Masoud Barzani, the president of Kurdistan Regional Government, on the occasion of Abbas Kamandi’s death, declared: I got worried when found out Abbas Kamandi, the famous Kurdish artist, died.

Masoud Barezani also expressed his condolences to the artist’s family and the Kurdish artists by a message as follows:

For the Family of the Famous Artist Abbas Kamandi:

When finding out the artist Abbas Kamandi’s passing away I got concerned. Abbas Kamandi served outstanding work in the fields of singing, painting, poem and play-writing to the art and culture of Kurd for years, and its effect are sensible and respected.

The loss of this artist was a great grief to Kurdish art. I should like to express my condolences to Abbas Kamandi’s family and the artists of Kurdistan I too share your grief. I demand may Great God be gracious to him and grant us peace.

We are for Great God and we will return to him.

Masoud Barzani

The president of Kurdistan Regional Government

Dr. Jegarkhowein (Muhammad Seddigh Ahmad), the deputy-Representative of Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq in Iran, gave a speech in 11^th anniversary of the Phili Kurdish Martyrs in Tehran.

 The speech says: today we all are here to pay respect to innocent of Phili Kurd and to remember the memory of these symbols of resistance, standing and liberty.

 Phili Kurds is a part of Kurd nation of Iraq whose places of resident are away from of birth, the racist regime of Baath committed lots of oppressions and crimes against them and most brutal acts against Phili Kurds like destroying towns and countries, Anfal operation, chemical bombing, and so on.

In 1970 Baath regime started to force Phili Kurds to migrate, and in this way ten thousands of them were arrested, their houses and belongings confiscated and expelled just for their being Kurd and Iranian-origin of their being a danger against Iraq and Arab security.

In the frame of racial oppression and elimination, in face of Phili Kurds, over 20000 people were arrested and disappeared, and there are no news yet concerning how they were killed. It was said lots of these guys were used as test samples in Saddam’s chemical and biological weapon generating labs and then were all buried en masse cemeteries.

Crimes committed against Phili Kurds accordance with international rules and treaties and international law are considered in the frame of ant-human and en massacre. For in any form facing them like arresting, compulsory elimination, broad hanging, obligatory migration, and confiscation of their belongings as a definite religious and racial minorities are a clear instance of massacre and anti-human crime. However, he asked Iraq government to act properly to pay material and spiritual damages imposing Phili Kurds as well as returning their certificate and apologizing.

Dr. Ahmad, at last, hopped in the frame of new federal and democratic Iraq, in which all population combinations have equal rights, all varieties of classes of people together, by obeying the constitutes as national treaty, get to make society far away from oppression to people rights, a society after painful years of fighting, bleeding and being victimized can be free, progressing and prosperous in which all feel security and independence.            

The Representative of Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq in Iran, participated in 4^th international day festival of the University of Iran on the occasion of 80^th anniversary of the University of Tehran establishment. With the presence of Nazem Debbagh, the representative of Kurdistan Regional Government in Tehran, Dr. Jegar Khowein (Muhammad Ahmad Seddigh) the deputy-Representative of KRG in Iran, Cultural Counselor of Iraq embassy and other countries like Italy, France, Russia, Malaysia, Afghanistan, …, some ambassadors, the professors of the University, some employees of the Office of KRG, the managers of the University, the Ministry of Science, Researches and Technology and other organizations, non- and Iranians scholars, students and stuff and experts of the University, the 4th international day festival of the University of Tehran was held on the occasion of 80^th anniversary of the University establishment in the hall of Allameh Amini central library and documents center of the university at 4 on Monday, Khordad 5^th .

In this ceremony, foreign top students, causes of glory, the board of science and the students of the University were appreciated. By the suggestion offered by the group of Arab Language and Literature of Humanity Literature faculty of the University, honorary doctorate in Arab Literature was awarded to Abdul-Aziz Saoud Babtin, the literary figure and cultivated outstanding poet of Kuwait by Dr. Muhammad Hossein Omid, the chancellor of the University of Tehran, in recognition of playing a remarkable scientific and education role in propagating Islamic culture and Arab literature.

Dr. Roj Nuri Shawis is the first-deputy-prime minister of Iraq and influential in the structure of the policy and a powerful personification among the parties. Shawis has positive relations with Iranian authorities. As a chief of the center of ministers, parliament representatives, Iraqi Kurdish authorities’ convergence working in the central government, and now as the deputy-prime minister has traveled to Iran in order to develop economic relations and visited first-deputy president, the head of parliament and a number of representatives. Iran Press had a talk as underneath about the main summary of put conversation.

In a response to the first question, he assessed the importance of Iraq elections through two aspects. One about people participation assessed positive and the other the repeated emphasis on democracy process and its confirmation in Iraq. In his viewpoint, it was a triumph for Iraqi people. In a response to another question about the Kurdish move’s coalition with legal government in the current situation said: ‘government experience in new Iraq is over 10 years relying upon Kurds and Shia. Kurds have had the main role in establishment of all government as well as obey of the constitution of Iraq, therefore unfortunately they did not benefit as it was supposed to, and their influencing decreased. It is felt that there are moves except some about this.’ However he believes the future government would be established upon Kurds and Shia. He also mentioned the before differences among former governments and believed in the government of coalition such problems are usual. However he insisted in groups’ participation like Sunnis believing democracy of new government formation and considered it undeniable. Shawis emphasized deeming the post of president as Kurds’ share, and continued to answer a question about his position about increasing president authority through reformation in constitute that this matter did not relate to constitute and the parliament, it can just be conducted by a political agreement. Parliament can vote on this agreement as vote of confidence on the cabinet and the presidency. Shawis mentioned Mr. Barzani’s position about it and said that this should have been assigned to Kurds; also everyone who is put in this position should be approved by Kurdistan parliament.

About Iraqi Kurdish and Shia groups relations with Iran’s, he said most part of Iraqi groups have had a long relations with Iran especially those who were against Fascist Baath regime. They all deem Iran as their own friend, that is why and in my opinion Islamic Republic of Iran in the direction of the convergence among related groups play a necessary role. He also dealt with Kurds’ role in the formation of the new democratic system of Iraq. In his view, Kurds played a scouting role in this process, since Kurdish parties entered in this political process sooner than current Iraqi’s.

Shawis, who is also the head of Economic Committee of Iraq, evaluated the current commercial exchanges of both countries up to over $ 10 billion and deemed his travel to Iran to negotiate and consult with Iranian side in order to high this to $20 billion and over. He considered his travel success to accomplish their goals.

With the presence of Nazem Debbagh, the KRG representative in Tehran, Dr. Jegarkhowein (Muhammad Seddighgh Ahmad), the deputy-representative of KRG, Mohammad Majid Al-Sheikh the ambassador of Iraq in Tehran, Hiva Margei, Dr. Ramazan a member of KRG in Tehran, as well as several political, cultural and literary personification of Iraq and Iran, a number of Kurd members settling in the center, a number of stuff of KRG representative and a countless number of Phili Kurds settling in the center and different towns of Iran, 11^th anniversary of commemorative ceremonies of 22000 martyrs of Phili Kurd was held at 10 am on Friday, Khordad 2th (May 23^rd , 2014) at Agha Mahmud Mosque in Tehran.

At the beginning of the ceremony Mohammad Majid Al-Sheikh, the ambassador of Iraq in Iran gave a speech, and Mrs. Dr. Batul Meshkin Faam, so did the professor of Arab language and literature of the University of Al-Zahra, about the role and place of Phili Kurds, then Musa Bidaj, the kurdish outstanding poet and translator read a poem in Kurdish language.

Next Dr. Jegar Khavin, the deputy-representative of KRG in Tehran gave a speech about identical features of Phili Kurds of Iraq and the difficulties caused by Ba’ath regime of Iraq like mandatory traveling, disappearance of 20000 teens of Phili Kurds, destroy of the houses, …, Phili Kurds participation in volunteer activities of Kurd people, the legal aspects of mentioned crimes and finally the responsibility of new government for the victims.

In a part of the commemorative ceremony, Mohammad Heydari, the Kurdish poet read a poem with Phili Kurd dialect, then Engineer Mohammad Reza Morvarid, the governor of Kurd in Ilam, gave a speech about the role and place of Phili Kurds in the past and present, after that Majed Ghamaz, the representative of High Islamic Parliament of Iraq, gave a speech, at the end Seyyed Ahmad Musavi, a Phili Kurd settling in Denmark, read a say about genocide of Phili Kurds.

11^th anniversary of commemorative ceremony of 22000 martyrs of Phili Kurds, with the effort of Hosseini groups of Phili Kurd settling in the centre, Masoudieh, Alishirvan of Shoush, Gharchak and Bisim and Najaf was held by Adnan Javadi presentation.      

London, United Kingdom (gov.UK) - Foreign Secretary William Hague and Prime Minister Nechirvan Idris Barzani discussed relations between the UK and the Kurdistan Region, Iraq’s recent elections, and human rights issues.

Speaking after the meeting the Foreign Secretary said:

"I was pleased to welcome Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Barzani to London today. The Prime Minister’s visit is a chance to celebrate the warm relations between the UK and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, with links in areas as diverse as trade, education and culture, and to reaffirm the UK’s desire to remain the Region’s partner of choice on all of these issues."

"I congratulated the Prime Minister on the progress that has been made in the Kurdistan Region over recent years, and the relative stability and security that has been achieved despite the violence in other parts of Iraq, and in neighbouring Syria."

"We also discussed the recent elections in Iraq, and the next steps towards the formation of a new federal government. I encouraged the Prime Minister, and other Kurdish parties, to remain fully engaged in this process."

Rome, Italy (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani arrived in Rome on Wednesday to meet with the Pope and Italian government officials.

During his two-day visit, the President held separate meetings with the Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, President of the Italian Senate, Mr. Pietro Grasso, and with the chairman and members of the senate foreign relations committee.

The meetings focused on bilateral ties, the political developments in Iraq- particularly after the recent parliamentary elections, the Syrian refugees, and the situation of Christians in Iraq and in Kurdistan.
In the meeting with Foreign Minister Mogherini, she said she is pleased with the status of her country’s economic and political relations with the KRG and that her country will soon upgrade her country’s diplomatic representation to a full consulate general.

On the situation of refugees in Kurdistan, the foreign minister commended the KRG for taking in refugees not only from Syria, but also Arabs and Christians from other parts of Iraq. She expressed her country’s willingness to help the KRG in its efforts to support these refugees.

The two also discussed the political developments in Iraq and efforts to form a new government after the recent elections. In this regards, President Barzani said that the Kurdistan Region has formed a unified negotiation team for talks with other Iraqi parties. He stated that the people of Kurdistan cannot wait another ten years for their legitimate and constitutional demands to be addressed. If these demands are not addressed, then the KRG leadership would ask the people of Kurdistan through a referendum to decide on their future relationship with Baghdad.

Rome, Italy (KRP.org) – Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday.

At the outset of the meeting, Pope Francis said that he was aware of the situation of Kurds and of their tragedies in the past. He commended President Barzani and the people of Kurdistan for what they have achieved, particularly in offering the Kurdistan Region as a safe haven for Syrian refugees and for Christians fleeing violence in other parts of Iraq.

The Pope also praised President Barzani for KRG’s policy of promoting tolerance and peaceful co-existence among different religious communities. He expressed his hope that the KRG would continue to enjoy peace and prosperity.

For his part, President Barzani talked about tolerance in Kurdistan as a long-standing tradition that has popular support. He said that peoples of different religions have made sacrifices together in the past and now live side by side in peace and freedom.

On the situation of refugees and Christians who have sought refuge in Kurdistan, President Barzani said that the KRG would continue to provide assistance to them as a humanitarian duty.