The Kurdistan region belongs to "the Kurdistani people"

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Christmas-New Year Dinner

Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani welcomed diplomatic delegations, ambassadors, consular officers, and foreign representatives in Kurdistan and Iraq to a Christmas-New Year dinner, extending congratulations and best wishes for the upcoming year

During the gathering, PM Barzani highlighted recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East, emphasizing the importance of collaboration to ensure peace and justice and prevent the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict in the region.

He stressed the significance of upholding the constitutional rights of Kurds in Iraq, considering it an integral part of cooperative efforts to resolve disputes between the federal and Regional governments. These disputes have led to months-long delays in salary payments and budget deficits in the Kurdistan Region.

PM Barzani emphasized that international mediation not only aids in resolving internal conflicts but also plays a crucial role in preventing the rise of extremism, including the resurgence of groups like the Islamic State (ISIS), by promoting democracy, justice, and equality.

Addressing the critical issue of global warming and climate change, PM Barzani highlighted the need for global cooperation to combat this existential crisis and minimize its adverse effects.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/832722

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Quota Seats in Parliament

Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Monday reiterated his cabinet's support for ethnic and religious components to have a fair representation in the Region's national assembly

Today, the Kurdish leader addressed a letter on the rights of these components to Head of United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Head of Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council Fayeq Zeidan and the head of the country's High Independent Electoral Commission.

In the letter, the prime minister conveyed his objections and concerns about ongoing attempts by some political parties to reduce the number of parliamentary seats allocated for ethnic and religious components in the Kurdistan Region through Iraq's Supreme Federal Court.

He called on them to prevent these efforts, and protect the rights of these components living in the Kurdistan Region.

The Kurdistan parliament has designated 11 seats for ethnic and religious components. These quota seats aim to foster inclusivity, and ensure a diverse legislature that reflects voices from all backgrounds.

Parliamentary elections in Kurdistan are scheduled to be held on February 25th of next year. Preparations are ongoing to meet this deadline, where Iraq's electoral commission will manage and monitor the vote.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/833096

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KRG/Iraqi Discuss Kurdistan Election

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani received on Monday a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) delegation led by Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed, to review preparations for the upcoming elections in Kurdistan

The meeting was attended by Kurdistan Minister of Finance and Economy Awat Janab Noori and Iraqi Minister of Construction, Housing, Municipalities, and Public Works Bangen Rekani.

“During the meeting, they discussed the general situation in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Various security, financial, and economic matters were addressed, and ongoing preparations for the Kurdistan Regional Parliament elections in February of next year were also discussed,” Sudani’s office said in a statement.

The meeting underscored the need to improve collaboration between the KRG and the federal government, focusing on resolving issues related to border crossings, aligning customs policies, and enforcing product protection laws.

“This collaborative effort aims to achieve the national interests of the country and its people,” the statement added.

Earlier this year, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani issued a decree designating February 25, 2024, as the date for the sixth session of parliamentary elections.

Following the conclusion of the fifth session of the Kurdistan Parliament on October 9, 2022, the parliament passed Law No. 12 to extend the fifth session.

However, on May 22, 2023, the Kurdistan Region’s parliament decided to reactivate the electoral commission, a move later declared "illegal" by the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/833116

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Delays to Kurdistan elections

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Emad Jamil, a top official from the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), on Wednesday told Kurdistan24 that the commission will not be able to hold the Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections due to the postponement of the Federal Supreme Court’s decision on the quota seats to Jan. 21

The senior official also added that they have officially notified the Kurdistan Region presidency and requested an agreement to set another date for the elections.

Following a one-year delay to the election, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in August set Feb. 25, 2024 as the new date for the election.

The news contravenes recent comments made by a top Kurdistan Region official, who had told Kurdistan24 that there are currently no hurdles to holding the elections on time.

In the absence of an active Kurdistan electoral mission mandate, the IHEC is by law authorized to organize parliamentary elections.

Every four years, Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections are held to elect the 111 members. The election was first held in 1992 and the most recent election was held in 2018.

Dawid Salman, the Director of the IHEC, previously told Kurdistan24 that there are 3.6 million eligible voters in the Kurdistan Region.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/33 ... -elections

Kurdistan needs to be free from land stealing Iraqi control

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US Support for Peshmerga Reforms

US Consul General in Erbil Mark Stroh on Thursday visited the Ministry of Peshmerga, emphasizing ongoing support for the reform process within the ministry, a statement said

Accompanied by a diplomatic and military delegation, Stroh engaged with officials of the Peshmerga Ministry, including Deputy Minister Abdulkhaliq Bapiri, Brigadier General Isa Ozir, Chief of Staff, and Director of Coordination and Communications, the ministry added in a statement.

The meeting shed light on the political and military dynamics of the region, focusing on the enduring relationship between the United States and the Kurdistan Region, with an emphasis on fostering security and stability.

The Peshmerga Minister commended the US Consul General’s pivotal role in enhancing strategic and military ties between the Kurdistan Region and the United States. Expressing optimism, he voiced hopes for the swift resolution of tensions in Iraq and the broader region.

Stroh expressed satisfaction with his visit to the Peshmerga Ministry, highlighting the vital role played by the Peshmerga as a national force in combating terrorism and eradicating extremist ideologies. Addressing the ongoing reform process, he acknowledged the complexity of reorganizing and unifying Peshmerga forces under the reform bill framework, underscoring the necessity of collective cooperation and support in this challenging endeavor.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/836072

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Officials discuss Peshmerga reform
By Wladimir van Wilgenburg

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Senior officials from the U.S. government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) met on Monday to assess progress on the KRG’s Peshmerga reform program

The event marked the first meeting of the Peshmerga Executive Steering Committee.

A joint statement, issued on Tuesday by the two parties–the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the Kurdistan Region Presidency–explained that the committee “met to assess progress on Peshmerga reform objectives,” as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which was renewed by the DoD and the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs (MoPA) in September 2022.

Indeed, that MOU was first concluded in 2016. Masoud Barzani was President of the Kurdistan Region. Barack Obama was President of the United States. It followed the battle against ISIS, which began in 2014, when the terrorist group emerged out of Syria’s civil war and burst across the border into Iraq, seizing one-third of the country.

U.S. forces, which Obama had withdrawn from Iraq, were obliged to return. They worked first with the Peshmerga, and then with the Iraqi Security Forces more broadly, to drive ISIS out of the country. As part of that process, an MOU between the Pentagon and the MoPA was concluded in September 2016 and renewed in 2022.

Enduring US Commitment to Fighting ISIS

The inaugural meeting of the Peshmerga Executive Steering Committee, which took place in Erbil, occurred two days after the first meeting of the U.S.-Iraq Higher Military Commission (HMC) in Baghdad.

On Sunday, Treefa Aziz, the KRG Representative in Washington, advised Kurdistan 24 that the renewal of talks between the U.S. and Iraq in the HMC framework for the purpose of discussing future security relations between the two countries “is not something new.”

Aziz, thereby, helped to dispel the notion, promoted in Baghdad, that the HMC discussions aimed to secure the withdrawal of U,S. forces from Iraq.

John Kirby, National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Strategic Communications, reinforced that point the following day. Speaking about the U.S. troops killed in a drone attack in northeast Jordan, Kirby affirmed they “were conducting a vital mission in the region, aimed at helping us work with partners to counter ISIS,” adding, “even as the Defense Department gathers more information about the attack, that mission must and will continue.”

Inaugural Peshmerga Executive Steering Committee Meeting

The DoD-MoPA joint statement issued on Monday explained that the Committee had reviewed the progress in Peshmerga reform and agreed upon milestones for the next year. It affirmed that this was “part of the shared long-term commitment to unify Peshmerga forces under the [MoPA] and build a professional, capable force to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS.”

“The MoPA has made significant progress towards financial and force structure reform, and both the DoD and MoPA look forward to the continued advancement of reform efforts outlined in the 2022 DoD – KRG MOU,” it continued.

“The United States stands with the people of Iraq, including the people of the Kurdistan Region, as they build a strong, stable, and sovereign Iraq,” it concluded. (FREEDOM FOR KURDISTAN)

The Peshmerga reform program is also supported by other members of the US-led coalition, particularly the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands. The goal of the program is to unify key elements of the Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s (PUK) under the MOPA’s command.

Unifying and modernizing Peshmerga forces is at the core of the reform program of the current Kurdish government.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/33 ... ee-meeting

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KDP, PUK to convene in Sulaimani

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Senior leaders from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) are set to meet in Sulaimani on Sunday, Kurdistan24 has learned

Members of the KDP political office will visit Sulaimani and meet with the PUK president and other senior party leaders to discuss bilateral relations, domestic politics, Kurdistan Region parliament elections, and the latest provincial elections in Kirkuk and Nineveh.

The meeting is the first of its kind between the officials following the provincial elections, in which the Kurdish parties secured the majority of votes in Kirkuk.

The Kirkuk provincial council is set to convene on Monday after the newly elected members had recently sworn in.

The parties have previously met in Kirkuk, pledging cooperation in the local governance in a bid to normalize the situation in the oil-rich province following Oct. 16, 2017 attacks by Iranian-backed militias and Iraqi forces.

The KDP and PUK have similarly held numerous meetings to discuss holding the Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections that have been further delayed.

The Kurdish election law is still a source of tension between the two parties.

KDP has previously reiterated on holding the elections on time without further delay.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/33 ... -Sulaimani

The KRG should NOT negotiate anything with PUK while the evil, traitorous dictator Bafel Talabani remains in sole control BUT should DEMAND the reinstatement of Lahur Talabany, the LEGAL co-chair of Sulaimani’s ruling party the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)

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Lahur Sheikh Jangi announces participation

in KRG parliamentary elections

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Former Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Co-Chair Lahur Sheikh Jangi on Wednesday said “I will participate in the parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region, whether as part of a list or as a political party."

The remarks came during a press conference in Erbil, where the ousted PUK leader discussed the upcoming Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) parliamentary elections.

Earlier, he said in an interview with Kurdistan24 that he is still actively engaged in the political process and is eagerly awaiting an opportunity to continue his political activities.

Jangi is among those who have publicly denounced last October’s party congress along with Mala Bakhtiyar, another top party leader.

Bafel Talabani and Jangi were both elected PUK co-leaders at an earlier party congress in 2019.

In July 2021, Sheikh Jangi was ousted from his position by his co-chair, claiming that he had been “poisoned” by his party comrades.

Since then, Sheikh Jangi has been voicing concerns regarding the party’s leadership in his TV addresses.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/33 ... -elections

Lahur Sheikh Jangi has my fullest support and best wishes as I hope for his success and the downfall of the lying traitorous Bafel Talabani these may not be the view of the RBK management team

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KDP, PUK Agree on Kurdish Governor for Kirkuk

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) reached an agreement on Sunday to elect a Kurdish candidate for the governor of Kirkuk, while also committing to enhancing efforts to defend and uphold the constitutional status of Kurdistan

In a joint statement, both parties announced their agreement on several key points following a meeting. They reaffirmed their commitment to appointing a Kurdish governor for Kirkuk province and emphasized the collective responsibility of all Kurdish parties in safeguarding the Kurdistan Region's status and honoring the sacrifices made in its defense.

Additionally, they agreed to collaborate at a high level to address political and economic challenges with the federal government, with a focus on improving livelihoods, services, budget allocations, and employee salaries.

The political bureaus of the KDP and the PUK convened on Sunday in Sulaymaniyah to discuss the political and economic situation in the Kurdistan Region, unresolved issues with the federal government including budget allocations and employee salaries, and the provincial council elections.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/838504

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Kurdistan Election In Late May

Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced that the long-awaited parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region are scheduled between May 19 and May 30

The decision comes after repeated delays, initially due to disagreements among political parties over election laws.

Originally set for October 2022, the elections were postponed to November of the following year. However, a court ruling against the self-extension of the Kurdistan parliament prompted further postponement to February 2024 under the supervision of the Iraqi Electoral Commission.

The IHEC confirmed that the Kurdistan Region’s leaders are tasked with appointing the new election date as the previously scheduled date cannot be met.

Over two million citizens in the Kurdistan Region are eligible to vote in the upcoming elections. Despite mounting domestic and international criticism for the delays, the Iraqi government allocated nearly 70 billion dinars to the IHEC to oversee the Kurdistan Region’s poll, removing another obstacle to the controversial vote’s progress.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/838961

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Halabja's First License Plate

Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday made a visit to the Halabja Traffic Directorate, where he personally presented the first vehicle registration plate to a resident of the city

PM Barzani on Thursday arrived in Halabja accompanied by a high-level delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

During his visit, he paid respects at the Martyrs Monument, laying a wreath in honor of the Halabja martyrs.

Additionally, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani is set to lay the foundation stone for a significant road project in Halabja province today.

This project aims to connect various areas in the province and includes the construction of roads linking Halabja, Tuwaqut, and Qlija, as well as the establishment of the Tuwaqut bridge.

KRG’s spokesperson Peshawa Hawrami announced on Thursday that the Kurdish leader has issued several decisions benefiting Halabja province. As per the directive of PM Barzani, a portion of the revenue generated from Halabja border crossings will be dedicated to the city’s projects.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/840325

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Parliamentary Election postponed

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday stated that, “the election had to be held on its designated date and time, as it was planned for. However, for two years it has been postponed due to political reasons.”

“If there are any decisions that undermine or oppose the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region, then we will take a firm stand,” added PM Barzani.

While PM Barzani reaffirmed the fact that Kurdistan Region will be assertive toward any decision that could possibly weaken or oppose the constitutional right of the Kurdistan Region, he also added that “we will clearly take a stand with regard to the supervision and organization of Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections.”

He further emphasized that “the two years delay in holding the election has political reasons; however, we have always reiterated that the election must be held on its designated date. We also agree with the opinion that the election must be carried out at the earliest possible date, and that the rights of all ethnic and religious minorities are protected and defended.”

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday in a ceremony laid the foundation stone for the Halabja-Tuwaqut-Qalija road and the Tuwaqut Bridge.

During the ceremony, where the Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani also attended, Prime Minister Barzani delivered remarks, addressing the people of Halabja. “People of this region have suffered considerably and have laid their lives for Kurdistan. Halabja is a symbol of sacrifice and suffering of the entire Kurdistan. It is, therefore, regrettable that the people of this area have not been provided with the services that they so deserve. We, and all the government officials, are indebted to the people of Halabja, all the relatives of the martyrs, and all those that brutally perished in the Anfal campaign.”

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/34 ... PM-Barzani

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Our Condolences to Barzani Family

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani has offered heartfelt condolences to Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), following the passing of Zakia Mustafa Barzani, sister of the esteemed Kurdish leader

“Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani conveyed his condolences to Mr. Masoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, on the passing of Mrs. Zakia Mustafa Barzani,” Sudani’s office said in a statement.

“In his message, he prays for God to bestow His mercy upon the departed and to grant her family and loved ones patience and comfort,” the statement added. “To God we belong, and to Him we shall return."

Similarly, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also expressed condolences and “prayed to God to grant peace to the departed soul in Paradise,” according to a separate statement.

Zakia Mullah Mustafa Barzani, sister of Barzani, passed away on Friday, February 23, following a period of medical care in the hospital.

The funeral service for the late Zakia Mustafa Barzani was held in Pirmam on Saturday, attended by a multitude of political leaders from within the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, paying their respects to the bereaved family.

The funeral will continue to be observed for three days, offering opportunities for friends, family, and well-wishers to pay their respects at the ceremonial hall of Barzani's headquarters in Pirmam, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 02:00 pm to 05:00 pm.

In the wake of this profound loss, political entities both domestically and internationally have expressed their condolences to Barzani, underscoring the widespread sympathy and solidarity during this period of mourning.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/840640

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Kurdistan denounces Iraqi Court ruling

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Region communities on Wednesday issued a joint statement on the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court ruling on Feb. 21, which removed quota seats from the Kurdistan Region Parliament

The statement noted that it is an oppressive decision and a continuation of an old political tradition that the complaint was filed by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Political rights of Kurdistan communities have been guaranteed since the establishment of the Kurdistan Parliament in 1992

“Since the Kurdish uprising in 1991, the Kurdistan Region has attempted to become a safe haven for its communities,” the statement read.

According to the statement these decisions are made for the benefit of a certain party, at the expense of all communities. “This is a threat to Iraq, which violates the rights of Turkmen and Christians.”

Turkmen and Christian representatives called for pressure on the Iraqi authorities to implement the Iraqi constitution.

As per Article 36 of the Kurdistan Parliamentary Election Law, five seats were reserved for Chaldeans, Syrians and Assyrians, one for Armenians and five for Turkmens, but the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq annulled the 11 seats on Feb. 21.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/34 ... urt-ruling

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UK Aid Against Iraqi Court Decisions

Two prominent Kurdish organizations have jointly voiced their opposition to recent decisions made by the Iraqi Federal Court regarding the Kurdistan Region and its constituents, seeking the UK’s assistance in this regard

The Iraq Federal Supreme Court's decision, issued on February 21, has sparked widespread criticism and raised concerns about the representation of minority communities in the Kurdistan Parliament. By abolishing seats specifically allocated for minority groups, the ruling threatens to undermine the inclusive and pluralistic nature of Kurdish governance.

Members and activists from both the Peshmerga International Agency for Humanitarian Affairs and the Kurdish Diaspora Center in the UK converged at the office of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday to deliver a letter outlining their grievances and urging intervention.

Rizgar Sheikh Ali, head of the Peshmerga International Agency for Humanitarian Affairs, expressed the organizations' concerns, emphasizing the need for impartial scrutiny of the Iraqi Federal Court's rulings. "We have called upon the British Prime Minister to closely monitor the decisions of the Iraqi Federal Court, as it lacks impartiality," Sheikh Ali stated during a press briefing.

The letter addressed several pressing issues, including the recent spate of Iranian attacks on Erbil and the perceived threat posed by the federal court's rulings to the democratic process in the Kurdistan Region.

The decision to reduce the number of seats in the Kurdistan Region’s parliament from 111 to 100, eliminating eleven seats reserved for minority groups, was highlighted as a particularly alarming development

In appealing to the UK Prime Minister's Office, the Kurdish organizations underscored the importance of international oversight and solidarity in safeguarding the rights and interests of the Kurdistan Region's diverse population.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/840476