Kurdistan region President Masoud Barzani called Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi today to congratulate him as the new Prime Minister of Iraq and wished him success.

In their telephone conversation, they discussed the unanimous decision by Kurdistan’s political sides to participate in the new government, and both sides emphasized the need for all parties to work together to save the country from the current security and political crises.

They both concurred that there is a good opportunity for joint work to ensure that the mistakes of the previous government are not repeated, and that the conditions and demands of the Kurdish side are met. They also agreed to work together to restore stability in the country and defeat terrorists.

Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (krp.org)- The Kurdistan Region Presidency strongly condemns the cowardly act of beheading the American journalist, James Foley, by the terrorists of ISIS. This shameful act serves as a reminder of the cruelty of the terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.  The Kurdistan Region Presidency is hereby extending, on behalf of the people of the Kurdistan Region, condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Foley and the government of the United States of America.

Nazem Dabbagh the representative of KR of Iraq in Tehran concerning the future of central government of Kurds says if Iraq is willing, as usual Kurds will play their role and be a part of the solution but the problem. As recently the delegation of the Region Government presented in Baghdad and the Kurdish representatives of the parliament participated in the first meeting and took legal oath. In addition by this Kurdish authority’s saying, as of a yet Kurds have not taken any decision to announce their independence. If they in some regions took action against ISIS, it was for the army frightened by extremists emptied those places and it was just Pishmregas who remained there. Mosallas Weekly ran an interview with Mr. Dabbagh and sought for some aspects of current security situation in Iraq.

In his view the occupation of some regions of Iraq by ISIS has changed the security conditions. He continued: whilst security forces of Iraq left the regions under dispute according the article 140 of constitute it was the Pishmergas only remained there to protect them and resisted. He also added Kurds have not stated their independence yet and added that if ISIS attack the region Kurds will resist. In addition to this claim that Iraqi Kurds took advantage from this happened situation to gain independence was rejected by him, said such phrases are put by those who have been unsuccessful to manage Iraq.

In a response to question he replied that Turkey seeks for his advantages in Iraq, even though he stated ISIS will attack Turkey in the future as well. Concerning peace talk of Turkey with P.K.K he said apparently the peace is smelt from these talks, therefore we should wait till the outcomes of the negotiation emerge.

Concerning the conditions of Mosul and Kirkuk in the case of being separated from Iraq Dabbagh said this condition will be stated at the time of forming the new government. About the budget of KRG of Iraq in the region under dispute he also said that this budget is being prepared through selling oil since the central government stopped paying the budget. At the end Dabbagh said: I completely surely say if Iraq wants, as usual Kurds will play their role and be a pet of the solution but the problem. The only way to transit out this crisis is agreement, compatibility, mutual respect, to be one-handed and real and actual participatory government away from tribal and national dogmatisms and to obedient to the constitute of Iraq and following the agreements that lead Iraq to peace and friendship.

The general manager of Kurdistan Region Affairs of Iraq and Iran said: Selling Oil to Israel from Kurdistan and the news like this are old whose only aim is to destroy good relations between Iran and Kurdistan Region.

Abdullah Akerei the general manager of relation affairs of Kurdistan Iran in talk with dispatched reporter of Fars Press in Iraq explained about Iraq situations and Kurds positions about this, Kurdistan region’s plan to be independence and selling oil to Turkey and its relation with Israel.

Concerning Kurdista region situation of Iraq he said we felt the danger of Salafi, Daesh and Al-Qaeda moves in the region and announced it to Maliki and the central government but the answer came from Baghdad was that Mussel was with us and there was no problem. Regarding these conditions we started to stabilize our positions since two months ago of which measures were to excavate canals among Kurdistan, Iraq and Syria as well as Erbil and Kirkuk. I have to say the differences between central government and Kurdistan caused authorities being far and the enemies took advantage of this.

About the regions in which the devotees presented he said these regions are Kurdish. He continued to say this dates back to 70s when Mullah Mustafa Barezani had fifths against Ba’ath regime to accomplish the independence and after Saddam fall it again came under matter, and there are differences in the regions of Kirkuk and Khaneghein. We sacrificed lots of martyrs in the way of our fighting and the revolution origin was in Erbil that we along with Shia followed it. We are ally of Shia and there are no differences between us. Furthermore he mentioned Masood Barezani’s phrases which suggested to form a collaboration government to prevent any crises. He added that the devotees presenting in the regions during the crisis would keep staying and not leave. He even said if one was selected from Legal Collaboration then the condition would have been prepared to solve the concerns between central government and the region.

In a response to question concerning the solution of the current crisis he said we should back to the parliament and parties and Iraqi leaders and form a home collaboration government as soon as possible. The base of the government has to be the collaboration of parties and groups and tribes. He said such government would not be fragile due to Kurds and Shias cooperation. He also stated even though all Iraqi Kurds desire independence, we have not any problem with federal government to prevent any crises. He continued to say if we knew we would not come up with a solutions the best was to announce the independence. He said it was good Iran and Turkey as well.

Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq (KRG.org) – The Foreign Minister of Iraq, Hoshyar Zebari, and the Kurdistan Region President’s Chief of Staff, Dr Fuad Hussein, today held a press conference to discuss recent security developments.

Foreign Minister Zebari stated that the most important development has been the decision by the United States to protect human lives – a critical decision for Kurdistan, Iraq, and the entire region. He said that the air strikes are intended to degrade the terrorists’ capabilities and achieve strategic gains, and have been very effective. He added that there is an American military team on the ground in Erbil in order to ensure tactical coordination with the Peshmerga forces. He noted that since the air strikes began, the environment has completely changed, and that Peshmerga are holding their ground and will be moving on the offensive.

Dr Fuad Hussein said that the terrorists are waging a war against humanity, and are not aligned with any religion. He mentioned that the Kurds used to say that they had no friends but the mountains, but this does not ring true anymore. Dr Hussein applauded the American decision to provide air strikes and humanitarian assistance, French support, and the efforts of the Pope to draw attention to the crisis. He discussed the plight of the Christian and Yezidi minorities as well, adding that the Kurdistan Region is proud of its culture of coexistence.

Both officials explained that America’s assistance is deeply appreciated. Foreign Minister Zebari lauded the unanimous United Nations Security Council call for urgent international action after France requested an emergency meeting. He said, “We are fighting on behalf of the whole world.” He urged the international community to not underestimate the terrorist group, whose tactics far exceed other terrorist organisations.

Foreign Minister Zebari noted that hundreds of thousands of Iraq’s displaced people, from every sect and ethnicity in Iraq, have taken refuge in Kurdistan. He also said that although the Peshmerga were previously denied weapons from Baghdad because of political issues, it is now clear that the Peshmerga and the Iraqi Security Forces are fighting together against a common enemy.

By Mick Krever and Ken Olshansky, CNN

The foreign minister of Iraqi Kurdistan on Wednesday issued a desperate plea for American and Western intervention to halt the advance of ISIS extremists.

“We are left alone in the front to fight the terrorists of ISIS,” Falah Mustafa Bakir told CNN’s Fred Pleitgen, in for Christiane Amanpour.

“I believe the United States has a moral responsibility to support us, because this is a fight against terrorism, and we have proven to be pro-democracy, pro-West, and pro-secularism.”

While much of the world's attention has recently been focused on Gaza, ISIS has been sweeping across northern Iraq.

Over the weekend, ISIS forces captured a string of towns controlled by Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, who, after the near-collapse of the Iraqi army in June, have been seen as the only force capable of confronting ISIS.

Bakir said that Kurdish forces have started to reverse the defensive tack they were forced to take over the weekend.

“This is something way beyond the capacity of the Iraqi air forces. We need the United States and NATO to interfere because we are fighting on behalf of all those who are against terrorism.”

“The U.S. troops have left; the six Iraqi divisions have disappeared. Now it’s only the Peshmerga forces facing these terrorist groups, who have captured all these advanced and sophisticated weaponry from the Iraqi army.”
“And the irony is that we are using outdated, Russian weapons, and the terrorists are using sophisticated and advanced American weapons against us.”
Among the towns captured was Sinjar, home to many Yazidi, a small religious sect whose members are particular targets for the Sunni extremists of ISIS.

Thousands fled with barely any supplies, many into nearby mountains where they're stranded and surrounded by the extremists. They face starvation and dehydration.

While the United States has said it is “actively monitoring the situation” and is providing assistance to the Peshmerga, there seems to be no appetite for a more substantive American intervention in Iraq.

“We have listened to [people] supporting our experience, supporting us. This is now time for action.”

“We have made some progress and we will continue. We are determined in order to take all the areas that have been taken by ISIS back. But we need support, and that support would be in way of airstrikes but also weapons and ammunition.”

“This is a terrorist organization that has declared the war on all those who are against them. So therefore it’s not only the responsibility of Kurdistan. If we are not able to stop them here, they would continue and pose a threat to other countries as well.”

CNN Link 

Erbil, Kurdistan (KRG.org) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and Italian Consul Carmelo Ficarra on Saturday discussed the bilateral relationship between Italy and the KRG as well as recent developments in Iraq.

Both sides pointed to the importance and mutual benefit of the growing bilateral relations between Italy and the Kurdistan Region. The Consul explained that his office plays a key role in serving as a channel for communication and information sharing with his government and Italian firms, regularly providing insight to business representatives and delegations visiting the Kurdistan Region.

He also noted that the Italian government is aware of the security and stability in Kurdistan and that the Region is investor-friendly. Italian companies have dramatically increased their trading activity in Kurdistan in recent years, and more than 100 Italian companies are expected to participate in this year’s Erbil International Fair.

During the meeting the recent developments in Iraq, particularly the security challenges and terror threat caused by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), were discussed. Prime Minister Barzani pointed to the fundamental difference in Iraq’s political and security landscape after the fall of Mosul, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian support for Iraq’s internally displaced people (IDPs). He noted that, regrettably, the Iraqi Government has not taken responsibility for the well being of the displaced nor has it provided assistance for Syrian refugees. The Iraqi Government has also cut the Kurdistan Region’s entire budget, making it extremely difficult for the KRG to cope with the humanitarian crisis.

Consul Ficarra asserted that his country would do its utmost to better understand the situation. He said that Italy will continue, as before, to work with the relevant KRG institutions to assist refugees and the internally displaced, explaining that seven Italian NGOs are currently operating in the field. Prime Minister Barzani appreciated this effort, noting that the international community must come forward to assist refugees and IDPs. The Prime Minister added that the KRG has provided equal protection and assistance to all IDPs, regardless of ethnicity or creed, with the majority of displaced people coming from Mosul and the diverse Ninewa Plains area

Salahaddin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRP.org) – President Masoud Barzani met with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq and Iran Brett McGurk today to discuss the latest political and security developments in Iraq.

Mr McGurk expressed his country’s concern about the spread of terrorism in Iraq, after the events of Ninawa last month and said that the US would support Iraq in its fight against terrorist groups provided the political process is put on the right track and a truly inclusive government is formed in Baghdad. He also thanked the KRG for their role and security cooperation in Ninawa.

President Barzani stated that the Region will work on two paths in parallel: the first is to work with moderate Shia and Sunnis in Iraq to find a comprehensive political solution based on the new realities on the ground. The second is that the Region would continue in its efforts to organize a referendum so that the people will exercise their right for self-determination.