Erbil, Kurdistan Region, October 14, 2021

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Ms. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, in Erbil on Thursday.

Discussions focused on the election process of Iraq’s Council of Representatives and the outcome, the latest developments in the country and the future of the political process.

Both sides expressed hope that the election results would lead to the formation of a government that is responsive to the will, hopes and expectations of all communities, promoting peace, stability and better public services for all Iraqis. Both sides also agreed that all complaints regarding the election results should be addressed within the judicial procedures.

For his part, the President thanked and commended Ms. Plasschaert and (UNAMI) for their important role in observing the election process and supporting Iraq.

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzani-meets-with-un-special-representative-plasschaert-4/

President Nechirvan Barzani: Everyone is a winner: unity, consensus and partnership

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, September 12, 2021

My fellow citizens,
Political parties and factions in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq,

I congratulate everyone on holding successful elections for the Council of Representatives. Iraq and the Kurdistan Region are now in a new phase and regardless of the final outcome of the elections, everyone is a winner. We need to come together and prepare ourselves for our collective duties, responsibilities and challenges ahead.

Unity, tolerance and partnership among all of us are the keys to success, which ensure the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region. It is the way we can protect our hard-won achievements, the federal system and political entity of the Kurdistan Region. All political parties and forces of Kurdistan need to come together in unity and common purpose, and fulfill our joint duty and responsibility. We need to work together for a better present and a promising future for the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. And for this purpose, we must cooperate with the Iraqi sides and parties.

It is our duty as Iraq’s political parties and factions to take serious steps towards resolving the problems of the country through realistic and new understanding and vision, and by drawing lessons from past errors. This is how we can work for a stable and prosperous Iraq in which the constitutional rights of all communities are ensured and safeguarded. And this is the Iraq that will bring us together in harmony, mutual trust, collaboration, common destiny, collective efforts, the public interest, genuine partnership, consensus and equality.

I thank citizens, all parties and institutions, the administrative and security apparatuses, the media and civil society institutions, which were supportive in holding calm election campaigns. I thank the efforts of Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission, local and foreign observers, the United Nations teams, especially the Head of the UNAMI team in Iraq, the European Union and the Arab League who monitored the election process. It is the right step on the right path. Our participation in the election of our representatives in Baghdad demonstrates our commitment to democratic values and principles.

At the same time, the voter turnout is a clear message from the citizens that they expect better livelihood and improved public services, which they are entitled to. This should be a lesson for all of us in the government and the political parties in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, encouraging us for serious reassessments and reestablishment of trust. It should also encourage us to work and serve more.

It is time now to work together and form a patriotic federal government which mirrors the will and expectations of the citizens; a government which implements the constitution, empowers state institutions, assumes control of the extrajudicial armed groups, corrects the political process based on the constitution and partnership of all Iraqi communities, and takes charge of the country towards a better future for everyone.

I wish everyone success.

Nechirvan Barzani
The President of the Kurdistan Region

https://presidency.gov.krd/en/president-nechirvan-barzanis-message-on-the-successful-conclusion-of-parliamentary-elections-in-iraq/

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (GOV.KRD) - Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday met UNAMI chief Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.

Both sides discussed the latest developments in Iraq including the elections, the role of international monitoring teams and the UN’s contribution to a successful poll.

They hoped the new Iraqi government will serve everyone fairly.

https://gov.krd/english/government/the-prime-minister/activities/posts/2021/october/pm-masrour-barzani-meets-unami-chief/

Variety, the reputable film magazine, has published a news from Mansour Jahani, the independent international journalist, in regards to the success and achievements of Tehran International Short Film Festival among the Oscar Qualified festivals.

The important and incredible magazine, Variety, published this report under the title ‘“Tehran International Short Film Festival Named An Academy Award Qualified Festival”it’s been written: The Movie which will receive the main international prize at the Tehran Short Film Festival festival will be eligible to be introduce to Oscar directly.

The Tehran Intl. Short Film Festival is organized by the Iranian Youth Cinema Society (IYCS). Few other festivals in the region have received this honor - Egypt, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and India are the only nearby countries with Academy Award-qualifying festivals, according to IYCS and festival director Sadeq Musavi, who also said there are only 127 short film festivals worldwide that provide Oscar eligibility.

“At present, there are over 10,000 festivals being organized across the world. Most of them are unreliable. Meanwhile, the Tehran International Short Festival has a good status in the world. Although the festival is not decidedly familiar, it can be considered as the most important short film festival in West Asia,” Musavi said. “Free registration will be set aside after the restrictions on international payments are lifted, and, like other festivals, we will collect a registration fee from participants and the festival will be able to cover all its expenses.” Musavi also said that the festival is the only one in the region to offer a free admission program.

The Tehran short film festival takes place every year in October and is a member of Intl. Short Film Conference. The 2020 edition of the festival screened 55 films, which were produced across five different continents.

For more details:
https://variety.com/2021/film/news/film-news-in-brief-september-20-1235069493/