Latest news with #Talabani
Rudaw Net
5 days ago
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Rwanga plants 20,000 olive saplings in Erbil
Also in Kurdistan $73 million in development projects approved for Halabja province Kurdistan people's livelihood not a tool for political leverage: KDP leader President Barzani says Erbil wants stronger ties with Japan US senators meet with Iraqi, Kurdistan leaders A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Rwanga Foundation on Sunday completed an initiative to plant 20,000 Spanish olive saplings in Erbil to promote environmental sustainability, in partnership with the German development agency (GIZ) and the agriculture ministry. 'We concluded the project of planting 20,000 Spanish olive saplings, which our institution, the Rwanga Foundation, undertook in partnership with GIZ and with the support of the German government and the agriculture ministry,' said Hassan Shekh Aladin, Rwanga's executive director, in a speech at the conclusion event. In 2023, Rwanga partnered with GIZ to implement development projects that created 250 job opportunities and supported 130 individuals in launching or expanding small businesses. The second goal of the partnership was to plant 20,000 Spanish olive saplings as part of an environmental sustainability initiative. 'We were able to complete the project within two years,' Aladin said, adding that 11,000 saplings were provided by GIZ. 'To complete the project comprehensively and fully, we had 9,000 saplings remaining. Thanks to the responsibility of the respected Idris Nechirvan Barzani, the other 9,000 saplings were also provided. Now we see that 20,000 olive trees have been planted here,' he stated. The planted trees can produce over 4 million liters of oxygen daily, enough for 9,000 people, and are expected to yield 120 tons of olive oil and 400 tons of olives annually, with the Spanish variety chosen for its faster two-year production cycle compared to Iraqi trees, according to Aladin. Agriculture Minister Begard Talabani hailed the project, saying that the trees will bring economic benefits and are also resistant to drought seasons. 'Instead of planting a tree only to give us oxygen and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, we want to develop those trees that have both economic benefit and can also withstand water scarcity during drought periods,' Talabani said at the event. Talabani explained that the project was established in a forested area that has served as a green belt for Erbil for over 30 years, expressing hope that, with support from all relevant Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) bodies, the area can be protected and developed as the "lungs of Erbil." The Rwanga Foundation is an NGO 'that envisages a world where quality education is accessible for all. Its mission is to provide services, build capacities, and design policies to ensure easy access to education for all and improve the overall educational standards in KRI [Kurdistan Region of Iraq], Iraq, and the greater global community,' according to the organization's website.
Rudaw Net
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
KDP, PUK to contest Iraq's 2025 legislative elections separately: KRG deputy PM
Also in Kurdistan President Barzani pushes to boost Erbil-Tehran ties, elevate Kurdistan Region's status The secrets of Soran: A 7,000-year-old discovery Mosul woman diagnosed with hemorrhagic fever in Erbil Kurdistan Region governors to visit Sanandaj for economy talks A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani announced on Sunday that his party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) will contest Iraq's November 2025 legislative elections separately, while continuing talks to form the Region's long-delayed government. Speaking at a press conference in Sulaimani, Talabani stated, 'We have decided not to unite under a single list. Instead, each [party] will run with its own list,' adding, 'From what I understood in the previous meeting [with the KDP], it may be better for everyone to participate with their own list.' Iraq is scheduled to hold its legislative elections on November 11, which will include the Kurdistan Region. The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced on Wednesday that candidate registration for the elections will begin on May 25 and run through June 24. Talabani's announcement comes as the Kurdistan Region's ruling parties have been holding talks since last November to form the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) tenth cabinet. The Region held delayed parliamentary elections in October, with the KDP emerging as the leading party, securing 39 seats in the 100-member legislature, followed by the PUK with 23 seats. As no single party won a majority, a governing coalition will need to be formed, as has traditionally been the case. Talabani reaffirmed on Sunday that talks between the PUK and KDP 'are ongoing.' He added that senior KDP figure and head of the party's government formation delegation, Hoshyar Zebari, had visited Sulaimani, where they discussed holding 'another meeting between the KDP and PUK this week to move forward with the formation of the tenth cabinet of Kurdistan.' Following their latest meeting, a PUK figure told Rudaw that the two parties have yet to agree on the allocation of key government posts. Talabani stated that the distribution of posts will be clarified when announced but did not provide further details. Meanwhile, Kurdish opposition parties have been working since early May to form a united front for Iraq's November 2025 legislative election, seemingly to challenge the Kurdish ruling parties at the federal level. The opposition groups include the New Generation Movement led by Shaswar Abdulwahid, the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) led by Salahadin Bahadin, the Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal) led by Ali Bapir, the Halwest movement led by Ali Hama Saleh, and the People's Front (Baray Gal) led by Lahur Talabany. These groups performed modestly in the Kurdistan Region's October vote. The New Generation won 15 seats, KIU seven, Halwest four, Komal three, and Baray Gal two in the 100-member parliament. However, in a surprising turn, the National Stance Movement (Halwest) announced its withdrawal from the talks last week, accusing some parties of engaging in separate discussions with Baghdad. At the time, Shadman Hassan, a member of the Lahur Talabany-led People's Front (Baray Gal), told Rudaw that the alliance seeks to consolidate Kurdish opposition votes and remains open to cooperation with any group, except the KDP and the PUK. It remains to be seen whether this condition will persist.
Shafaq News
15-05-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Al-Sulaymaniyah to host international Delphi Forum Slemani on May 18
Shafaq News/ Al-Sulaymaniyah will host the Delphi Forum Slemani next week, a high-profile international gathering, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced on Thursday. Scheduled for May 18–19, the forum will convene under the supervision of KRG Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani and is co-organized in collaboration with the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to a statement from Talabani's office, the forum will draw senior officials, business leaders, and representatives from international institutions across Iraq, Greece, and other countries. Participants will engage in strategic discussions covering regional security, sustainable growth, cross-border investment, and economic cooperation amid the shifting geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. The statement also highlighted the forum's role in strengthening al-Sulaymaniyah's position as 'a gateway between East and West, offering a space for economic diplomacy and collaborative solutions in an increasingly interconnected world.'
Shafaq News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
PUK leader endorses PKK dissolution
Shafaq News/ On Monday, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani welcomed the "historic" Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) decision to disband. The PKK announced its decision to disband and formally end its four-decade armed insurgency against the Turkish state, in response to a call made by imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan. 'Laying down arms is a crucial step, but the process must continue to achieve long-standing Kurdish aspirations,' Talabani stated, affirming the PUK's stance on peace as a "strategic principle," and expressing support for efforts aimed at consolidating this shift. Talabani referenced the legacy of the late PUK founder Jalal Talabani, noting that he was 'the first to lay the foundations of the peace process. We are continuing that mission.'
Shafaq News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
PUK Head Talabani-French FM meet: Kurdish unity key to protecting public interests
2025-04-24T11:00:13+00:00 Shafaq News/ Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) head Bafel Jalal Talabani met, on Thursday, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in Erbil to discuss political developments in the Kurdistan Region and broader regional dynamics. According to Talabani's office, discussions focused on the need to form a unified, service-oriented regional government ahead of Iraq's parliamentary elections. Talabani emphasized that 'Kurdish political alignment' would enhance their negotiating power in Baghdad and better protect public interests. Both sides also reviewed the situation in Syria, particularly the status of Kurds in Rojava, stressing the importance of safeguarding the rights of all communities. Talabani called for renewed dialogue among Kurdish factions, framing unity as 'essential to regional stability.' PUK's head also praised France's long-standing support, describing Kurdish-French ties as both strategic and enduring. 'We will never forget our friends who stood by us.' The meeting included senior PUK officials Qubad Talabani and Darbaz Kosrat Rasul.
