Barzani on Halabja recognition: A source of pride and responsibility
Shafaq News/ Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday welcomed Iraq's recognition of Halabja as the country's 19th province, calling it the culmination of long-standing Kurdish efforts to honor the city's legacy.
'Today's decision by the Iraqi Council of Representatives to designate Halabja as an official province is a source of pride and joy for all of us in Kurdistan,' Barzani said in a statement.
The move, he emphasized, should pave the way for reconstruction and improved public services. 'This is a responsibility we all share, and we must fulfill it with dedication.'
Halabja, the site of a 1988 chemical attack that killed thousands of civilians during Saddam Hussein's rule, has long stood as a symbol of Kurdish suffering and resilience. Iraq's parliament approved the province's new status earlier on Monday by majority vote.
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