Kurdistan Region a ‘catalyst for peace,' says President Barzani
Sulaimani Forum to host Kurdish, Iraqi leaders amid shifting regional dynamics
Kurdish leaders extend Yazidi New Year wish, urge protection of community's rights
Kurdish leaders congratulate Duhok SC on historic Gulf Club Champions League victory
Duhok SC crowned Gulf Clubs Champion after thrilling win
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Wednesday stated that the role of the Kurdish people in ensuring regional peace is crucial and that the Region has always been a 'catalyst for peace.'
'The Kurdistan Region has consistently demonstrated its role as a catalyst for peace and stability, and it is well-positioned to contribute positively to enhancing security and peace in the region,' President Barzani said at the Sulaimani Forum 2025.
'The Kurds and the people of Kurdistan are inherently peaceful. Whenever there has been a hint of peace, the people of Kurdistan embraced it with optimism,' Barzani added, calling on the Kurdistan Region's parties to adhere to peace.
He warned that ignoring Kurdish rights has repeatedly fueled conflict and suffering in the region, explaining that history has proven that attempts to erase a 'nation of tens of millions' from their homeland have always been futile, referring to the Kurds.
'Let us reach out with gestures of friendship and work towards achieving enduring peace through collaboration and harmonious coexistence,' the Kurdistan Region's president proposed.
Barzani described recent peace efforts in Turkey as a historic opportunity and voiced full support for the renewed push toward resolving the conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). He said the moment offers a chance to boost regional stability and begin a new phase of constructive cooperation that benefits all sides.
'The power of peace is greater than the power of all wars,' he said.
At the end of February, the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) shared with the public a letter from Ocalan, the leader of the PKK, who is imprisoned on Imrali island. In the letter, he urged the group to disarm and disband. His message has sparked hope for an end to four decades of a conflict that has taken 40,000 lives.
The PKK subsequently announced a unilateral ceasefire and said they would hold a congress to discuss their future, but have insisted that Ocalan should be released from jail to lead the process.
Ankara has demanded that the PKK immediately surrender and dissolve itself.
This peace process appeared to begin last October, when Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli, who is known for his nationalist remarks and is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main ally, extended his hand to Kurdish lawmakers in the parliament.
Following his remarks on Turkey, Barzani shifted focus to Syria, emphasizing the need for progress there as part of broader regional stability efforts.
On Kurdish unity in Syria, President Barzani praised the Kurds' efforts, saying they 'have made significant strides toward consolidating their demands,' expressing hope that the Kurds in Syria can create a democratic country that 'upholds the rights of all communities,' in coordination with the Government.
Barzani called on Damascus to safeguard all of Syria's components with proper representation.
President Barzani also thanked Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for his commitment to strengthening ties between Erbil and Baghdad and urged the prompt implementation of Article 140 in the Iraqi constitution.
Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution details steps to resolve a dispute between the federal and regional government who both claim jurisdiction over disputed areas of the country, such as Kirkuk province. Successive federal governments have failed to implement the article.
'I would like to stress the importance of promptly implementing the law concerning the restitution of property and reactivating the committee responsible for executing Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution,' he affirmed.
Six months after the Kurdistan parliamentary elections, President Barzani also called on the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) to expedite government formation.
'This government must meet the expectations of its citizens and effectively address the ongoing developments and challenges,' said the Kurdistan Region's president.
President Barzani also addressed the climate change challenges Iraq is facing.
He stressed that climate change is greatly impacting 'numerous regions of Iraq, where countless individuals have been compelled to relocate due to water scarcity.'
He noted, the Kurdistan Region supports joint cooperation and international backing to address climate change and water scarcity, adding that the global community must take collective responsibility for tackling shared challenges like climate change, terrorism, and food security.
Iraq's water mainly comes from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, with 75 percent sourced from neighboring Iran and Turkey, and 20 to 25 percent from internal sources. While Iran affects water flow through rivers like the Karun and Karkheh, Turkey controls the headwaters via dams like the Ataturk Dam. Iraq lacks a comprehensive water-sharing agreement with both countries.
Accordingly, water scarcity is a critical issue in Iraq, threatening all aspects of society. According to the United Nations Global Environment Outlook 6 (GEO-6), Iraq is the fifth most vulnerable country globally to reduced water availability and extreme temperatures, based on data from 2020–2021.
He also congratulated Halabja on the recent bill passed by the Iraqi parliament, recognizing it as a province.
In December 2013, the Iraqi Council of Ministers approved a proposal to make Halabja the country's 19th province, separating it from Sulaimani province. However, political disputes between Erbil and Baghdad, along with divisions among Sunni and Shiite lawmakers, stalled the bill for over ten years.
The gruesome chemical attack on Halabja was part of the broader Anfal campaign, launched by Saddam Hussein's regime in the late 1980s. The campaign, carried out in eight phases across the Kurdistan Region, resulted in the deaths of over 182,000 Kurds and the destruction of more than 4,500 villages.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
10 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
PM Sudani discusses recent attacks in Baghdad meeting
Also in Iraq Baghdad may waive oil shortfall blocking June budget transfers to Erbil: KRG source KRG says not consulted on Iraq-UN poverty report Iraqi president, PM stress state resources must not be used for election purposes Iraqi women's party seeks to contest elections through empowerment A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the country's National Security Council, discussing the findings of the latest drone attacks on the Kurdistan Region's oil facilities and the attack on an agriculture ministry branch in Baghdad blamed on pro-Iran militias. 'During the meeting, the work of the specialized committees investigating the attacks on oil facilities, vital areas, and Iraqi military equipment, including radars, as well as the recent attack on an agriculture department near Karkh, Baghdad, was reviewed,' Sudani's spokesperson Sabah al-Numan said in a statement. An 'armed assault' by the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) on an agriculture ministry office in Baghdad's Karkh district on Sunday left three people dead - a policeman, a civilian, and a member of the powerful Iran-backed Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah. Baghdad confirmed that the perpetrators of the attack were PMF members. The Kurdistan Region has also come under dozens of rocket and drone attacks in recent weeks, including strikes on its oil facilities. The Kurdish government has blamed the PMF for the attacks - charges strongly denied as 'unacceptable' by Baghdad. The strikes have badly damaged the Kurdistan Region's oil infrastructure, halting production in some fields entirely and cutting total output by about 70 percent. 'The meeting discussed the overall security situation in the country, reviewed the topics on the agenda, and made the necessary decisions and recommendations,' Numan added. On Tuesday, Human Rights Watch condemned the attacks as a 'dangerous escalation' that risks fueling disputes between Erbil and Baghdad. A day prior, the United States blamed the powerful Iran-backed Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah - a PMF component - for the Baghdad agriculture department attack, calling on the Iraqi government to bring the perpetrators to account 'without delay.'
Rudaw Net
10 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Baghdad may waive oil shortfall blocking June budget transfers to Erbil: KRG source
Also in Iraq PM Sudani discusses recent attacks in Baghdad meeting KRG says not consulted on Iraq-UN poverty report Iraqi president, PM stress state resources must not be used for election purposes Iraqi women's party seeks to contest elections through empowerment A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Baghdad may overlook the volume of oil currently being delivered by the Kurdistan Region despite it falling short of the agreed-upon quota, potentially paving the way for the disbursement of June salaries, a source from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) told Rudaw on Wednesday. 'Sending June salaries is tied to oil delivery, but it's possible Baghdad may overlook the amount of oil being delivered, given that current production does not reach 280,000 barrels and it's decided to reach that level gradually,' the source said, on the condition of anonymity. Under a July 17 agreement approved by Iraq's Council of Ministers, the KRG is required to deliver 280,000 barrels of oil per day, with 50,000 barrels allocated for domestic use. In return, Baghdad is to send monthly salary payments. More than 1.2 million civil servants in the Kurdistan Region remain unpaid for June. Aziz Ahmad, deputy chief of staff to KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, said earlier this month that nearly 200,000 barrels of oil production had been lost due to the 'spate of drone attacks.' A Baghdad technical team is expected to visit oil fields in the Kurdistan Region to assess current production levels and inspect damage from the strikes. A KRG source told Rudaw the delegation had already visited some fields and will now inspect the remaining ones. Rudaw has recorded dozens of drone and rocket attacks on the Kurdistan Region in recent weeks, many of which targeted oil infrastructure. While no group has claimed responsibility, the KRG interior ministry has accused the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi) of involvement - a charge Baghdad has rejected as 'unacceptable.' Despite these challenges, a source from the oil companies operating in the Kurdistan Region told Rudaw on Tuesday that they received a proposal detailing how to produce the 50,000 barrels for domestic use and how their financial entitlements will be paid. According to the deal, companies are to be paid $16 per barrel. However, Rudaw has learned that firms raised objections over the fixed rate. They want their payments after the initial two-month period to reflect their contractual shares and be linked to market prices, rather than a flat rate. Beyond oil, non-oil revenue also remains a sticking point. Baghdad has demanded 120 billion dinars in non-oil revenue for both May and June. While that amount has been delivered for May, a KRG source said June's contribution 'will be provided somehow,' but added that the Region 'cannot deliver that amount of revenue for July.' According to Rudaw's information, a joint committee from both governments' finance ministries and financial oversight bodies is now tasked with assessing and determining the Region's actual monthly non-oil revenues. The outcome could change future targets. Baghdad's expectations are based on a March 12 report to the prime minister's office that estimated the Kurdistan Region's 2024 non-oil revenues at 4.702 trillion dinars, or about 391.8 billion dinars per month. But a KRG finance ministry source told Rudaw the figure is misleading. 'The problem is that the calculated revenue amount has not all been returned to the government in cash. Part of that revenue, such as electricity money, has not been paid by citizens, so it's difficult to deliver the same estimated amount of money,' the source said. Tensions between Erbil and Baghdad escalated in late May when the federal finance ministry halted budget transfers, accusing the KRG of exceeding its 12.67 percent share and failing to meet oil commitments. The standoff began to ease earlier this month after Baghdad sent 975 billion dinars (around $737 million) to cover May salaries. But the deal's implementation has faced delays over unresolved technical and financial details. Hastyar Qadir contributed to this report.
Rudaw Net
10 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Kurdish lawyer urges legal consultation as Germany steps up deportations
Also in World Activists urge equal rights for Syria's minorities US congressman seeks to block Iraq funding over 'terrorist militias' attacks French FM speaks with SDF chief, expresses support for Syrian Kurds KRG requested defence system from US: Official A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Kurdish lawyer based in Germany said on Wednesday that immigrants facing deportation should seek legal counsel to keep their asylum cases open, as Berlin intensifies its crackdown on illegal migration. 'Immigrants can use the law through lawyers and legal experts to keep their asylum cases open and remain in the country,' Mustafa Qadir told Rudaw. Germany is ramping up deportations, with hundreds of individuals being returned at its borders, sparking criticism from opposition parties over human rights concerns. In a written response to Rudaw in May, Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) said rejected asylum seekers will be deported regardless of their level of integration, including those with jobs or language skills. It added that applicants may be sent back 'even without their consent' if they are not deemed to face specific threats in their home countries. Internal relocation within the country of origin is also considered before granting asylum. Many recent deportees had been living in Germany under temporary toleration status, known as Duldung, which only suspends deportation and does not guarantee legal residency. Some had jobs or were enrolled in integration programs. Qadir said a plane carrying around 100 Iraqis flew from Germany to Baghdad this month, with about 60 individuals deported. 'Some of them had received deportation notices years ago,' he explained. 'What is unfortunate is that some people have been here for 15, 16, or even 20 years and are now being returned,' he added. 'Not all of them have committed crimes.' He noted that some deportations are happening when people visit government offices to renew their residence cards - something he says was rare in previous years. Qadir added that the German and Iraqi governments have agreements in place to cover the costs of repatriating deportees quickly. Germany is tightening migration laws amid pressure on public services and infrastructure. In June, a senior Social Democratic Party official told Rudaw that Berlin cannot handle another large influx of migrants and must return to a managed migration policy. According to BAMF, nearly 251,000 asylum applications were registered in Germany in 2024. Iraqis remain among the largest groups seeking refuge, often using smuggling routes to reach Europe. Immigration was a central issue in Germany's February parliamentary elections. The Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union bloc - considered center-right - secured 28.5 percent of the vote, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) with 20.5 percent, and the Social Democrats (SPD) with 16.4 percent. In January, the parliament passed a controversial migration control bill aimed at tightening enforcement. The legislation includes five measures: preventing illegal immigration, deporting those without legal status, deporting foreign criminals, detaining those under removal orders, and limiting family reunification. Germany is a popular destination for tens of thousands of Iraqis and residents of the Kurdistan Region who attempt to reach Europe each year, often through smuggling routes.
