Archive for month: December, 2014

On Christmas Eve, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, spoke in Ainkawa district of Erbil, to a large audience, most of whom have fled the violent repression of the Islamic State terrorist organisation, known as ISIS, and took refuge in the Kurdistan Region.

Following is the text of the speech

Distinguished guests,

Good evening,

Today on this birthday of Jesus Christ, in many parts of the world thousands upon thousands of families and households gather. People offer Christmas greetings, exchange gifts, pray for peace and security for each other, for their community, and for humanity. They pray for the coming new year to bring life to their dreams and aspirations, and they pray also to help their friends and neighbours who may be unable to live the lives they wish.

We also have the same dreams and hopes and prayers. This is the culture of the peaceful coexistence we live in Kurdistan, among all our people regardless of religion, sect, ethnicity, or language.

The dream of all people in our country is to live together in peace and comfort. What distinguishes Kurdistan from other places in the region is our tolerance of all religions and ethnicities. This is our culture and it is our will.

Sometimes I hear this is the will of God applicable to all who live in Kurdistan. Accepting differences, accepting each other, and defending each other’s rights are the basis on which we can all live a better life, especially during difficult times when it is needed most.

The Kurdistan Region has become an example of peaceful coexistence, keeping safe those innocent people who fled attacks by ISIS. The security of each displaced person is a responsibility that falls on all our shoulders as a government, as nongovernment organizations, as civil societies, as political parties, and on every person in all our cities, towns, and villages.

This year we have seen with our own eyes how all people who live in Kurdistan came together to help our dear Christians and Yezidis. Everyone sympathized and empathized with them. Those that could, helped those in need as much as they could. Some opened their homes to welcome displaced families.

Dear friends,

Christians are a fundamental, essential component of Kurdistan and Iraq.  We shall continue to assist them and cater to their needs.

During the past few days, after careful organisation and planning, we have seen how our brave Peshmerga were able to attack ISIS successfully and liberate Shingal Mountain and many of the villages and towns in that area. And also during the past few weeks, many Christian towns and villages have also been liberated by our Peshmerga.

Following this summer’s tragic events in which Christians and Yezidis endured barbaric attacks from ISIS, they are happy to see their areas being liberated. This is evidence of the strength, capability, and commitment of the Government and the people of Kurdistan, and how they are all united. This reaffirms the promise of peaceful coexistence in Kurdistan.

All religions are based on peace, cooperation, coexistence, and acceptance of each other. It is most unfortunate that, after attacks by ISIS and displacement of so many different religious groups from their villages and lands, mistrust has appeared and there has been a loss of our spirit of peaceful coexistence. This is a natural result of actions and attacks of the terrorists who are fighting against humanity and coexistence, and whose crimes do not adhere to any human principles, and are far from all religious and nonreligious beliefs.

As a result of terrorist crimes we have been hearing there is strong demand to leave the country. We understand these feelings. We understand this feeling of hopelessness.  At the same time, however, we do not forget the 1980s when a tragedy of similar proportion struck so many in Kurdistan during the horrific Baath attacks committed in the name of the Anfal verses of the Quran. But we did not leave our country.

During those difficult times, few came to the rescue of the people of Kurdistan. If we had all fled abroad we would have lost our land. We would not have been able to rebuild our country, and we would now not be able to come to the rescue of anyone.

Despite those difficulties, however, people from all religious and ethnic communities began rebuilding their lives, their homes and villages, including clearing of landmines. Trade resumed.  Our natural springs began to flow again. Hope revived, and the birds returned to their nests.

In this historic time I urge our beloved Christians, Yezidies, Shabaks, Turkmens, and all our communities to remain steadfast. The life of the enemy is short.  They want to divide us by threatening our ethno-religious minorities in Kurdistan and Iraq and force them to leave their homelands.

Our will to protect our country, our people and our native land, however, is stronger than the enemy’s threats. We should not leave our country for the enemy to take. Our dream to return to our homes and lands in the future must always remain stronger than the fears, threats, hunger, and poverty of today.

The roots of Christians in our country are deep and go back thousands of years. They have been living next to other communities peacefully, and they have built our country together.  This has nothing to do with numbers or figures or the ratio of their population.  It has to do with their origins and their centuries of contribution in this region, their participation in building, peacefully coexisting with all others, and governing our country.

They are among the oldest indigenous communities, and they are among the owners of this country. They are here and they can protect their current and earlier history. They are here in the lands of their ancestors where they can protect their customs and traditions better than in any other country.

Fortunately, this time, the people of Kurdistan are not alone. As you know, many countries have come to the aid of Kurdistan. They share our resistance to terrorism and are firmly against ISIS.

Earlier last summer we may have felt alone in front of terrorist threats and ISIS.  But now our allies of the international coalition are supporting us with airstrikes which have helped our Peshmerga to liberate areas held by this force against humanity.

Let us therefore mark today to renew our hopes for the return of all internally displaced people to their homes. Let us light a candle for the rebirth of our hopes, for a bright future, and for the return of peaceful coexistence of all religious and ethnic communities in Kurdistan and Iraq. Let us mark this day to remember the victims, and the resilience of our resistance, of freedom, and of peace for all of Kurdistan and its diverse communities.

Finally, I would like to celebrate this birthday of Jesus Christ with the Patriarchs and clergy of all Christian communities in Kurdistan and Iraq.  And through them I wish to celebrate this day of peace with all people and believers as well as all Christians in Kurdistan, Iraq, and the world.

Merry Christmas.

At 1830hrs on 18 December 2014 Peshmerga forces successfully concluded their operation to break the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) siege against Mt. Sinjar.  8000 Peshmerga participated in the operation, which began at 0415hrs on 17 December with International Coalition airstrikes followed by a ground-based assault.

This operation represents the single biggest military offensive against ISIS and the most successful. In addition to suffering heavy casualties, ISIS’ morale has suffered a devastating blow. ISIS fighters have been fleeing in large numbers towards the Syrian border and towards ISIS strongholds such as Tal ‘Afar and Mosul from where they being sent back to the front line by other ISIS members.

In under 48 hours, Peshmerga forces have succeeded in retaking 700 square kilometres of ISIS-held territory between Zummar and Mt. Sinjar. This corridor, 70km wide and 10km deep, has enabled the Peshmerga to gain direct access to the displaced people trapped on Mt Sinjar, to provide humanitarian support and evacuation where necessary.

Added to the 1000 square kilometres captured from ISIS in the preceding series of offensives at AynFarras, Rabiah, Zummar, this recent success has enabled the Peshmerga to surround an additional 2100 square kilometres of ISIS-held territory.

“This is a war that the Peshmerga is fighting on behalf of the world,” said Masrour Barzani, Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) “to protect the principles of democracy, co-existence and respect for human rights”.

“Peshmerga are proud to be a major partner in the international coalition and will continue to fight against terrorism.”
Office of the Chancellor
Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC)

During a speech to an audience of top Washington scholars and officials at the Center from Strategic International Studies, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani said, ‘Iraq can only be saved if Baghdad is willing to devolve some of its powers to regional authorities and be more inclusive of minorities.’ He said that the poor policies of the previous government alienated the Sunnis of the country, adding, ‘The Islamic State did not fill a security vacuum, but a political vacuum.’

The Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) concluded a four-day visit to Washington on Thursday, December 11, 2014. The visit included numerous meetings with senior US administration officials and members of Congress, events at leading think tanks, a roundtable discussion with US business leaders, and interviews with several news agencies.

In an opinion published in the Wall Street Journal, Mr Talabani laid out the challenges that Iraq will face in the future, calling for a return to the federalist structure of the Iraqi Constitution. He applauded the recent negotiations with Baghdad, but said that this is ‘Iraq’s last chance’ to succeed.

Earlier this month the KRG reached an agreement with Baghdad to contribute 250,000 bpd of Kurdish oil and 300,000 bpd from the Kirkuk oilfields to the Iraqi central marketing authority in return for the disbursement of the KRG’s share of Iraqi federal oil revenues. The negotiations demonstrated a possible rapprochement in Erbil-Baghdad relations.

‘US airstrikes have succeeded in ending the expeditionary ventures of the Islamic State, forcing them to change tactics. However, defeating these terrorists will require greater cooperation between Kurdish, Iraqi, and international security forces,’ the DPM said at a meeting with Representative Devin Nunes. Rep. Nunes, the new Chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, praised the Peshmerga for their efforts in combating ISIS and highlighted US-KRG cooperation at the Joint Operations Center in Erbil.

Since August, the US and coalition forces have carried out hundreds of airstrikes on ISIS targets throughout Iraq. These efforts are coordinated largely through the Joint Operations Center where over 1,500 US military advisors work closely with the Peshmerga to identify and destroy terrorist positions.

The DPM also met with other influential members of Congress including Senators John McCain, Dianne Feinstein, and Lindsey Graham, and Representatives Michael McCaul, Steny Hoyer, Dana Rohrabacher, and others.

Mr Talabani conducted a number of meetings with US administration and defense officials at the Department of State, Pentagon, and White House. He updated the officials on the political, security, and humanitarian developments in the Kurdistan Region, and asked administration officials to continue to be supportive of the KRG’s efforts to resolve outstanding issues with Baghdad.

He also met with members of the US-Kurdistan Business Council to discuss business opportunities in the region. He said, ‘Kurdistan remains safe, secure, and open for international investment.’

The KRG Mission in Washington hosted a town hall meeting with DPM Talabani for the Kurdish-American community at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fairfax, Virginia. Mr Talabani delivered remarks and updates from the Kurdistan Region, and took questions from the audience for over two hours. He also thanked the community for their ongoing support for the 1.5 million displaced persons. Several organizations in the Washington area, including the KRG Mission, have organization financial and clothing donation drives to bring supplies to those in need.

Media  appearances

Qubad Talabani op-ed in Wall Street Journal – ‘Saving Iraq in the Post-Maliki Era’  http://bit.ly/1sordbC

Lara Jakes for the Associated Press – ‘Iraqi Kurd urges regional rule for Iraqi Sunnis’ http://apne.ws/1xaJRKK

Margeret Warner for PBS NewsHour -  ‘Kurdish deputy prime minister urges U.S. leaders to remain engaged in Iraq’ http://to.pbs.org/1Gp1o1E

Within three days of arrival in Baghdad, the Kurdistan Regional Government delegation headed by Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, concluded an agreement with the Federal Government of Iraq. Prior to leaving Baghdad, back to Erbil yesterday, Prime Minister Barzani spoke with the media about the meetings and results of the negotiations.

The KRG Prime Minister highlighted the meetings of the past two days, saying, “During the past two days we have been here in Baghdad in order to address issues between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad.  We conducted several meetings with the Iraqi Prime Minister, the Oil Minister, and other ministers. Different teams focused on different negotiations. We completed our visit today.”

Speaking about the conduct and atmosphere at the meetings the Prime Minister said, “I would like to say the meetings were generally positive. We saw a real desire by the Iraqi Prime Minister, the Iraqi Oil Minister, and all other ministers in Prime Minister Abadi’s government to resolve important issues with the Kurdistan Region. I want to emphasize and reiterate that our preference from day one was to resolve all issues through dialogue.  We preferred this option and believe it is the best option.”

Regarding the agreements, Prime Minister Barzani said, “After the former Iraqi Prime Minister unilaterally cut the share of the Kurdistan Region from the Iraqi budget we have attempted to resolve the issue through dialogue.  Fortunately, we reached an agreement with Prime Minister Abadi and his team on a number of issues.  We believe the agreement is transparent and serves the interests of both the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad. Both sides came out of these negotiations successfully.”

Regarding the details of the meetings, the Prime Minister said, “The agreement is as follows: The KRG will deliver 250,000 barrels of oil per day from oilfields in the Kurdistan Region to Baghdad, and we will assist them in exporting Kirkuk oil. In turn, the Federal Government of Iraq will provide the Kurdistan Region 17 percent share of the federal budget. We emphasized that the amount received in the past was never 17 percent, it was always less.”

On the issue of the Peshmerga forces dues which was one of the main unresolved issues, Prime Minister Barzani said, “Prime Minister Abadi offered his respect and gratitude to the Peshmerga forces, especially in the struggle and sacrifices they have been making on the battlefield fighting against ISIS terrorism. Baghdad agreed to allocate 1 trillion 200 billion Iraqi Dinars for the Peshmerga.”

Prime Minister Barzani explained details of the agreement, saying, “The current agreement is not the final agreement, but we believe it to be a good start. There are other issues we should discuss in the coming period and we hope to reach agreement on them, too. This is a good start for both sides and, hopefully, we will resolve all outstanding problems and obstacles within a period of six months or so.

“I can say that, in general, we are pleased with this agreement and consider it a gain for all parties. Given the problems between Erbil and Baghdad, we can say we have come a long way.  What we have seen this time in Baghdad is a desire by the Iraqi Prime Minister to tackle these problems. This encourages us to move forward faster. As I said, our priority is to address and resolve our problems with Baghdad.”

Regarding external pressure, particularly from the United States and other parties on the KRG delegation to reach agreement with Baghdad, the Prime Minister said, “There was no pressure on us.  What we have achieved was through the desire of both Baghdad and Erbil to reach a mutually satisfying agreement. The United States, United Kingdom, and the United Nations role is to encourage both sides to negotiate to reach an agreement. They did not interfere in the negotiations and did not exert any pressure, even in the organization of the meetings. As you know, Iraqi Oil Minister Dr. Adil Abdul Mehdi visited Erbil recently and met with Deputy Prime Minister Mr Qubad Talabani and I.  We agreed then to visit Baghdad to begin these talks.”

Regarding the amount allocated by the Iraqi Government for the Peshmerga forces, whether it was taken from the Kurdistan Region’s portion of the federal budget, Prime Minister Barzani said, “The amount agreed for the Peshmerga forces will be from outside the Kurdistan Region’s share of the budget, meaning it will not be from the 17 percent allocated to the Kurdistan Region. They agreed the Peshmerga forces are part of the Iraqi defense system. This agreement is very important because after 11 years of negotiations Baghdad agreed to the proposal to allocate a portion of the national defense budget to the Peshmerga forces.”

In response to a question, KRG Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani emphasized, “the agreement reached between the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government works in favor of all sides and I believe that everybody will support this agreement.”

Prime Minister Barzani thanked the civil servants, businessmen, and contractors in the Kurdistan Region for their patience with salary and payment delays. He said, “We have already received a payment and are receiving another one.  We hope to overcome the issue of public service salaries by January.”

Regarding exporting oil from Kirkuk oilfields through the Kurdistan Region’s pipeline, the KRG Prime Minister explained that, practically speaking, Kirkuk oil can flow only through the Kurdistan Region’s pipeline. “We have agreed to export 300 thousand barrels per day. The technical process may start this week.”

Prime Minister Barzani also noted, “the process of exporting Kirkuk oil through the Region’s pipeline is in the interest of both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. He said the Region would not charge the Iraqi federal government for the export. The Region works within the framework of the Constitution of federal Iraq. This gives the Kurdistan Region opportunity to coordinate approaches to oil export and solve issues without stress.”

Regarding the oil exported by the Kurdistan Region independently, the Prime Minister said, “We continue to export oil that we have, but we will first use it to meet the Region’s domestic fuel requirements. We will export the rest after meeting domestic demand.”

Regarding the agreement between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad, Prime Minister Barzani explained, “The budget law is for one year. When we came from Erbil we knew that we will not resolve all issues in a meeting or two. We thought our visit called for a strategy to resolve the issues.  We have now set the strategy. The agreement we have now concluded will open the door to settle all issues within six months to a year.

“What is important is that we managed to implement two important things. First, the sanctions imposed in Iraq’s general budget law on the Kurdistan Region’s share of the national budget have been removed. Second, we have reached agreement on oil export, the Kurdistan Region’s budget, and the Peshmerga forces’ budget.

“The other issues are article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution, incentives for Peshmerga forces, and other outstanding issues for which a period of time will be decided for their settlement. There will be talks also about what is owed to the Kurdistan Region from the 2014 budget, which is 16 trillion Iraqi dinars, as determined by the Iraq Ministry of Finance. All these issues cannot be solved in one meeting, more meetings are needed.”

While emphasizing that all differences cannot be solved in one visit or meeting, Prime Minister Barzani reiterated that the agreement concluded with Baghdad paves the way for resolving the issues within six months to one year.

Regarding project loans and mortgages for citizens, Prime Minister Barzani reiterated his government’s commitment to continue support for loans and mortgages.

Regarding guarantees the Iraqi Government will not cut the Kurdistan Region’s share of the national budget again, the Prime Minister explained, “There are no guarantees that the Iraqi government will not cut the Kurdistan Region’s share of the budget. We should not forget, however, that if they cut our share, we hold a key to their oil export. We do not, however, wish to talk in such language, we hope this language is over. We wish to open a new page and avoid using the language of threats.”

Regarding Peshmerga forces participating with the Iraqi army in liberating ISIS-controlled territory, the Prime Minister explained, “The Peshmerga forces are now fighting on a 1,100 kilometer-long frontline. Iraq’s Prime Minister lauded their efforts. In fighting a global terrorist organization, what the Peshmerga forces are achieving is most significant and serves the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the whole world.”

Regarding the Iraqi government’s commitment to implementing the agreement, the Prime Minister said, “the agreement has been approved by the Iraqi Council of Ministers and it has become a decree. The Iraqi government has expressed its support to the agreement. On our part we are implementing the agreement. In Baghdad, we observed willingness. We would like to take every opportunity to reach a solution that serves both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. However, to what extent it will actually be implemented, we will have to see that later.”