Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received a United Nations delegation today headed by Mr. Jan Kubis, the Special Representative of the United Nations in Iraq.

Mr. Kubis and President Barzani discussed the latest military developments against the terrorists of the Islamic State. The two spoke of the details of the Sinjar operation of last month. Mr. Kubis offered his congratulations to the Peshmerga forces' victory in the Sinjar operation. He also reiterated the United Nations' appreciation for the role of the Kurdistan Region for providing safe refuge to the IDPs from the rest of Iraq and refugees from Syria, adding that they are mindful of the heavy cost of such endeavors on the Kurdistan Region.

Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received a high-level diplomatic and military delegation from the United States. The delegation was headed by General Lloyd Austin, the Commander of the Central Command and included a number of State and Defense departments officials. The meeting was also attended by the Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council, Mr. Masrour Barzani.

President Barzani and General Austin discussed the military operations against the terrorists of IS, especially the Sinjar operation of last month which was concluded with the liberation of the town for which General Austin offered his congratulations. They also spoke of the advanced in other parts of Kurdistan and Iraq.

President Barzani stated that the role of the air support by the U.S.-led coalition continues to make a tremendous amount of difference in fighting the terrorists of the IS and expressed his appreciation for that support.

General Austin and President Barzani also discussed the relations between Baghdad and Erbil and the what's needed for closer coordination for the future plans against the terrorists.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani today announced the liberation of Sinjar by peshmerga forces and thanked the US and other coalition partners for their crucial air support to the operation.

In remarks to a group of journalists following the liberation of symbolic town, the President said, “Today I declare Sinjar liberated. I congratulate the people of Kurdistan, in particular the Yezidis. Sinjar has become a symbol of the oppression of the people of Kurdistan. We have delivered on our pledge to liberate Sinjar.”

The President added that other than the peshmerga forces and coalition air support, no other forces were involved in the operation. He also called on the international community and the Iraqi federal government to help the KRG rebuild Sinjar so that its people can return to their homes. 

US Vice President Joe Biden called Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani on Tuesday to congratulate him on the success of Peshmerga forces in recapturing the town of Sinjar form ISIS terrorists last week, and praised the bravery and sacrifices of the peshmerga. Mr. Biden reiterated United States’ commitment to continue to support the peshmerga forces. 

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - In a speech at a ceremony held to bury 67 bodies of Yazidi martyrs in the Yezidi holy site of Sheikh Sharafaddin shrine, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, highlighted the suffering of the Yazidis, who, he said, have been oppressed twice for being Kurds and Yazidis at the same time.

Prime Minister Barzani stressed that with sacrifices given by Yazidis and Peshmerga forces, the Kurdistan people will eventually prevail and Sinjar and other Kurdish areas will be liberated from the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS.

He pointed out that, “Sinjar and its environs will be liberated at any price and returned to Kurdistan Region, where security, reconstruction, and coexistence will prevail again in this historical town which has been, since the ancient time, the cradle of religious coexistence.”

“The crimes, perpetrated against Yazidi Kurds are deep pains that we will never forget, but as we have gone through many periods of violent oppression and massacres in the past, this time again we will survive and prevail with dignity,” he added.

He reiterated that the Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, continues its efforts to liberate the Yezidi Kurds, who are still held captive by ISIS terrorists. He pointed out that “the government has opened a special office dedicated to this task, which has so far managed to liberate 2058 Yezidi sisters and brothers from the grip of terrorists.” In this regard, he expressed his gratitude to the staff working at this office, who, he said, have achieved a great and honourable task.

Prime Minister Barzani said KRG institutions work to assist the Yazidi victims and displaced, who now live in camps, with the hope that they would be able to return to their hometowns, after their areas are being liberated.

He said that the KRG continues its campaign to obtain international recognition of the crimes committed against the Yezidi Kurds as genocide, through a committee, chaired by the KRG Minister of Martyrs and Anfal affairs.

He expressed his gratitude to the Peshmerga forces that have been able to protect Kurdistan territories, and those who have been able to defend and protect Sheikh Sharafaddin shrine against ISIS threats.

Prime Minister Barzani pointed out that religious tolerance and coexistence among different communities in Kurdistan Region is a great support for the success of the Kurdistan people.

He said that the presence of representatives of various religious communities in this ceremony is a message to the enemies that coexistence will continue in the Kurdistan Region.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (gov.krd) - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday visited the recently liberated town of Sinoun and Sheikh Sharaffadin Shrine on Sinjar Mountain.

Meeting members of the Kurdish Yezidi community in the area and commanders of the battlefront, fighting against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, known as ISIS, Prime Minister Barzani was briefed on the latest developments and the situation in the recently liberated areas, the process of the return of the displaced families to their homes and the provision of basic public services in the town. Prime Minister Barzani stressed that Kurdistan Regional Government will dispatch special teams to the area in order to assess its basic needs.

Prime Minister Barzani hailed the role of the commanders and the Yezidi Peshmerga forces for their resilience and confronting ISIS from the beginning of the attacks by this terrorist organisation.

Visiting Sheikh Sharaffadin Shrine, Prime Minister Barzani told the press, “The aim of our visit to the Shrine of Sheikh Sharaffadin and meeting these brave fighters who have been resisting for months, is first to express the KRG’s gratitude for their resilience and sacrifice in defending Sinjar Mountain; and secondly, to send a message to our beloved Yizidi sisters and brothers, that the KRG respects your community and understands your deep distress. However, thanks to God and due to the resilience and the hard work of these brave fighters this entire area has been liberated from ISIS terrorists.”

The Prime Minster pointed out that together with local administrative officials they have discussed the necessary steps to be taken in order to reconstruct and reintroduce basic public services. He said, “We hope to make all the necessary services available after the complete liberation of the town of Sinjar that would allow the return of life to the region and the displaced people to their homes.”

Regarding compensations for the region, the Prime Minister said, “The KRG committees will visit the area and we will do our best in compensating the people of the region and helping them to return to their homes.”

Regarding possible international recognition of the atrocities committed by ISIS against Yezidi Kurds in Sinjar as genocide, Prime Minister Barzani said, “For this purpose, we have formed a commission, where two KRG ministers are among the members as well as eye witnesses. We believe that what happened to the Yezidis is genocide, and the government will spare no effort in helping that the crimes committed against the Yezidi Kurds be internationally recognised as genocide.”

Regarding the advance of the Peshmerga forces towards Sinjar, Prime Minister Barzani said, “Liberating Sinjar town was not in the plan of the recent operation, started later last month. It targeted only the liberation of Sinjar Mountain, Sinoun town and the surrounding areas. Now, Peshmerga forces look at Sinjar as their next step. When the military commanders deem the time has come, the operation of complete liberation of Sinjar will be launched.”

He also reassured the Yezidi community that the KRG “continues to exert great efforts to free the Yezidi women and young girls, abducted by ISIS terrorists. However, the plans cannot be disclosed to the media.”

Sheikh Ismaiel, Yezidi religious dignitary in Sheikh Sharaffadin Shrine, considered Prime Minister Barzani’s visit to the shrine as visiting the homes of the entire Yezidi community.

He said that since the main route to the mountain has been freed, humanitarian relief starts to reach the displaced Yezidis.

He said, “Our main request will be to free the abducted Yezidi women from the hands of ISIS terrorists. We would also like to create a province for Sinjar, attached to the Kurdistan Region, and linking Sinjar’s electricity grid to Kurdistan Region, which is currently dependent on Mosul.”

Qasim Shesho, one of the Yezidi commanders who stayed in the mountain and fought against the ISIS terrorists, considered President Massoud Barzani and Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani’s visit to the region as historical.

He said, “We want to tell those who were saying that Peshmerga forces did not assume their duty in Sinjar when ISIS attacked, that it is with the Peshmarga sacrifices and blood that the route to the mountain has been freed.”

Responding to the statements reportedly calling to create an independent Region for Sinjar, Qasim Shesho said these statements are against the will and desire of the people of the town. We are and will remain part of Kurdistan, but we ask the Prime Minister to create a province for Sinjar.”

Prime Minister Barzani also met the military commanders and officers who stayed on the mountain from the early days of ISIS attacks and protected the mountain, the displaced Yezidi Kurds and the Shrine. He was briefed on the latest military developments and the Peshmerga forces military operations.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in Salahaddin today. The President and the EU’s foreign policy chief discussed the fight against ISIS terrorists, including recent peshmerga gains in Sinjar, and the plight of hundreds of thousands of IDPs in Kurdistan.

Following their meeting, the two held a joint press conference, in which Federica Mogherini congratulated President Barzani for the recent victories by the peshmerga against the ISIS terrorists, especially in Sinjar district. She said the purpose of her visit to Kurdistan is to find out how the EU can further support Kurdistan in this fight, adding that the EU would ask its member states to continue to provide both military and humanitarian aid to Kurdistan.

The EU High Representative said that Kurdistan has scored three victories: the recent military successes against the ISIS terrorists, a psychological victory that ISIS can be defeated, and thirdly that Kurdistan has shown to the world that it is possible for different communities to live together in peace.

President Barzani thanked the EU and the international coalition countries for their military and humanitarian support for Kurdistan, and added that this support further strengthens the resolve of the peshmerga forces in their fight against the biggest and most vicious terrorist organization. The President said that it is a source of pride for the peshmerga to be fighting this terrorist organization on behalf of the whole world.

Link to their joint press conference.

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (KRG.org) - The Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received the US Senator, Pat Roberts.

Senator Roberts expressed his pleasure for visiting the Kurdistan Region, particularly as the visit coincides with the victories marked by Kurdistan Region's Peshmerga forces in Sinjar and its environs.

The Senator stressed that the Islamic State terrorist organisation, also known as ISIS, poses a threat to peace and stability and its barbaric acts make it an enemy of mankind and needs to be defeated and eradicated.

He also stressed the importance of the relations between the United States and the Kurdistan Region and further strengthening them, including through the increase of US aid to Kurdistan that would help to defeat terrorism.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed his gratitude for Senator Roberts views and stances, and briefed him on the latest political and military developments in the fight against ISIS and Peshmerga forces victories, particularly in the Mount Sinjar.

He also stressed that although the Peshmerga had made significant progress, they need heavy weaponry and more training in order to maintain the region secured. The Prime Minister also expressed his gratitude to the United States and the international coalition for their military support and air strikes, which helped Peshmerga forces to achieve these victories.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the conditions of the displaced people, particularly the Yezidis and Christians who fled to the Kurdistan Region, where the Kurdistan people and its government have provided them with as much assistance as possible as well as the provision of security.

He also stressed that the KRG will continue providing assistance to the internally displaced persons for as long as they stay in the Kurdistan Region. He stated that, however, there is no doubt that they are in dire need of greater assistance from the international community.