Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani issued the following statement on the recent events and protests in Kurdistan:

Following the events of recent days and the tensions in the town of Qaladize, I have asked KRG security and administrative authorities and political parties to prevent further escalation of the situation. I have also called on all relevant authorities to show restraint and do everything they can to calm the situation. All those responsible must face justice. 

In the time when the Kurdistan Region goes through a difficult situation, leads a fierce war against the most barbaric enemy of humanity, and faces severe crisis and challenges, the public demonstrations have, unfortunately, turned into violence in some places, that caused civilian casualties.

We express our sadness and deep concern for the violence that occurred that led to casualties. We ask all protestors, people, and political parties to deal calmly, and in a civilised manner, with the situation.

We call upon all the sides to work to control the situation and not further complicate it.

Police, security forces, and all relevant bodies are requested to exert all their efforts to maintain security and protect the safety of the people and governmental and political parties' properties and institutions.

We ask the media outlets to deal responsibly with the situation and be a factor of stability.

Kurdistan Region Council of Ministers

9 October 2015

Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani received a United States delegation headed by ambassador Stuart Jones. During the meeting President Barzani and ambassador Jones discussed the latest military developments in the war on the terrorists of the Islamic State in Kurdistan, the rest of Iraq and beyond. Ambassador Jones expressed his appreciation for the well coordinated cooperation between the coalition and the Peshmerga forces.

President Barzani and ambassador Jones spoke of the importance of focusing on widening and strengthening the coalition so that there is speedier riddance of the terrorists of the Islamic State.

Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani welcomed Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó today.  In a meeting between the two held in the city of Duhok, the President and the Hungarian Foreign Minister discussed the plight of internally displaced people and refuges in Kurdistan, and migrants and refugees heading to Europe from the region. The also discussed the efforts to defeat ISIS terrorists, and Hungarian contribution to this campaign. 

The Hungarian Foreign Minister reiterated his country’s support to Kurdistan peshmerga forces with providing military assistance and training. 

President Barzani thanked Hungary for its support to the peshmerga forces. On the refugee and migrant crisis, the President said that the root causes of this issue must be addressed. He said the threat of terrorism and economic challenges are two of the main causes forcing people to leave their countries. 

On the fight against ISIS, President Barzani said the bulk of this fighting on the ground is on the shoulders of the peshmerga forces, adding that the world has yet to face this threat in a serious way. 

Salahadin, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, (Krp.org)- President Masoud Barzani welcomed a United States military and diplomatic delegation headed by General John Allen, the Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL. General Allen was accompanied by a number of officials from both the departments of State and Defense. The meeting began by Mr. Allen expressing his acknowledgment of the sacrifices of the Peshmerga forces in the current global effort against the terrorists of the Islamic State, adding that that has even further strengthened the relations between the Kurdistan Region and the United States. 

President Barzani who welcomed the delegation with the presence of the Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council, Mr. Masrour Barzani as well as a number of military personnel including the Minister of Peshmerga Affairs, spoke of the latest military developments in the war against the terrorists of the Islamic State.

President Barzani and General Allen discussed the latest events concerning the efforts against the Islamic State including Russia's involvement where President Barzani reiterated his position of welcoming any help against the terrorists and called for more cooperation between the partners in the U.S.-led coalition against the terrorists of the Islamic State. 

President Barzani repeated on behalf of the people of the Kurdistan Region his appreciation for the support from the United States and other allies in the war against the Islamic State, and added that this war will end with the victory of the free world and the defeat of the cruel terrorists of the Islamic State.

Fourth major offensive in west of Kirkuk clears more than 140 square kilometres. Peshmerga Forces secure Ghara Heights, push ISIL beyond the river between Ghara Heights and Mt. Varies, and secure additional stretch of Kirkuk - Samarra highway

From 1900hrs on September 29 to 0530hrs on September 30, International Coalition warplanes targeted dozens of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) positions ahead of another major ground offensive led by Peshmerga forces.

The objectives were to reach Ghara Heights, located West of Mt. Bawita, secure additional stretch of the Kirkuk-Samarra Highway, push ISIL terrorists further South of the river West of Mt. Bawita, and further diminish ISIL's ability to threaten the Kurdistan Region.

Peshmerga forces began their ground offensive at 0600hrs. By 1400hrs, they reached and controlled Ghara Heights. This strategic position overlooks several villages South of Mt. Batiwa still controlled by ISIL terrorists. Today's advance has pushed ISIL terrorists further South of the river, further diminishing ISIL's ability to attack Peshmerga forces and putting additional pressure on ISIL in Hawija.

The offensive, launched from three fronts West of Kirkuk, included approximately 3,500 Peshmerga. More than 140 square kilometres were cleared, including the following areas: Meziriya, Gubebe, Seda, Mohammed Khalil, Qows Kurd, Tl Werd, Khelef and Mansuriya.

During the offensive ISIL terrorists were seeing fleeing the battlefield towards Hawija and surrounding areas.

International Coalition warplanes targeted 30 ISIL positions during the ground offensive, including three Humvees, three pick-up trucks and 1 VBIED. At least 40 ISIL terrorists were killed.

This is the fourth major ground offensive near Kirkuk since March 2015, clearing more than 670 square kilometres.

Office of The Chancellor
Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC)

New York, USA (dfr.gov.krd) - In New York this week, Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations, discussed Kurdistan Region's urgent need for basic humanitarian needs at a meeting with Manuel Sager, State Secretary and Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Minister Bakir gave a detailed account of the current situation in the Kurdistan Region, focusing on the latest humanitarian, economic, political developments and the ongoing fight against the terrorists of ISIS.

The Head of Foreign Relations highlighted the financial hardships that the KRG is facing due to the drop in oil prices, the impact of  1.8 million Iraqi displaced people and Syrian refugees on the Region’s stretched resources.

Minister Bakir called for continued international support for  Kurdistan in humanitarian, political and military spheres and shed light on the KRG’s efforts to gather international support to recognize the genocide that the Yezidis suffered at the hands of ISIS.

Mr Sager said that the Kurdistan Region has friends in the international community and appreciated the KRG’s open-door policy for the displaced and refugees.

He reiterated Switzerland’s support for Kurdistan on the humanitarian field, especially through UN agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Minister Bakir and Secretary Sager agreed on continued communication and cooperation between both sides.

New York, USA (dfr.gov.krd) - A Kurdistan Regional Government delegation was in New York this week during the United Nations 70th General Assembly to highlight the ongoing fight against ISIS and the humanitarian and economic challenges facing Kurdistan.

The delegation was led by Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations. The KRG's Representative to the United States, Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, accompanied the minister, along with Assistant Head of the DFR Siham Mamand and Advisor at the DFR Rawand Darwesh.

They met ministers and senior officials of various countries, representatives of the UN, the media and other organisations to update them on recent developments and to urge them to support the UN's call for more funds to help the displaced people who fled ISIS and are sheltering in Kurdistan and other parts of Iraq. The Kurdistan Region is sheltering 1.8million displaced Iraqis and Syrian refugees. This, combined with the fall in oil prices and the costly war against ISIS, are impacting services to the host and refugee communities and hampering Kurdistan’s vibrant economy.

The delegation also called for an investigation into the horrific events of last year in which the Yezidis and other minorities were targeted by ISIS terrorists in what amounts to genocide.

Minister Bakir spoke at a high level meeting at the UN urging friendly nations to do more to support Kurdistan with the humanitarian crisis.

Minister Bakir told the meeting, 'We support the efforts of the United Nation and the international NGOs working with us but indeed we need to do more in order to provide food, shelter and education in order to give them (the displaced) hope, otherwise this will be very difficult for us to cope with,” he said.

The KRG Minister made this intervention at a special UN session that focused on the humanitarian situation and its broader impact on Iraq. Leading the event, Sarah Sewall, US Undersecretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, outlined the threat to the displaced because the UN has struggled to raise the funds needed to continue its humanitarian programmes in Kurdistan and the rest of Iraq.

As she appealed to the international community to fund the UN’s programmes, Ms Sewall announced that the United States will contribute an additional $56m in humanitarian assistance for Iraq, bringing the US’s total contribution to Iraq, including Kurdistan, to $540m since start of fiscal 2014.

Several speakers praised the government of Iraq, the KRG and the people of Kurdistan for their compassion towards the displaced population. Iraq's Minister for Displacement and Migration Jasim Al-Jaf. Made a keynote speech at the which was attended by the representatives of several international organisations as well as diplomats.