Latest news with #NechirvanBarzani
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
US Secretary of State underscores Kurdistan's role in US-Iraq ties
Shafaq News/ US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed Washington's support for the Kurdistan Region in a recent phone call with President Nechirvan Barzani, highlighting its key role in US-Iraq relations. According to the State Department, the two discussed efforts on Wednesday to boost cooperation and maintain stability in Iraq, Syria, and the wider region. Rubio commended the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for working with US companies and helping advance Iraq's energy independence.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
President Barzani, Rubio discuss regional stability
Shafaq News/ Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored the importance of sustained coordination and reinforced partnership to maintain peace and stability in Iraq and Syria, in a phone call on Wednesday. The two officials discussed regional developments and emphasized the need to deepen bilateral cooperation, a statement from the Kurdish presidency said. Posting on X, Barzani expressed his appreciation to Secretary Rubio's call, and reaffirmed 'our shared commitment to peace, stability, and the strong partnership between the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the United States.' I appreciate tonight's call from Secretary Rubio, during which we discussed developments in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the wider region. I reaffirmed our shared commitment to peace, stability, and the strong partnership between the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the United… — Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) May 28, 2025 Rubio thanked Barzani for his "constructive role" in facilitating dialogue between Baghdad and Erbil, praising his efforts to resolve disputes through diplomacy and mutual understanding. 'The United States' support for the Kurdistan Region remains a core principle of its strategic relationship with Iraq,' Rubio affirmed.
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
President Barzani: Protecting minority rights is a principle not a slogan
Shafaq News/ Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani reaffirmed on Monday that safeguarding the rights of all components in Kurdistan is a deeply held principle, not a mere slogan. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is home to a diverse mosaic of ethnic and religious communities, including Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Armenians, Yazidis, and Shabaks. Speaking at the opening of the Church Endowments Administration Conference in Erbil, Barzani said that his participation reflects clear support for all components of the Kurdistan Region, especially for Christian citizens, 'who are an essential part of the fabric of this society and Kurdistan's shared history.' 'This land has been known for thousands of years as a place of peaceful coexistence, acceptance of others, and fair participation in rights and duties.' He stressed that minority rights are not symbolic rhetoric, but 'firm principles and concepts we genuinely believe in,' adding that peaceful partnership must be the foundation of society. Barzani recalled that since the establishment of the Kurdistan Parliament, there has been a strong emphasis on inclusive representation, noting that peaceful coexistence has been a key factor in Kurdistan's stability and strength. Barzani reiterated that the diverse communities of the Kurdistan Region 'are not guests, but an inherent and rooted part of this land.' 'Kurdistan has always embraced all, historically providing space for freedom and peaceful coexistence,' he said. 'Achieving these principles can only be done through a clear legal framework that guarantees rights and protects diversity.' He called for accelerating the passage of a dedicated law for the management of Christian endowments that aligns with Iraqi legislation and ensures protection against encroachments. 'Such a law would not only be a legal framework but a clear message that Christians' rights are protected, their presence is guaranteed, and their ancestral heritage is safeguarded.'
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
President Barzani marks 49th anniversary of Gulan Revolution: A call for unity
Shafaq News/ Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday commemorated the 49th anniversary of the Gulan Revolution, hailing it as a testament to the Kurdish people's unshakable commitment to liberty and dignity. In an official statement, Barzani paid tribute to the 'immortal martyrs and heroic fighters' of the uprising, honoring those who gave their lives in pursuit of freedom. "Gulan was a reaffirmation of the people's refusal to accept injustice or occupation," he added, calling it a powerful continuation of the Great September Revolution led by the late Mustafa Barzani. The Kurdish president urged all sides to protect the constitutional and federal achievements secured through decades of struggle and to uphold the legacy of the revolution with unity and cooperation. 'Let Gulan inspire us to work together for a better future,' he said. The Gulan Revolution began in 1976 after the collapse of the 1975 Algiers Agreement, when the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) reorganized its resistance against the Baathist regime. Drawing on shifting dynamics in the Middle East, the movement reignited hope among Kurds for justice and self-rule.
Rudaw Net
5 days ago
- Business
- Rudaw Net
US senators meet with Iraqi, Kurdistan leaders
Also in Kurdistan $73 million in development projects approved for Halabja province Kurdistan people's livelihood not a tool for political leverage: KDP leader Rwanga plants 20,000 olive saplings in Erbil President Barzani says Erbil wants stronger ties with Japan A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two United States senators met separately with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Saturday. 'President Nechirvan Barzani welcomed Mr. Angus King, an Independent Senator from Maine, along with Mr. James Lankford, a Republican Senator from Oklahoma, and their accompanying delegation,' a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency said. Counterterrorism cooperation and Erbil-Baghdad relations were discussed, as well as the situation in Syria and broader regional developments. 'The potential for US job creation and investment opportunities in both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region' was also discussed, the statement added. The visit came on the heels of two major energy contracts signed this week between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and US-based HKN Energy and WesternZagros, valued at a combined $110 billion in their lifetimes. They were signed in the presence of Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani who was on a trip to Washington where he met with several American officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Baghdad has rejected the energy contracts as illegal and the Iraqi oil ministry said that all partnerships must go through the federal government. PM Barzani called on the Iraqi government to reconsider its opposition, arguing the agreements will benefit all of Iraq. In his meeting with the American senators in Baghdad, Iraqi PM Sudani 'emphasized the importance of bilateral relations with the United States and Iraq's aspiration to further develop and strengthen them across various fields - particularly in the sectors of economy, energy, investment, and culture - within the Iraq-US Strategic Framework Agreement,' said a statement from his office, referring to the broad agreement that guides US-Iraq relations. Sudani said that the government has made major strides in the oil and gas sector, paving the way for increased cooperation and investment from US companies.
