefully through dialogue before they explode into conflict.

"We must not only condemn war and violence but find peaceful solutions to outstanding disputes and problems before escalating into military confrontation. We must not wait to solve problems while we can before losing control of events. We must accept each other’s differences and learn to live together with respect and not look for excuses to reject the other side."

Below is the full text of Prime Minister Barzani's speech:

President of Kurdistan Region, His Excellency Nechirvan Barzani

Esteemed leaders, scholars, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning,

A very warm welcome to all of you who have assembled here for the fourth meeting of the
Middle East Peace and Security Forum, hosted by the American University of Kurdistan.

Once again, we are joined by an impressive gathering of scholars, business leaders, and decision-makers, all of whom have deep knowledge of our region and a shared commitment to navigating its many challenges. The tests we face as nations and as peoples remain profound. Each and every one of you here today will, at some point in the past year, have spent time confronting many of the issues that we will debate in coming days. And I’m sure, like me, you will at times have wished that the answers were easier than they are.

The agenda put together by the conference organisers does not shy away from a formidable array of issues faced by us all. Topics such as climate change, mass migration, extremism and its drivers, sustainability and systems of governance are all up for debate. And I would expect that some of the discussions here will inform decision making and policy choices. For that is the test of gatherings such as this - how the intellectual heft displayed here can help drive meaningful outcomes.

I am pleased by the regional participation in this conference. To our friends who have travelled from neighbouring states and beyond, I welcome you and look forward to deepening our engagements. Your presence here affirms your commitment to dialogue as a driver of understanding. Whether it be on a local, or global scale, there will never be a substitute for sitting down across a table thrashing out solutions to challenges. We must continue to meet and debate.

Friends,

We must also be prepared to acknowledge that some of the issues that will be debated here are existential to us all. A rapidly warming planet will have cruel implications for our part of the world, fuelling food insecurity, water scarcity and mass migration. This is not a problem to kick down the road. It is happening now. Heatwaves are more frequent. Floods in our lands are happening more frequently, we are having to dig deeper wells to find water. Recent indications show that predictions of temperature rises in the Middle East, made not long ago, will be well short of reality. We need to do better to manage emission of carbon. We have every reason to do so, and no reason not to.

Now is not the time to avoid responsibility or to wish our problems away. We need to act in a collective good, as citizens first and foremost, but with an added global dimension. Remaining wedded to a narrow sense of who we are leaves us ill-equipped to deal with the common challenges facing us all. Kurdistan will not escape the effects of a warming Kuwait. Bahrain and Basra are linked not just by sea - but by a common climate destiny.

Our common humanity demands we confront a warming planet, as it does the scenes of war and deprivation we have witnessed over the decades and continue to witness now.

We can never allow such images to be normalised.

We have all seen heart-breaking videos showing innocent civilians, children and elderly as victims of another devastating war. These scenes must be a wakeup call. Violence on the scale we are observing is never a solution and will not bring peace but endless cycles of destruction and calamity.

We must not only condemn war and violence but find peaceful solutions to outstanding disputes and problems before escalating into military confrontation. We must not wait to solve problems while we can before losing control of events. We must accept each other’s differences and learn to live together with respect and not look for excuses to reject the other side.

We have all been horrified by the renewed violence in the Middle East. But the framing of the decade-old conflicts is also problematic. For example, for 30 years the call for a two-state solution for Palestinians and Israelis has been seen as a just and necessary model. Kurds have also demanded the same rights and dignities, yet our cause has often been forsaken. How do you reconcile resounding support for one just cause and deafening silence for another? It is time to do better. Intractable problems require bold responses. And, as the world looks for ways to turn the Palestinian crisis into an overdue solution, I urge a fresh approach to how we as Kurdistanis coexist with our neighbours.

Recent developments in Iraq are also concerning. Repeated violations of the Iraqi Constitution, and a lack of adherence to the agreement that led to the formation of the current government risks destabilisation, and the re-emergence of sectarianism and divisions among the major constituencies.

Should unilateral decisions continue to be imposed and government institutions continue to be controlled by one group, the feeling of injustice will only deepen. The by-products of these factors; corruption, injustice and poverty will prove fertile ingredients for a return to instability. Insurgency feeds from such conditions.

A wholistic approach to the governance of Iraq and the unfinished business of the region is well overdue.

Friends,

While you are among us, I encourage you to embrace what we have to offer as Kurdistanis. Through you, I extend an invitation to the world to witness the strides we have made economically and the communities that coexist peacefully among us. We have much to show you, and we invite your participation.

As we commence this Forum, I urge you to draw upon the collective wisdom within this room. May our discussions be an impetus for innovative ideas and pragmatic solutions.

Once again, I extend a heartfelt welcome to each and every one of you to the Middle East Peace and Security Forum.

Thank you.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/830836
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Re: The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

PostAuthor: Anthea » Tue Nov 21, 2023 2:32 am

Deprivation of Kurdish Self-Determination

Rebar Ahmad, the Interior Minister of the Kurdistan Region, was among the panelists addressing the Middle East Peace and Security Forum held in Duhok, criticizing the deprivation of Kurdish self-determination in the region

During the forum, the minister underscored the underlying causes behind the sectarian, religious, and ethnic conflicts prevalent in the Middle East. He asserted that historical hegemonic rivalries, particularly pre and post-world wars, were driven by the pursuit of control over global energy supplies and material capabilities.

According to Ahmad, the relentless competition among global superpowers led to the exploitation of the region's socioeconomic and political crises. This exploitation, in turn, disrupted the power balance to favor the interests of hegemonic powers.

    Rather than seeking resolutions, these powers perpetuated and administered conflicts, resulting in consequences such as the Kurdish cause and the Arab-Israeli conflicts. These, Ahmad argued, were outcomes of the neglect of balanced power relations among nations and ethnicities in the region, exacerbating territorial disputes
Addressing the evolving global dynamics, Ahmad highlighted the ascension of China as a significant global power and described its hegemonic presence in the region as an inevitable development.

While acknowledging the economic rivalry between China and the United States, the KRG emphasized its commitment to advocating for peace, aiming to contribute to regional stability amidst these shifts.

The minister's remarks shed light on the complexities of regional conflicts, attributing them to historical power struggles and emphasizing the need for a balanced, inclusive approach toward resolving the issues plaguing the Middle East.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/830914
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Re: The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

PostAuthor: Anthea » Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:27 pm

Kurdistan's Culture of Peaceful Coexistence

Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, the Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq and the world, on Tuesday lauded the peaceful coexistence of communities of all ethic and religious backgrounds in the Kurdistan Region

Addressing a gathering of diplomats, intellectuals and government officials at the Middle East Peace and Security Forum in Duhok city today, the Christian leader praised the efforts made by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to protect and strength the spirit of mutual acceptance among all faiths in the Region.

He noted that he had previously requested from the federal government of Iraq to add a special ministry to deal with the affairs of minorities in the country, but was turned down.

Ethnic and religious minorities in the Kurdistan Region have been allocated 11 quota seats in Kurdistan's national assembly to represent their communities, and ensure an inclusive legislature that reflects all voices irrespective of their ethnic or religious background.

Christians living in Kurdistan have been allocated five seats in the Region's parliament to represent their voices, and reflect Kurdistan's diverse ethnic and religious fabric.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/830995
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Re: The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

PostAuthor: Anthea » Tue Nov 21, 2023 8:31 pm

Constitution Being Sidelined

Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday stressed that lingering problems between Erbil and Baghdad are fundamentally due to the country's constitution being neglected

Erbil-Baghdad Relations:

"The crude disputes between Erbil and Baghdad are due to the constitution not having been implemented as it is. Kurdistan's constitutional rights have unfortunately been neglected, including the right to drill, produce, and sell oil."

Federalism in Iraq:

"The obvious question is whether Iraq is a federal country or a central one. This is the key question. In a federal country, we believe powers should be distributed to all regions as enshrined in the constitution.

Unfortunately, there is a monopoly-oriented mentality in Baghdad, and I don't mean everyone of them. These people want everything to be controlled in the center. This is the difference."

Resumption of KRG Crude Exports:

"The Kurdistan Region remains committed to the constitution. And we have worked with the federal government to bridge differences on crude production and sale, but unfortunately haven't received necessary support from federal institutions.

The Ministry of Natural Resources of the Kurdistan Regional Government is ready to resume crude exports today. But the ball is in Baghdad's court. Will they fund the production of oil by companies in Kurdistan? We as the Kurdistan Regional Government will continue to protect our constitutional rights. We will also certainly be protecting the rights of the investment companies that have placed their confidence in us."

Economic Diversification:

"Kurdistan has a fertile land. There are many areas through which we can diversify our economy, and enhance sources of revenue. From the beginning of this cabinet, I have been trying to do this.

I have been working very seriously on developing the sectors of agriculture and tourism. We are also seeking to advance the sectors of education and health."

Water Scarcity:

"We have plans to build big dams in order to store water and better use it during different seasons. Proper management of water resources is one of our objectives, which we are working on."

Corruption:

"My style for confronting corruption is to root it out. There should be a system which corrupt people cannot abuse. It is our aim to build a well-functioning transparent system and also to digitalize government services in an attempt to enhance transparency and eliminate corruption.

Moreover, there should be accountability. People should be held accountable for their actions."

Palestine-Israel Conflict:

"We as a nation that has suffered enough from the scourge of war, know how destructive wars are. We are against war. We shouldn't resort to war to settle disputes.

We condemn war as well as attacks on civilians. We believe efforts should be made to reach a peaceful solution to any rivalry going on in the Middle East. We need to find solutions to problems before they escalate into military confrontation. We are all concerned about the war expanding in the region. We hope to see the war end, and for a peaceful solution to be reached for this conflict."

Iraq's Position on Palestine-Israel Conflict:

"I think the best thing for Iraq to do is to distance itself from this conflict. Iraq has its own problems. However, delivering humanitarian aid to war victims is a good thing. We in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have tried to dispatch humanitarian assistance to those affected by this war, but haven't been able to deliver the aid because the gates were closed."

On Removal of Iraq Parliament Speaker:

"I think the timing of this issue was not right. I am not referring to the ruling itself. The timing was not good for Iraq. We have a range of issues in the country, and the whole Middle East is facing these sorts of issues.

There are different communities in Iraq. The Sunnis are one of those communities who should be respected. Likewise, their representatives should also be respected. Changes should be made through proper and acceptable channels of the government and this community."

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/830983
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Re: The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

PostAuthor: Anthea » Sat Nov 25, 2023 2:11 pm

KRG committed to women’s rights

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Saturday reiterated his cabinet’s commitment to safeguarding Kurdish women’s rights and combatting gender-based violence, according to a statement

“We reiterate the commitment of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to protect the Kurdistan women’s rights and combatting violence in general and particularly against women,” the premier said.

The KRG is committed to ensuring “the elimination of violence against women through women empowerment in the government” as well as implementing the existing laws, Barzani said in the statement.

The government will strengthen the role of courts and increase arrest and putting perpetrators on trial, the Kurdish leader added.

Barzani’s remarks come as civil society organizations around the globe annually begin their activities on November 25 to mark 16 Days of Activism to advocate for greater protection for women and the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV) worldwide.

The beginning of the two-week-long activities coincides with the International Day of the Elimination of Violence against Women and will end on December 10, Human Rights Day.

During an event to celebrate the anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution on Women Peace and Security (WPS), SCR 1325, adopted in October 2000, Prime Minister Barzani attended along with senior KRG officials.

“Our society will truly reach its full potential when every Kurdistani woman enjoys full rights,” he said at the time.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/33 ... 99s-rights
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Re: The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

PostAuthor: Anthea » Sat Nov 25, 2023 10:52 pm

Shorish Ismail Peshmerga Minister

After more than a year of absence due to internal issues within his party, Kurdistan Region Peshmerga Minister Shorish Ismail is expected to return to his duties on Sunday, a source said today

Despite several attempts by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) to replace Ismail, no suitable figure was identified. However, a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) source has confirmed Kurdistan 24 that Ismail will return to office tomorrow.

"During his visit to the Kurdistan Region in July this year, US Assistant Secretary of Defense Dana Stroll called for the return of the Peshmerga Minister to his job," the source noted.

Ismail's extended absence hindered the execution of vital reforms within the Peshmerga Ministry and impeded collaborative programs with the US-led Coalition.

While Ismail had previously submitted his resignation, the report indicates that there was no compelling reason to accept it.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/831390
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Re: The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

PostAuthor: Anthea » Wed Nov 29, 2023 2:08 am

Peshmerga minister returns to post

Kurdistan Peshmerga Minister Shoresh Ismail resumed his duties on Monday after absenting the post for over a year, citing the region’s political and military instability as the reason for the return. He called on the ruling political parties in the Kurdistan Region to enhance cooperation in order to continue the Peshmerga reform process

“The region is going through a very sensitive political and military situation and there is a serious threat, so this poor condition of the Peshmerga ministry is a matter of concern for all of us, especially the coalition forces and the Kurdish people,” Ismael told reporters during a presser, adding “because of my sense of responsibility for the situation and for the interests of the Peshmerga forces and to further institutionalize the Peshmerga ministry, I am resuming my work starting from today.”

Unhappy with political parties interfering in the Peshmerga Ministry’s affairs, Ismail, from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), submitted his resignation from the position late last year, but the resignation was not accepted by the Region’s Council of Ministers.

Ismael stated that they will continue working together “as a team” within the Peshmerga ministry to proceed with the reform process, claiming that there is now a “favorable environment” to go forward with the reorganization and unification of the Peshmerga forces.

Turmoil in the Peshmerga ministry between fronts affiliated to rivals Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the PUK X( have jeopardized a Western-backed effort to reform the ministry with the hope of bringing all units under its umbrella, as some units are still affiliated to the ruling parties.

The minister urged the United States and the global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) to continue supporting and advising the Peshmerga forces as the threat of “a terrorist reemergence” remains a major threat.

International partners, particularly the US, have long warned Kurdish authorities that they risk seeing support and funds for the Peshmerga withdrawn if they fail to bring party-affiliated Units 70 and 80 forces under the umbrella of the Peshmerga ministry.

Unit 70 forces are affiliated with the PUK and Unit 80 forces are controlled by the KDP, and they make up the majority of the Peshmerga forces, numbering over 100,000 troops.

Kurdistan Region President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Nechirvan Barzani welcomed Ismail’s return to his post, calling it an “important” step towards the implementation of the Peshmerga reforms.

“Given the current situation in the Kurdistan Region and the challenges faced by Iraq and the wider region, it is imperative for the political parties, particularly the PUK and KDP, to be united and come to a shared understanding in order to find effective solutions to disagreements. As the Kurdistan Region Presidency, we are committed to continuing our efforts towards this goal,” read a statement from President Barzani.

Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, who accompanied Ismail back into the ministry building on Monday, said that he was “optimistic” about the minister’s return, adding that he stressed during his meeting with Peshmerga ministry officials that “it is normal for political parties to have differences, but it is not normal for the political differences to be reflected within the Peshmerga ministry.”

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/271120231
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Re: The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

PostAuthor: Anthea » Sun Dec 03, 2023 4:18 pm

Bafel and Qubad Impeding Peshmerga Unification

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) is, on the surface and in terms of privileges and power, one of the main partners of the ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The party has been given more posts and power than it actually deserves

The PUK is not only playing a negative role against the Kurdistan Region and its people, it is also the biggest impediment standing in the way of carrying out reforms as well as efforts to unify Peshmerga forces.

The conduct of the PUK is such as if its primary duty is to oppose the constitutional status of the Kurdistan Region and its people. The party has been embezzling public revenues in Sulaymaniyah, Halabja, Garmian, and Raparin district.

Moreover, the PUK has also monopolized revenues generated at border crossings, is involved in smuggling commodities, and also taking bribes from traders. The party has also confiscated all strategic pieces of land in these areas, using them to advance its interests and those of its companies.

The PUK, which is monopolized by Bafel and Qubad Talabani, doesn't use revenues generated in Sulaymaniyah for public service projects in the province, nor does the party allow the Kurdistan Regional Government to execute service and infrastructure development projects in these areas.

The party's security establishment has been found complicit in plotting to assassinate party members and leaders critical of the PUK in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Garmian, and Raparin district.

    Yet, Bafel and Qubad Talabani continue to harbor murderers and terrorists, and have consistently refused to hand them over to the judiciary. What's more, the PUK has consistently been hindering efforts to unify Peshmerga forces and carry out Peshmerga reforms
Bafel and Qubad Talabani seized power without having competence or experience. They are inept, and are fit for anything other than leading a party or governing a province.

These two brothers are currently very close allies of Iraqi militia groups blacklisted as terrorist groups by the US and the EU. Therefore, they behave with a militia mentality, fearing the fact that Peshmerga forces will be under the command of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs if they are unified, and not under their control.

Shorish Ismael was Minister of Peshmerga Affairs from the beginning of this KRG cabinet. He was known to be a supporter of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and his vision for reform making and a unified Peshmerga force. Ismael also had good coordination with US and coalition forces. He was very serious and determined to unify Peshmerga forces. That's why Bafel and Qubad Talabani removed him from his position as minister to prevent the unification of Peshmerga forces and reforms.

We all know that the US and its allies including the UK, Germany, France, and Italy, have been supporting the KRG and have been very serious in their support for the unification of Peshmerga forces. But, PUK's Bafel and Qubad Talabani have consistently been impeding the Peshmerga unification process, disappointing the US and allies in this regard.

So, why would Bafel and Qubad Talabani prevent the unification of Peshmerga forces?

    1.Current PUK's ruling leaders are not statesmen. Rather, they are solely concerned with money making and enriching themselves.

    2.Current PUK's ruling leaders, Bafel and Qubad Talabani in particular, think with a militia mentality. That's, they want their Peshmerga forces to remain under their command, not under the command of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs.

    3.Current PUK's ruling leaders are closest allies with leaders of Iraq's militia groups, who are blacklisted. Note that Bafel Talabani appears wearing a pair of boots and black costume normally worn by militia groups.

    4.Current PUK's ruling leaders are complicit in the financial corruption endemic in PUK Peshmerga budget. That's why they want to keep access to this financial corruption.

    5.Current PUK's ruling leaders are very hostile to the KRG despite being main partners in this cabinet, and this is because Prime Minister Masrour Barzani remains committed to confronting corruption.

    6.There's a dangerous regional agenda working to undermine the government in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Current PUK's ruling leaders are part of this agenda.

    7.Current PUK's ruling leaders want PUK's Peshmerga forces to serve the interests of Iraqi militia groups.
The people of the Kurdistan Region, as much as the KRG Prime Minister, want to see Peshmerga forces unified. The US and its allies along with other friends of the Kurdistan Region share the same wish.

That's why, the PUK, Bafel and Qubad Talabani will pay a heavy price for opposing the unification process of Peshmerga forces. Until then, I hope they cannot do more harm to the Kurdistan Region and its constitutional status.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/816611

Remember:

The traitor Bafel Talabani STILL illegally remains in sole control of PUK

People should DEMAND the reinstatement of Lahur Talabany, the LEGAL co-chair of Sulaimani’s ruling party the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)
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