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Kurdistan Regional (741)
Speech by Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani at MERI Forum
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (krg.org) - The Kurdistan Regional Governmenet's Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, told the forum, "The Middle East in Transition: The Need for Dialogue and Reconciliation”, which was held in Erbil from 4 to 6 November 2014, organised by the Middle East Research Institute, that Kurdistan Region's experience in democracy has played a vital role in Iraq as a stabilizing factor.
He stated that "in-depth examination of Kurdistan’s experience would offer lessons and insights to support the birth of a new order in the Middle East".
He said that if we look at the Middle East from Kurdistan’s experience, "we can say that planting the seeds of tolerance and finding solutions to political issues are not impossible. The main challenge is, how to determine mutual principles together, agree on them, and then abide and live by them?"
Following is the text of the speech:
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am delighted to participate in this forum.
It was late 1989 when the Berlin Wall fell. Two years later the Soviet Union dissolved, then the Cold War ended and countries became free. After 1991, talk began about the fourth wave of democracy. While politicians and scholars were talking about the emergence of a new world order, oppressed nations began lighting torches of freedom.
Many years passed and the Middle East did not witness any major change. The fourth wave of democracy did not reach our part of the world. Many said the Middle East’s political culture was incompatible with democracy. In their evaluations and views they were disappointed and pessimistic.
Only a few were paying attention to a candle of democracy in a region without democracy. The candle at that time was Iraqi Kurdistan where in May 1992 it took an historic first step in the democratic process by electing the first free parliament.
During that same year the Kurdistan Parliament decided the future of the Kurdistan Region’s relation with Iraq was to be on the basis of federalism. There were very few people outside of Kurdistan’s political forces expecting our dream to come true. Our dream, however, has always been alive.
We do not say we did not have our shortcomings. We are certain, however, we are on the right path heading towards a bright future.The late nineteenth century Kurdish leader, Sheikh Ubaidullah of Nehri, was dreaming of the day when Kurds would govern themselves. The revolutions and uprisings of the previous century were all directed toward that end.
In 2003, Iraq witnessed a great change. Within two years Kurdistan’s leaders and other Iraqi leaders agreed in a new constitution to a democratic, pluralistic and federal country. In a countrywide referendum, turnout was heavy and nearly 4 of 5 voters (80%) approved the constitution.
Since 2005 there have been three parliamentary elections in Kurdistan. Government formation and transition of power have been peaceful. We often forget the main demands of the Kurdistan’s uprisings and revolutions - democracy, human rights, and minority rights. As a form of government, federalism within Iraq was the main claim of Kurdistan’s people and their representatives. This historical background is important to understand the current transition in Middle East.
Within the past few years political systems in the Middle East region have been facing a serious crisis and a most uncertain future. Some regimes, including those of Saddam Hussein, Moammar Gadhafi, and Hosni Mubarak, are no longer in power. Some countries, such as Syria and Yemen are facing civil war and extremist ideologies.
We cannot ignore the threat we face in our fight against an extremely vicious force carrying the flag of the so-called Islamic State. For us, it is an existential threat.
We live in a region where efforts to establish democracy face many obstacles, where political extremism has become a preferred solution. The Kurdistan Region is currently fighting a well-motivated, energized, fully equipped vicious force. The rights of ethnic and religious minorities have been completely violated.
The people of Kurdistan cannot overcome this form of terrorism alone. We need military, humanitarian, economic, intelligence, and moral support from our friends abroad.
Compared with many countries in the Middle East, the Kurdistan Region has become a positive example of successful progress toward reconciliation and openness. Protecting this experience is the responsibility of everyone who supports democracy and freedom. This protection offers hope to many who care about democracy, tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and the rights of minorities.
If we look at the Middle East from the outside, especially from the media’s viewpoint, we see terror and massacre in many places. Meantime, one should not overlook or forget the fact that during the past decade the Kurdistan Region has played a vital role in Iraq as a stabilizing force.
In order to stabilize the security and political situation in the country, Kurdistan’s politicians have been facilitating Sunnis and Shias, during the heights of their conflict, to find mutual interest within their divisions. The homes and offices of Kurdistan’s leaders in Baghdad have always been open to bringing political parties together, especially President Talabani’s. He expended all his efforts in bringing opposing parties together.
Sometimes our foreign guests mentionKurdistanpeople's exceptional level of tolerance despite all the injustice inflicted on us throughout history in this country. They talk about the resilience of our people in the disputed territories who have been patiently waiting for the implementation of their constitutional right to return to the land of their roots. We will spare no effort to reach out to every community in our country when they are oppressed. Their protection is the same as the protection of the people and the land ofKurdistan.
If we look at the Middle East from Kurdistan’s experience, I believe we can honestly say that planting the seeds of tolerance and finding solutions to political issues are not impossible. The main challenge is, how to determine mutual principles together, agree on them, and then abide and live by them?
When we talk about a new political system in the Middle East, Kurdistan’s experience can be researched in its many aspects to see how to benefit from it at the regional level. In the region’s complicated geopolitics, the Kurdistan Region today has become a stabilizing factor. In its short democratic experience, the Kurdistan Region has proved to be a lesson in stability for all neighboring countries.
Opening Kurdistan to the outer world and encouraging local and foreign investment is effectively changing Kurdistan’s economy. The Region’s modern oil policy is helping to rapidly meet domestic electricity and fuel demands, and has added Kurdistan to the world’s energy map. These steps together offer hope to Iraqi Kurdistan and neighboring countries that peace and coexistence are not impossible in the Middle East.
Three months ago our democratic experience, peaceful coexistence, and stability faced a critical threat. The decision of our friends and pro-democracy supporters to come to our assistance is clear proof that our political, military, economic and social efforts of several years have not been in vain. I believe in-depth examination of Kurdistan’s experience would offer lessons and insights to support the birth of a new order in the Middle East
In 1991 people all across Iraqi Kurdistan rose up against the Saddam regime. Following its defeat in the Gulf War over Kuwait, the regime’s military forces attacked Iraqi Kurdistan. The coalition forces at that time established a no-fly zone to protect Kurdistan from the regime’s military aircraft.
Some of our friends said back then that the international community met its responsibility in protecting a nation that did not have the ability and force to protect itself. Some academics and politicians said, it is possible to say that the world’s new order after the Cold War has been built based on the rescue of the people of Iraqi Kurdistan.
Today, it is also possible to say the new political system in the Middle East is not only based on the rescue of Iraqi Kurdistan. It is also based on our experience in coexistence, and on our efforts towards implementing democracy and pluralism. And it is also based on respecting neighboring countries along with finding peaceful solutions to our challenges. It is all this that reduces our pessimistic view of the Middle East. It gives us hope that the Middle East can take big and small steps towards freedom and democracy.
I hope that Kurdistan’s experience can become a torch to light the way toward a new Middle East that respects all its people equally, acts with openness, helps each other confront terrorism, protects human and minority rights, revitalizes our countries, improves public services, and offers a political system that is compatible with life in this era.
With all due respect.
Iraqi President and KRG Prime Minister discuss latest developments
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, (krg.org) — The President of the Federal Republic of Iraq, Dr. Fuad Masum, received on Thursday Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, at his residence in Erbil.
They exchanged views regarding all the political and military issues of the country. The discussion particularly focused on the war against ISIS terrorist organisation in Iraq and the region and the importance of the international military and humanitarian support to Iraq. They also stressed the need for national reconciliation among all the parties, relying on the terms of the constitution and previous agreements.
The relations between Kurdistan Region and Iraq's federal government and the necessity of resolving the outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil according to the constitution, that could serve the interests of all the Iraqi people, were also discussed in the meeting.
President Barzani Hails Agreement by Syrian Kurds on Joint Leadership
Under the auspices of Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, Syrian Kurds agreed today to jointly run the Kurdish areas in Syria, with joint leadership council and a unified military force.
Following this announcement in a meeting in the city of Duhok, President Barzani congratulated the people of Kurdistan and the people of Syrian Kurdistan in particular, on this historic achievement. The President reiterated Kurdistan Region’s continued support and backing to the Kurdish people in Syria.
President Barzani Meets Head of US Central Command General Austin
Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with the commander of the United States Central Command General Lloyd Austin and the US Ambassador to Iraq Mr. Stuart Jones in Erbil on Tuesday.
The President and the US general discussed the military campaign currently underway against the ISIS terrorists and the military support of the US to the peshmerga forces. President Barzani thanked the United States and other coalition countries for their military support for the KRG. He also thanked the United States for its military support for the people of the besieged Syrian Kurdish city of Kobani, who have been bravely fighting off the ISIS terrorists.
General Austin recognized the role of the peshmerga forces in the fight against the ISIS terrorists and reaffirmed continued US support for the peshmerga. In particular, he praised the military successes and gains made by the peshmerga forces around Mosul in recent weeks.
President Barzani and General Austin discussed the requirements and needs for the peshmerga and they both underline the need for continued support for the people of Kobani.
President Barzani Meets UK's Secretary of State for Defense
Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received a military delegation from the United Kingdom headed by Mr. Michael Fallon, the Secretary of State for Defense. During the meeting President Barzani and Secretary Fallon spoke of the latest military and security developments in the Kurdistan Region and their impact on the larger Middle East region and the world.
President Barzani expressed his gratitude to the government of the United Kingdom for their supportive stances both generally and following the ISIS crisis particularly, adding that the Kurdistan Region is in need of all international support as it fights the terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
Secretary Fallon stated that the government of the United Kingdom will continue to assist the Kurdistan Region with military aid as it fights ISIS and that the war against ISIS is indeed a larger idealogical conflict between the free world and radicalism.
President Barzani and Secretary Fallon also spoke of the latest political developments between the the Federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region and how all outstanding issues must be resolved as soon as possible.
Prime Minister Barzani and Turkish Prime Minister Davutoglu discuss security and humanitarian situation
Istanbul, Turkey (KRG.org) – Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani yesterday met Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul on the sidelines of a World Economic Forum event.
In the meeting both sides discussed the latest political and military developments in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, the process of forming a new government in Iraq, the participation of the Kurdistan Region in the new cabinet in Baghdad, and the situation in the Middle East in general.
The Peshmerga forces' fight against ISIS terrorist militants, the importance of the formation of an international coalition to attack and destroy the terrorists, and international support for the Peshmerga forces in the war against the terrorists were also discussed in detail.
The humanitarian situation and the condition of Iraq’s displaced people and Syrian refugees sheltered in the Kurdistan Region were also topics in the meeting, with special attention to the provision of aid by the people and the government of the Kurdistan Region and from the international community. Prime Minister Barzani highlighted the need for the Iraqi Government and the international community to pay more attention to the plight of the refugees and the displaced. He lauded Turkey for the aid and humanitarian support provided thus far, while reiterating that the Kurdistan Region expects further humanitarian assistance from Turkey.
Both prime ministers pointed to the importance of a strong bilateral relationship between Erbil and Ankara, stressing a common goal to promote economic, commercial, and political relations as well as expanded cooperation and coordination in the energy and natural resources sector. Both sides expressed their readiness to provide all the needed facilities in this regard.
Prime Minister Barzani’s accompanying delegation included Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, Minister of Natural Resources Dr Ashti Hawrami, Minister of Finance and Economy Rebaz Mohammad Hamalan, Minister of Planning Dr Ali Sindi, Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations Minister Falah Mustafa and KRG Spokesperson Minister Safeen Dizayee. The delegation participated in a number of different sessions and panels at the second day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) event.
Prime Minister Barzani headed the KRG delegation to Istanbul to participate in the WEF event upon an official invitation from Prime Minister Davutoglu and WEF Chairman Professor Klaus Schwab. Prime Minister Barzani and the delegation met Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Professor Schwab in separate meetings.
The delegation also met with a number of heads of state and senior officials from across the world and attended a dinner hosted by President Erdogan in honour of the participants of the WEF event.
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