kurdistan - iran (63)
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, January 26, 2021
The Iran Fars News Agency recently released two films on Erbil. Both films distort facts, insult our Peshmerga and leadership, and ignore the confidence of our people.
Achievements during the war against ISIS were a function of efforts and assistance from many sources – the Kurdistan Region’s security services, especially our Peshmerga, Baghdad forces, and international forces and military assistance from many countries, including our immediate neighbors Turkey and Iran.
Iran’s early support was especially important in stopping the ISIS onslaught. This support enabled a coalition to form that turned back the tide of turmoil and tragedy. It offered opportunity for relations to improve among all partners involved in this mutual critically important endeavor.
The films by an official Iranian agency portray an alternative false and harmful reality that attempts to sabotage mutually beneficial relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Particularly, the films endeavor to sever the important bonds built by Iran’s Commander Qasim Suleimani with our Region during a period when military support from Iran was most vital.
During severely difficult periods, we remember with deep appreciation the welcome and assistance many thousands of us received in Iran during the despotic regime of Saddam Hussein. Since the Kurdistan Regional Government was formed in 1992, we have endeavored to build mutually beneficial, friendly, and productive relations with all our neighbors.
These films – intended to harm our peaceful relations by insulting our fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives against a mutual foe – are destructive and only serve to generate harmful divisions and avoidable discord. Despite these attacks, our Kurdistan Region will continue to be a peaceful place open to people of all ethnicities and religions.
We urge the Islamic Republic of Iran to desist in such destructive measures by taking appropriate action towards ensuring the sacred well-being of both the Kurdistan Region and the Islamic Republic of Iran is promoted and preserved.
Nechirvan Barzani
President of the Kurdistan Region
Erbil, 26 January 2021
Nazim Dabbagh the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) representative in Tehran had an exclusive interview with TehranTimes, during which he shared his view on General Qassem Soleimani and his role in the fight against terrorism in Iraq.
TEHRAN – Describing Iran’s role in the fight against terrorism as “vital” and effective”, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) representative in Tehran says that Major General Qassem Soleimani helped the Iraqi Kurdistan by sending weapons and military advisers to defeat Daesh, also called Daesh in its Arabic acronym.
“Martyr Qassem Soleimani not only helped in the framework of consultation but also in the battlefield,” Nazim Dabbagh tells the Tehran Times. “We are thankful and appreciative for Iran’s advisory presence and its arms aid to eliminate the Daesh threat from Erbil.”
The following is the text of the interview:
Q: How do you assess the role of Iran and General Qassem Soleimani in supporting the Iraqi Kurdish Region to confront Daesh? Kurdish leaders say that Qassem Soleimani provided weapons for Arbil when Daesh invaded Iraq.
A: As you mentioned, in fact, the officials of the Iraqi Kurdistan, including Mr. Massoud Barzani, have emphasized that Iran's role in the fight against terrorism in Iraq has been vital and important.
Martyr Qassem Soleimani did not only help in the framework of consultation, but also in the battlefield. He helped the Iraqi Kurdistan in its combat against terrorism. We are thankful and appreciative for Iran’s advisory presence and its arms aid to eliminate the Daesh threat from Erbil.
Q: Given the geopolitical situation in West Asia and the looming threats in the region, how do you assess Iran's role in stabilizing and combating terrorism?
A: Iran has a special position due to its geopolitical situation in the region, especially in the war against terrorism including Daesh. Tehran played an important role.
Indeed, the Islamic Republic of Iran has historically played this role, both during the 8-year war imposed by Saddam Hussein and in the midst of the war against Daesh. Iran has played a constructive role that has brought security and stability to the region.
I have said many times that if it were not for Iran, after the fall of Mosul, Daesh could have captured Baghdad as well as the Kurdistan region, but fortunately, the Islamic Republic and other allies made every effort to be helpful and effective which are commendable.
Q: Iran has been a victim of terrorism since the victory of the Islamic Revolution and has gained valuable experience in this regard. What are the significance and effect of efforts made by commanders such as Martyr Soleimani to contain the chaotic situation in the region?
A: Iran, especially after the victory of the Islamic Revolution and years of experience in fighting terrorism and confronting various enemies, could create a kind of solidarity and unity among people.
In one of Soleimani’s speeches, I heard him spoke about the role of martyrs and leadership in deterring enemies. In his view, the leadership plays a pivotal role in mobilizing the people to support the revolution and help it to continue and defeats its foes, because the people need leaders on the battlefield who are brave and wise, as Soleimani was. This experience made peoples of the region always ready to fight terrorism under the command of leaders such as Martyr Qassem Soleimani, and we have witnessed this fact.
Q: What characteristics did make General Soleimani popular in the region and make him attract people with different religions and views?
A: If we want to talk about the characteristics and personality of people like Qassem Soleimani, we must mention that he was a faithful person, honest, brave.
Until the day he was martyred, he believed in his cause and was proud of it. I remember one day some of his friends warned him about the U.S. attempts to assassinate him and called on him to be more careful. He laughed and said that we are made for martyrdom and we are waiting to see when we will be martyred. These characteristics were the reason for his popularity. He did not pursue personal interests or power, but rather fought for his goals and aspirations.
Q: Why did some Western states like the U.S put someone like Qassem Soleimani, who was fighting Daesh, on the list of terrorists?
A: Defining terrorism or attributing terrorism to a country or person, or accusing a country or person of supporting terrorism, is made based on the interests of countries. Western and European countries have one policy and Iran has another, but in general, I think the people are entitled to give a real definition.
When the people of Iran or Iraq are satisfied with their own governments, it makes the Western definition unreliable. It is the stance and approval of the people of a country that rejects or approves these definitions.
Q: How do you describe Qassem Soleimani's relations with Kurdish leaders and Kurdish groups or organizations?
A: My acquaintance with martyr General Qassem Soleimani dates back to 1991 after the uprising of the people of Kurdistan. Certainly, his politico-military position led to good relations with the officials, leaders, and political groups of the Kurdistan region.
These relations were to such an extent that when martyr Soleimani was seen with one of the Kurdish leaders, especially Mr. Talabani and Mr. Barzani, we did not feel distant, but we felt a sense of friendship and honesty.
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/456510/KRG-rep-in-Tehran-says-Gen-Soleimani-helped-Kurdistan-to-fight
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (DFR.GOV.KRD) – Minister Safeen Dizayee, Head of the KRG’s Department of Foreign Relations (DFR) on Sunday met with Mr Mehdi Shushtari, newly appointed Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Slemani.
Minister Dizayee congratulated him and assured him of DFR’s full support, as well as wished him success in his new post.
During the meeting, Minister Dizayee and Mr Shushtari discussed the latest developments in the region and ways to enhance bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The newly-appointed Consul General expressed his optimism about his new position and work in the Region, while also wished to play an effective role in strengthening relations between the two countries across many issues.
Mansour Jahani
Keywan Karimi’s second feature film project Do you know anything about Omid? has been selected for La Fabrique Cinéma by Cinema du Monde (CNC), which will take place at Cannes Film Festival 2020. Iranian independent filmmaker Keywan Karimi is one of 10 filmmakers whose projects have been selected for the programme, including individuals from Asia, Africa and South America.
Do you know anything about Omid? is Karimi’s second feature film, and its selection for La Fabrique Cinéma 2020 invites him and 9 other directors to attend Cannes Film Festival, to participate in a schedule of meetings and coaching sessions that will connect them with producers, co-producers, distributers and industry professionals from around the world.
Cinema du Monde, part of CNC, and the entire programme, has been designed to support films and promote the emergence of young creators from outside of Europe. Every year, just 10 projects are chosen from outside Europe to arrive at the stage of production. Cinema du Monde supports each one, and 70% will be finished and presented in the major film festivals.
This year as well as Karimi’s film from Iran, La Fabrique Cinéma is also championing projects from Egypt, Mozambique, Senegal, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Vietnam, Montenegro and the Dominican Republic. Director, actor and producer Rachid Bouchareb has been selected as this year’s Patron of La Fabrique Cinéma, saying on the subject: “My films have addressed issues such as slavery, colonisation, the Vietnam War, World War II and more recently, terrorism. Acting as patron for the Fabrique 2020 program will enable me to discover more contemporary concerns through the projects presented by emerging filmmakers from all over the world.”
Keywan Karimi is a 34 year old Kurdish independent filmmaker from Iran, who has made several short films including Broken Border and Adventure of a Married Couple, both of which have been awarded various prizes in a number of festivals.
His documentary Writing on the City, telling the stories of graffiti on the walls of Tehran, Karimi’s first feature film was his work DRUM, which premiered in the Critics’ Week section of the Venice Film Festival, and received acclaim from both the critics themselves and its audience, with a number of renowned critics writing reviews about this film specifically.
The 73rd Cannes Film Festival has been impacted by the effects of Coronavirus and has been postponed, with a new date still under review. The festival has published two press releases in the last months; Marche du film of the Cannes Film Festival will take place between 22-26 June, in an online format, while the worldwide cinema industry is still waiting for news of the festival itself. The French president Emmanuel Macron has announced that festivals, along with bars and restaurants, are predicted to begin reopening after the 15th July.
For more information, visit the following links:
https://www.lescinemasdumonde.com/en/la-fabrique/2020/projet/do-you-know-anything-about-omid
https://www.lescinemasdumonde.com/en
https://www.lescinemasdumonde.com/fr/la-fabrique/2020/projet/do-you-know-anything-about-omid
https://www.if.institutfrancais.com/fr/actualite/la-fabrique-cinema-2020-et-son-parrain
All of us, no matter what our nationality is or what country we are from, are citizens of a borderless utopia call “ART” which exists in a world called “CULTURE”. No superpower can prohibit us from being members of our ART nation. In our collective fantasy world, whether we are Asian, European, American or African, we all have a unique gene for understanding culture, an influential talent to make the people understand,as well as abilities for analyzing current trends and cause changes.
We all create narratives and images with our works of art, using our individual taste and styles and cultural characteristics (whether with or without faith) for peace over war, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and always for our salvation and resurrection. Our societies of artists strive to improve our nations with our collective works, despite being much smaller than the countries in which we live.
Even though the powers and politics that “be” have created gaps to keeps us separate, we have become stronger and bolder and determined and influential in many ways in order to transfer our humanity and collective messages to the world.
At the present, every one of us regardless of geographic or political situations,have come face to face with a common enemy. We need our message to be passed on as hastily as possible. We are all equally vulnerable to this microscopic adversary. The salvation of one, depends on the salvation of all.
Corona is not just a virus, it is a simple and historic question that is waiting for complex answers from the people and governments of the world. Can Iran’s answer to this question match the other countries, while its breaths are limited by global sanctions?
Is it not rational that the response of artists from around the world to Corona will be different and more effective than those of world politicians?
This crisis will pass, with small or catastrophic losses, but the collection of tales will also remain. The stories of exhausted nurses dancing in contaminated hospital hallways to raise the moral of patients, as they hide their worries about the lack of medicines and basic hospital necessities; Stories of physicians who haven’t been home in weeks and are forced to work without masks, gloves or gowns as they search for corona victims in the hallways of hospitals.
These will all remain in the micro-historical memories of our time, and will be heard by all, sooner or later, either from us or from you all.
We hope it is not too late for influential and unified artists of the world to tell these stories of the injustices toward the Iranian people, so the powerful politicians of the world may make the right choices.
The people of Iran are facing a crisis today, the Corona crisis you are aware of, as well as the “Crisis of Unjustly Imposed Sanctions” you might not be aware.
For the artists of Iran, it is important for you all to know that now, in this time of our large numbers of infected (including the elderly who are waiting their turn) are facing shortages of medical supplies…
We want to know… What do you think? What do you say? and what will you do?
List of signatories (so far):
1. Rakhshan Banietemad, 2. Fereshteh Taerpour, 3. Marziye Brumand, 4. Niki Karimi, 5. Mohammad Beheshti, 6. Homayoun Asadian, 7. Masoud Kimiyayee, 8. Alireza Shojanouri, 9. Vahid Jalilvand, 10. Mohammad Mehdi Asgarpour, 11. Parviz Parastoyee, 12. Reza Kianian, 13. Shahab Hosseini, 14. Navid Mohammadzadeh, 15. Mojtaba Mirtahmasb, 16. Sattar Oraki, 17. Negar Azarbayjani, 18. Anahid Abad, 19. Ali Ashtiani pour, 20. Habib Ahmadzadeh, 21. Mostafa Ahmadi, 22. Bahman Ardalan, 23. Habib Esmaili, 24. Javad Afshar, 25. Mahnaz Afsali, 26. Kamand Amir Soleimani, 27. Mazda Ansari, 28. Sara Gharecheh Daghi, 29. Saeed Armand, 30. Mojtaba Faravardeh, 31. Ebrahim Irajzad, 32. Behdad Babaii, 33. Bahram Badakhshani, 34. Ali Boustan, 35. Behnam Behzadi, 36. Nazanin Bayati, 37. Hossein Pakdel, 38. Pantea Panahiha, 39. Kiumars Pourahmad, 40. Hassan Pourshirazi, 41. Tahmoures Pournazeri, 42. Sohrab Pournazeri, 43. Keykhosro Pournazari, 44. Daryoush Pirniakan, 45. Mohammad Pirhadi, 46. Parviz Tanavoli, 47. Iraj Taghipour, 48. Kourosh Tahami, 49. Ali Jalilvand, 50. Rouholla Hejazi, 51. Hadi Hejazifar, 52. Hassan Hassandoust, 53. Ebrahim Haghighi, 54. Mohammad Hossein Haghighi, 55. Hooman Khalatbari, 56. Mohammad Reza Delpak, 57. Bahram Radan, 58. Shadmehr Rastin, 59. Habib Rezaei, 60. Christoph Rezayee, 61. Homayoun Shajarian, 62. Abdolvahab Shahidi, 63. Masoud Shoari, 64. Ghazal Shakeri, 65. Mohsen Shahebrahimi, 66. Amir Shahb Razavian, 67. Alireza Raisian, 68. Atefe Razavi, 69. Hassan Riahi, 70. Leyla Zare, 71. Alireza Zarindast, 72. Kourosh Soleymani, 73. Saed Soheili, 74. Hooman Seyedi, 75. Davoud Amiri, 76. Hamidreza Nourbakhsh, 77. Hooshang Kamkar, 78. Ardeshir Kamkar, 79. Abolhassan Davoudi, 80. Abdoljabar Kakaei, 81. Reza Yazdani, 82. Davoud Ganjei, 83. Karen Homayounfar, 84. Elham Paveh Nejad, 85. Shayesteh Irani, 86. Majid Modaresi, 87. Ali Nik Raftar, 88. Majid Molaei, 89. Mehrdad Nosrati, 90. Rasool Sadr Ameli, 91. Mehdi Shirzad, 92. Shabnam Moghadami, 93. Jalil Saman, 94. Ahad Sadeghi, 95. Tannaz Tabatabaei, 96. Ahmad Arabani, 97. Arya Azimi Nejad, 98. Alireza Alavian, 99. Hossein Alizadeh, 100. Behrouz Gharibpour, 101. Hooshang Golmakani, 102. Mohammad Hadi Karimi, 103. Farzaneh Kaboli, 104. Hadi Marzban, 105. Mostafa Kiaei, 106. Milad Kiaei, 107. Gholamreza Mousavi, 108. Maziar Miri, 109. Ali Shakeri Shemirani, 110. Afshin Hashemi, 111. Hassan Mostafavi, 112. Soheyla Golestani, 113. Majid Motalebi, 114. Hossein Mahkam, 115. Meysam Molaei, 116. Bijan Mirbagheri, 117. Shahin Najafzadeh, 118. Amir Reza Motamedi, 119. Javad Norouzbeigi, 120. Mohammadreza Honarmand, 121. Farhad Tohidi, 122. Mojtaba Raei, 123. Abbas Yari, 124. Hossein Yari, 125. Mohammad Ali Hossein Nejad, 126. Mohammadreza Gohari, 127. Milad Key Maram, 128. Barzu Arjmand, 129. Hatef Alimoradi, 130. Akbar Azad, 131. Ali Azad, 132. Mohammad Afarideh, 133. Saeed Aghakhani, 134. Hassan Aghakarimi, 135. Nima Javidi, 136. Mohammad Mehdi Dadgoo, 137. Alireza Khamse, 138. Amir Asna Ashari, 139. Mohammad Ahmadi, 140. Puria Akhvas, 141. Pirouz Arjmand, 142. Alireza Es’haghi, 143. Negar Eskandarfar, 144. Marjan Ashrafizadeh, 145. Babak Borzuyeh, 146. Ehteram Broumand, 147. Masoud Behbahani Nia, 148. Hossein Behrouzi nia, 149. Behzad Behzadpour, 150. Mohammad Motevasselani, 151. Majid Salehi, 152. Bayram Fazli, 153. Mehdi Saadi, 154. Asghar Pourhajerian, 155. Kiarash poozeshi, 156. Mehdi Jafari, 157. Ali Jafari Pouian, 158. Ardavan Jafarian, 159. Hamed Javad Zadeh, 160. Farshad Hesami, 161. Siavash Haghighi, 162. Akbar Khamin, 163. Mohammad Khazaei, 164. Javad Hashemi, 165. Alireza Davood nejad, 166. Ali Rahbari, 167. Mohsen Damadi, 168. Leyla Rashidi, 169. Ali Jakan, 170. Reza Dadouei, 171. Mohammad Dormanesh, 172. Mehran Rassam, 173. Kamran Rasoulzadeh, 174. Gholamreza Ramezani, 175. Ali Zarnegar, 176. Salar Zamanian, 177. Amir Abbas Setayeshgar, 178. Farid Sajadi Hosseini, 179. Homayoun Ghanizadeh, 180. Alireza Assar, 181. Kamran Sahar khiz, 182. Pouya Saraei, 183. Rahman Seyfi Azad, 184. Mohsen Sharifian, 185. Jalil Shabani, 186. Hamed Shakibania, 187. Sahar Sabagh Seresht, 188. Behrouz Saffarian, 189. Mahyar Toreihi, 190. Aydin Zarif, 191. Behzad Abdi, 192. Mohammad Arab, 193. Mojtaba Asgari, 194. Baran Kousari, 195. Jahangir Kosari, 196. Ghogha Bayat, 197. Mehrdad Farid, 198. Jaber Ghasemali, 199. Kamran Ghadakchian, 200. Ghasem Gholipour, 201. Ehsan Karami, 202. Hossein Ghiasi, 203. Madya Farajnejad, 204. Arash Farhangfar, 205. Arash Ghanadi, 206. Amir Ghanadi, 207. Rahbar Ghanbari, 208. Soroush Ghahremanlou, 209. Mohammad Hossein Mahdavian, 210. Bardia Kiaras, 211. Saeed Sadi, 212. Ali Hazrati, 213. Ali Karim, 214. Ashkan Kamangari, 215. Hamid Motabasem, 216. Kourosh Matin, 217. Milad Mohammadi, 218. Amir Mardaneh, 219. Hamidreza Monnabati, 220. Reza Mahdavi, 221. Esmail Miyhandoust, 222. Mahmoud Nazeri, 223. Omid Nemati, 224. Amir Hossein Rostami, 225. Gelareh Abbasi, 226. Mehran Falsafi, 227. Sina Alam, 228. Sahab Alam, 229. Amin Mahdavi, 230. Hassan Najafi, 231. Mona Farjad, 232. Masih Kazemi, 233. Bahram Kazemi, 234. Buna Alkhas, 235. Mehran Farhadi, 236. Ali Vazirian, 237. Shadi Pour Mehdi, 238. Abbas Sajadi, 239. Mahtab Keramati, 240. Farah Ossouli, 241. Hamed Komeili, 242. Majid Leylaji, 243. Morteza Atash Zamzam, 244. Jafar Sanei Moghadam, 245. Jamshid Bayrami, 246. Mohammad Sadegh Azin, 247. Sirous Salimi, 248. Panah Bar Khoda Rezaei, 249. Mohammad Abbasi Fard, 250. Rouhollah Baradari, 251. Saeed Rafiei Monfared, 252. Parizad Seyf, 253. Jaber Ramezani, 254. Keyhan Kalhor, 255. Babak Karimi, 256. Reza Babak, 257. Manoochehr Shahsavari, 258. Roya Nonahali, 259. Jhaleh Sameti, 260. Goli Emami, 261. Hamid Amjad, 262. Behnaz Jafari, 263. Sima Tirandaz, 264. Hossein Maher, 265. Masoud Delkhah, 266. Mehdi Delkhasteh, 267. Navid Mahmoudi, 268. Jamshid Mahmoudi, 269. Majid Majidi, 270. Narges Aabyar, 271. Reza Attaran, 272. Parvaz Homay, 273. Amin Tarokh, 274. Setareh Eskandari, 275. Khosro Dehghan, 276. Ramin Sedighi, 277. Saeed Aghighi, 278. Amir Ali Danaei, 279. Seyed Ali Ahmadi, 280. Hossein Sharifi, 281. Foad Ghaffari, 282. Ali Akbar Ghazinezam, 283. Mohammad Abdollahi, 284. Tina Bakhshi, 285. Tina Jameh Garmi, 286. Hamid Ehya, 287. Sepideh Khosrojah, 288. Gholamreza Rezaei, 289. Mohannad Ali Najafi, 290. Touraj Mansouri, 291. Neda Mohseni, 292. Mahta Malek Zadeh, 293. Nahid Del Agah, 294. Kourosh Nouri, 295. Farian Sabahi, 296. Frouzandeh Arbabi, 297. Iraj Mohammadi, 298. Habibollah Bahmani, 299. Parisa Nazari, 300. Mojgan Sayadi, 301. Ali Shams, 302. Daryoush Farziani, 303. Golab Adineh And all artists who will sign this letter…
Link:
http://www.fcf.ir/news/public/2225
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