KRG envoy says he is unaware of any visit of KRG officials to Tehran
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) representative to Tehran has said that he is unaware about any kind of meeting between the region's officials and Iran.
Nazim Dabbagh told Voice of America (VOA) on Thursday, May 19, that the representative office in Tehran has long been unaware of the details of the meetings between the region's delegations and Iranian officials.
He added that the communications occur through political parties rather than the KRG's representation, especially after the 2017 Kurdistan Independence referendum.
Dabbagh is a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
He said, "just like everyone else", he is not aware of visits made by the region's political parties to Iran, and he hears about them in the media.
"Everything is done from Erbil and Sulaimani through the Iranian consulates. They organise the visits themselves, especially if they come by private planes; we are less aware of it," he said.
He added that Iranian delegations had visited Sulaimani and Erbil many times to meet with the KDP or PUK officials; however, no one had heard about them.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and PUK control security and administration in different parts of the Kurdistan Region and separately control different KRG's representations abroad.
The KDP controls Erbil and Duhok provinces, while the PUK controls Sulaimani and Halabja provinces.
Reporter's code: 50101
https://kurdpress.com/en/news/2532/KRG-envoy-says-he-is-unaware-of-any-visit-of-KRG-officials-to-Tehran/
Iran to consider ‘other options’ if opposition groups remain on borders: Official
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran has stressed that the Kurdish opposition parties based on the Kurdistan Region borders must evacuate their bases and headquarters, otherwise the country “will consider other options,” the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) representative in Iran told Rudaw on Sunday.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) showered the skies of the Kurdistan Region’s Erbil and Sulaimani provinces with ballistic missiles and suicide drones late last month, targeting bases of Kurdish opposition groups, whom they accuse of providing arms to the protesters in the country.
“The Iranian government has investigated and found that a number of the Iranian [Kurdish] opposition parties have interfered in the protests and they accuse them [parties] of inciting chaos, therefore Iran has stressed that the parties must evacuate their headquarters,” Nazim Dabbagh, the representative of the KRG office in Tehran, told Rudaw’s Sirwan Abbas on Sunday, adding that Iran “will consider other options” if the Kurdish armed groups do not comply with Iran’s demands.
The KRG respects the Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups “within the framework of international law” but they “will not allow them [parties] to create problems for Iran,” Dabbagh added.
At least 16 people, including one child, were killed and over 50 injured in the Iranian strikes on the Kurdistan Region, according to data collected by Rudaw.
Nationwide protests erupted in Iran on September 16, condemning the suspicious death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini while in police custody. The Oslo-based Iran Human Rights Organization (IHR) said on Tuesday that at least 154 people have been killed during the demonstrations.
Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups based in the Kurdistan Region have waged an on-and-off armed war against the Iranian government since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/091020221
Iraqi Kurdistan envoy says independence vote "likely" to be postponed
TEHRAN, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The representative of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government to Tehran said that there is still a possibility to postpone the Kurds' independence referendum, Iran's Farsi language Etemad newspaper reported on Monday.
"The Kurdistan Regional Government is studying the proposals by Turkey and the western states over the scheduled vote," Nazim Dabbagh told Etemad.
"In case there are required guarantees for the rights of the Kurds, they will drop the independence referendum for the time being," Dabbagh was quoted as saying.
The move to hold the referendum has its roots in the disputes between Baghdad and Erbil and the "distrust" between the sides, Dabbagh said, adding that it does not harm Tehran or Ankara.
"For sure, Iraqi Kurdistan has convincing plans for Iran and Turkey over the vote," he said.
Besides, the Kurdish forces who liberated parts of Iraq, under the Islamic State (IS) rule over the past months, is considering those areas as the territory of Kurdistan, he said, adding that however, if Baghdad intends to hold self-determination vote in those areas, Iraqi Kurdistan will not block it.
Iran's political and military officials have announced their opposition to the Iraqi Kurds' referendum, saying that the stable, secure and unified Iraq will help the country's progress.
On Sunday, a top Iranian national security official said that Iran would close its borders with the Iraqi Kurdistan if the autonomous region secedes from Iraq following the planned referendum, Tasnim news agency reported.
The legitimacy of Iran's border crossings with the Iraqi Kurdistan region hinges only upon Iraq's territorial integrity and on the fact that the Kurdish area is part of an integrated Iraq, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said on Sunday.
The border agreements between Iran and the Kurdish region have been made as a part of an integrated Iraq, Shamkhani said, adding that the Kurdish secession from Iraq would result in the closure of all of Iran's border crossings with the region.
"Iran definitely recognizes only the united, integrated and federal government of Iraq," Shamkhani said.
Besides, possible separation of the Iraqi Kurdistan region would mark an end to all the "military and security" agreements between Tehran and Erbil, and Iran would adopt a new border security policy afterwards, he warned.
Shamkhani emphasized that the possible secession of Iraq's Kurdistan will make Iran reconsider its stances seriously and adopt totally different approaches to fight off the anti-Iranian groups that are present and act inside parts of the Iraqi Kurdistan.
Therefore, the Kurdish official should think twice and not miss the remaining opportunity to scrap the independence referendum plan and avert the formation of "anti-security processes" across the region, he added.
On June 7, Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region announced that it had planned to hold a referendum on independence on Sept. 25 to decide whether or not to secede from Iraq.
http://www.xinhuanet.com//english/2017-09/18/c_136618959.htm
Qaani's message to the Kurdish leaders
The representative of the KRG in Tehran, Nazim Dabbagh, revealed, on Monday, the content of a message delivered by the commander of the Quds Force, Ismail Qaani, to the Kurdish leaders.
Dabbagh said in a press statement, "Iran told the Kurdish leaders not to be a party to the fragmentation of the Shiite house. On the contrary, it will have unexpected reactions. This message is not new."
He pointed out that "when Qaani visited the Kurdistan region, months ago, he conveyed this message to the Kurdish leaders, where he said: "The Kurds should not get involved in supporting a Shiite party at the expense to another Shiite party, especially in deciding the candidate for the presidency of the next Iraqi government."
He added, "I am afraid that some of the policies followed in Iraq will bring us back to the stage of the referendum."
He indicated that "Iran supports the rapprochement of the Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan on the issue of the presidency, but while preserving the rights of the Patriotic Union."
https://www.kurdiu.org/en/b/506908
KRG will take a serious decision about terrorist groups
Tehran(IP)- The Deputy of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Tehran said they would make a serious decision to deal with terrorist groups based in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Iran Press/ Iran News: Following anti-Iranian terrorist attacks from the country's western borders in recent days by the terrorist groups based in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, their bases were attacked by drones and artillery of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The Deputy of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Tehran, Nazim Dabbagh, said we would deal seriously this time.
"We are committed not to allow groups to cause concern for Iran or the citizens of the Kurdistan Region," he added.
Dabbagh noted: None of the regional government officials has any relationship with the Kurdish groups opposing the Islamic Republic, and they meet them to convey the messages.
https://iranpress.com/content/67359/krg-will-take-serious-decision-about-terrorist-groups
Iraqi Kurdistan official: Anti-Iran groups to vacate their bases
The Iraqi Kurdistan region's envoy in Iran Nazem Dabbagh has said anti-Iran Kurdish groups will vacate their bases in the region in northern Iraq.
Dabbagh also said the Kurdistan region’s government plans to stop the groups to prevent further strikes by Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.
He stressed that no Kurdish official has links with the anti-Iran groups.
Dabbagh also said meetings with the groups are aimed at restricting their activities. This comes after the IRGC pounded the anti-Iran groups’ bases over their involvement in unrest and riots in Iran’s Kordestan Province following the death of 22-year-old girl Mahsa Amini.
The IRGC shelling killed many of those groups’ members and wounded a large number of others. The attacks also caused huge material damage.
The IRGC says Iran’s national security is its red line and any move to cross it will be met with a firm response.
https://ifpnews.com/iraqi-kurdistan-anti-iran-groups-to-vacate-bases/?nowprocket=1
President Nechirvan Barzani’s New Year Message
President Nechirvan Barzani’s New Year Message
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, December 31, 2022
I wish the families of the fallen heroes, our brave Peshmergas and the security forces, all the people of Kurdistan, Iraq and the world a happy New Year. I hope it will be a year of fulfilment of hopes and success; a year that brings an end to wars, conflicts, epidemics and hardships, and a year in which peace, security and stability prevail around the world.
The interests of the people of Kurdistan must be the main objective for all of us. With the start of the new year, let us make unity, solidarity, mutual acceptance and collective efforts a new chapter in our relationships among the political parties and among all communities in the Kurdistan Region. Let us work together to protect and ensure federalism and the constitutional rights, and resolve the outstanding issues with the Iraqi Federal Government on the basis of the Constitution.
We reiterate once again that the Kurdistan Region will fulfil its shared responsibilities and will continue to be a factor of peace and stability. The Kurdistan Region will support all efforts to resolve the problems and challenges facing the country to achieve peace, security and political stability in Iraq, in a way that the rights of all communities in the country are safeguarded.
We will develop our relations with the neighboring and regional countries, and with our friends and international allies on the basis of respect, unity and common interests. We will continue to cooperate to confront the threat of terrorism and eliminate terrorists. We will work together to consolidate peace and stability.
We will work to improve the lives and welfare of citizens, to further deepen pluralism, coexistence, tolerance, and protection of democracy, human rights, equality and liberties. We look forward to the new year and the future. I wish everyone good health, success, happiness and prosperity.
Nechirvan Barzani
The President of the Kurdistan Region
https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzanis-new-year-message-2/
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni extends formal invitation to President Nechirvan Barzani to visit Rome
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, December 23, 2022
President Nechirvan Barzani received today in Erbil the Prime Minister of Italy Ms. Giorgia Meloni who is visiting Iraq and the Kurdistan Region on her first official trip outside Europe.
During their meeting today, President Nechirvan Barzani welcomed Prime Minister Meloni to the Kurdistan Region and wished her a Merry Christmas. The President congratulated Ms. Meloni on her electoral victory and assuming the post of the prime minister of Italy. The President also expressed the Kurdistan Region’s appreciation for Italy’s military, political and humanitarian assistance, and its support to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region during the fight against ISIS.
For her part, Prime Minister Meloni stressed that her country attaches special importance to its relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and considered the strength and stability of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region as important for both Iraq and the wider region. In this context, President Nechirvan Barzani reiterated that the Kurdistan Region seeks to resolve all issues with Baghdad through dialogue and on the basis of the Constitution.
The President and the Prime Minister agreed that ISIS is still a real threat to the security and stability of Iraq and Syria, and that Iraq and the Kurdistan Region continue to need the international support to eliminate ISIS. They also stressed on further developing bilateral relations between Italy and the Kurdistan Region and their collective cooperation in all fields. In this context, Prime Minister Meloni extended an official invitation to President Nechirvan Barzani to visit Rome.
Discussions also focused on the program of Prime Minister Meloni to inspect the Italian forces present in the Kurdistan Region within the framework of the International Coalition to eliminate ISIS, and the presence and role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Iraq. The condition of the displaced, the status of the refugees and ethnic and religious communities, especially the Christians and the Yezidis, the situation in the wider region, and the ramifications of the war in Ukraine and other issues of mutual interest were also highlighted.
https://presidency.gov.krd/en/prime-minister-giorgia-meloni-extends-formal-invitation-to-president-nechirvan-barzani-to-visit-rome/
President Nechirvan Barzani arrives in Doha
Erbil, Kurdistan Region, December 18, 2022
President Nechirvan Barzani arrived in Doha, Qatar today Sunday at the official invitation of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar.
The President will join other world leaders in Doha to attend the World Cup Final.
https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-arrives-in-doha-2/
Prime Minister Barzani’s statement on Kurdistan Flag Day
To mark Kurdistan Flag Day, we commemorate the flag that represents all the different components that make up Kurdistan, raising it high.
We pay our respects to our Peshmerga martyrs who sacrificed their lives for this flag and the land of Kurdistan.
Let us all collectively work towards peace and the reconstruction of Kurdistan under this sacred flag.
Happy Kurdistan Flag Day.
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Prime Minister Barzani receives US ambassador
President Nechirvan Barzani meets with the Ambassador of the United States
Prime Minister Barzani receives UK ambassador
President Nechirvan Barzani meets with the Ambassador of the United Kingdom
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