From the Heart of Kurdistan Region

From the Heart of Kurdistan Region
The only English paper in Iraq - No: 528 Mon. March 07, 2016
GLOBE PHOTO
Barzani Meets with
Papal Delegation‫‏‬
No. 528, Monday, March 07, 2016
The Kurdish Globe
The Intensity of the
Middle East Needs
Unity of Kurds
2
President Barzani Meets
with Papal Delegation‫‏‬
By Gazi Hassan
The current difficulties of the regg
gion resemble the events of the
Middle East 100 years ago—the
intense Middle East in which revog
olution, destruction, deteriorating
economy, backwardness and igng
norance destroyed people and natg
tions of the region. Violence and
Islamic groups’ terrorism has set
the area on fire, and the radical and
dictator governments are adding
fuel to the blazing fire. Previously,
contact among nations and people
of the areas even within the same
region were difficult, but now due
to technology development and
international openness, the events
are discussed even prior to their
occurrence. New and strong countg
ties used to be built, but now, terrg
rorist Islamic groups from Middle
East are threatening civilians in
the heart of Europe, and carry out
attacks like those of September
11th in the United States. The fear
of Radical Islamists colonizing
and occupying Europe is growing.
Sykes-Picot created a mess by
trying to rule nations and compong
nents within the established states,
and thus, it’s dissolving.
Demands for a Federal System
for Syria has been put forward. In
Iraq, dissolving the entity that was
built against the will of Kurds a
century ago is becoming a reality.
A hundred years ago in the blazing
Middle East, Kurds were divided,
in which even families have been
divided, cut between the borders
of two states. Kurds were divided
into areas, tribes and religious
groups. Kurds became victims of
ignorance and isolation from the
developed world. Yet, Kurds todg
day more internationally aware,
developing international relations
and forming a unified, moderate
and secular national discourse.
Weekly paper printed in Erbil
First published in 2005
www.kurdishGlobe.net
Address: Erbil, Massif road
Kurdistan is the only force fightig
ing against violence and radical
Islamism on the ground. Kurdig
istan is now a homeland rather
than a tribe or a group. It works
to achieve unification and form a
modern and institutional entity.
The Middle East has terrified the
word with the tyranny of radical
Islamist groups, while Kurdistan
is leading the charge for peace and
tolerance.
While there is no political resolutg
tion left in Syria, it heads towards
federalism. So should Kurds act
the same as they did a hundred
years ago and be divided into their
opponents’ hands? Should PKK
and PYD become part of current
Syrian Government’s policy, or as
part of reactions against Turkey,
become Iran’s policy coordinatg
tor and executive? Or should they
establish a unified policy between
the Kurdistan Region and Western
Kurdistan? Could they be more
open and tolerant internally (the
openness that the U.S.A demands
and calls on PYD to stay away
from PKK)?
The reality is that, the Kurdistan
Region stated its support for Fedeg
eralism in Syria, and will hold a
referendum in Iraq for determinig
ing its future. So when the intense
Middle East is divided, Kurds
should not again put themselves
under the curse of another SykesPicot scenario, which could result
again in their division, missing
opportunity, local leading tendencg
cy and division into regional poweg
ers. Another opportunity will open
up and changes will take place.
The Middle East will be redrawn.
Kurds need unity, a unified decisg
sion-making leadership with open
and modern discourse, harmoniog
ous with international interests.
President Massoud Barzg
zani received a delegatg
tion from the Holy See
headed by the apostolic
nuncio to Jordan and
Iraq, Mr. Alberto Ortegg
ga Martin. The Vatican
representative began by
conveying the greetings
of His Holiness, Pope
Francis to President Barzg
zani and expressed his
gratefulness, on behalf
of the Vatican state for
Kurdistan's treatment of
the Christian IDPs who
have escaped the brutg
tality and cruelty of the
terrorists of the Islamic
State.
President
Barzani
spoke of the the current
state of war against the
terrorists and added that
Kurdistan Region Presidg
dency and Kurdistan
Democratic Party (KDP)
have both extended their
support for implementig
ing a federalist system in
Syria, including a Kurdig
ish Federal Region in the
north of the country.
After BasNews reported
about a project through
which Syrian Kurds are
planning to create a fedeg
eral region in Northern
Syria, Kurdistan Region
Presidency's office relg
Senior U.K. Editor
Bashdar Pusho Ismaeel
[email protected]
[email protected]
+964 750 4036252
[email protected]
The President made
reference to the liberatg
tion of the city of Mosul
and how that operation
will be the most crucg
cial military operation
against the terrorists as
their presence in Mosul
poses a threat to, not only
those who live inside the
city but also those who
are from the surrounding
areas, hence the extraordg
dinarily large number of
IDPs in the Kurdistan
Region. The meeting
was concluded by Presidg
dent Barzani sending
his heartfelt greetings to
Pope Francis and asking
for his prayers for a more
peaceful world.
Kurdistan Region Presidency
Welcomes ‘Federalism for Syria’
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Gazi Hassan +964 750 7747784
ARTS EDITOR
Diyaco Qayoumy
the end result will most
certainly be the defeat
of the terrorists and victg
tory for the free world.
He also spoke of the
refugees and IDPs in the
Kurdistan Region whose
number is well over 1.5
million persons and how
the Kurdistan Region
will continue to protect
them and provide them
with assistance. Durig
ing the meeting Presidg
dent Barzani stated that
peaceful coexistence in
the Kurdistan Region
is an inseparable part
of the culture here and
cited examples of villg
lages where historically
Muslims, Christians and
Jews have lived together
peacefully.
Reviser
Honar Osman
[email protected]
leased a statement on
Thursday, reiterating its
support for federalism in
Syria.
The presidency office
insists that such a project
may, once again, bring
peace and reconciliation
to Syria as a whole.
It also encourages the
Syrian Kurdish factions
to remain united and insg
sistent on a federal Syria
in order to maintain the
rights of Kurds in the
country.
Meanwhile, a spokespg
person for the KDP politbg
buro released a statement,
supporting the project and
pointing out that federalig
ism is the best solution to
the chaos in the country.
KDP also calls on the
Syrian Kurdish political
parties to resolve their
disputes and maintain the
unity of Kurds in the projeg
ect in hopes of constitutig
ing greater achievements
for Kurds in the region.
STAFF WRITERS
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Cell: +964 750 4055888
No. 528, Monday, March 07, 2016
The Kurdish Globe
3
EU continues to provide support to Kurdistan Region
President Masoud Barzani
held a meeting with the
ambassador of the Europg
pean Union to Iraq, Mr.
Patrick Simonnet.
During the meeting,
President Barzani and Mr.
Simonnet spoke on a numbg
ber of issues facing Iraq in
general and the Kurdistan
Region in particular, incg
cluding the ongoing war
against the terrorists of
the Islamic State, the econg
nomic crisis, and the issue
of refugees and IDPs in
Kurdistan.
President Barzani reiterag
ated his gratitude for the
support that the Kurdistan
Region has received from
the coalition. He went on
to say that the war against
the terrorists has further
strengthened the bond betg
tween the freedom-loving
peoples of the world.
Ambassador Simonnet
said that the European
Union is grateful for the
role of the Kurdistan Regg
gion, both in terms of
fighting the terrorists and
providing humanitarian
assistance to the refugees
and IDPs. Furthermore,
he claimed that the Europg
pean Union would contg
tinue to provide support
to Iraq and the Kurdistan
Region as they work to rid
the region of the terrorists
and resolve the economic
crisis.
Barzani meets Czech
Consul General to
Kurdistan Region
Kurdistan Region Presidg
dent Masoud Barzani met
with Czech Consul Geneg
eral to Kurdistan Region,
Ms. Eva Drdakova, in
Salahaddin on Feb 28.
The meeting focused on
the campaign against ISIS
terrorists and the Czech
Republic’s military aid
to the peshmerga forces.
Drdakova reiterated her
country’s
commitment
to continue the provision
of military aid, includig
Prime Minister Barzani
and KSA Consul General
discuss bilateral relations
Prime Minister Nechirvg
van Barzani welcomed
the first Kingdom of Saudg
di Arabia, KSA, Consul
General to Erbil, Dr. Abdg
dul-Mun’im Abdul-Rahmg
man Mahmud.
Consul
General
Mahmud thanked Prime
Minister Barzani and
Kurdistan Regional Goveg
ernment, KRG, departmg
ments for their assistance
in establishing the consg
sulate general, expressig
ing his hope that it would
become an active bridge
between the KSA and the
KRG.
He praised the role of
the Peshmerga forces in
the fight against terrorig
ism, stressing they are
worthy of full internatg
tional support. He also
affirmed Saudi Arabia's
commitment to provide
assistance to the Iraqi
internally displaced persg
sons who sought refuge
in Kurdistan Region.
He stated that the consg
sulate general will give
priority to encouraging
businessmen from Saudi
Arabia to invest in Kurdig
istan and strengthen trade
relations.
Prime Minister Barzani
congratulated
Consul
General Mahmud on his
appointment and opening
of the consulate general.
He stated that opportung
nities to invest in Kurdig
istan are open to Saudi
investors, especially in
the industry, tourism, and
agriculture sectors, and
invited them to participg
pate in the building of the
Kurdistan Region's econg
nomic infrastructure.
The Baghdad-Erbil relatg
tions and the situation in
Iraq in general were also
discussed in the meeting.
ing training of peshmerga
forces, as part of the globag
al coalition against ISIS.
President
Barzani
thanked the Czech Republg
lic for their contributions
to the KRG and the peshmg
merga forces.
Barzani Serious to
Fight Corruption
As part of his most recent
attempts to root out corrg
ruption, Kurdistan Region
President Massoud Barzg
zani met with the Board
of Integrity and Kurdish
judicial authorities in the
Kurdistan Region, reiterag
ating his full support to
bring lawbreakers to justg
tice.
In Thursday’s meeting,
Barzani explained the necg
cessity of fighting corruptg
tion across the Kurdistan
Region, as it may affect
not only the welfare of the
Kurdish society but also
the stability in the region.
He insisted that no corrg
rupt official, in any positg
tion, might be connived
at his or her offences.
“Therefore, the judicial
authority and Board of Intg
tegrity have my full suppg
port to bring them to justg
tice,” Barzani vowed.
Kurdistan Region Presidg
dent has recently introdg
duced a reform package in
Kurdistan Region to fight
the acute financial crisis
faced by the region.
A period of financial
hardship, intensified from
the unpaid budgets by
the central government in
Baghdad and the costly
war against the Islamic
State (IS), has given the
Kurdistan Regional goveg
ernment fresh challenges.
The KRG, however, is
now considering every
measure to find a solution
to the hardship for which
comprehensive
reform
plans and anti-corruption
efforts have been put in
place.
KRG asks for portion
of loans given to Iraq
The Kurdistan Regional
Government (KRG) is
calling on the international
community to provide it
with a percentage of loans
disbursed to the central
Iraqi government.
The KRG issued a statemg
ment to its website on
Monday saying Prime
Minister Nechirvan Barzg
zani received a European
Union (EU) delegation
headed by Ambassador to
Iraq Patrick Simonnet to
discuss the fight against
Islamic State (IS), politicg
cal situation and relations
with Baghdad.
Barzani said the KRG
favors solving issues with
the central government
through talks, if Iraqi offg
ficials are willing to take
part in dialogue.
“The KRG completely
believes in finding solutg
tions for all the issues
through dialogue if Baghdg
dad is really willing to
tackle those issues, partg
ticularly as both sides are
facing an economic crisis,”
he said.
“The international commg
munity should allocate to
the Kurdistan Region a
portion of the loans given
to the Iraqi government,”
Barzani added.
The prime minister also
asked for increased assistg
tance from the internationag
al community to help the
region weather the crisis.
Barzani said on February
25 during a meeting with
Kuwaiti Consul-General
Omar Ahmad al-Kandari
that the region was ready
for any signal from Baghdg
dad to resolve the issues
on both sides.
“The KRG’s priority is
to tackle the issues with
Baghdad by negotiation
and with mutual undersg
standing,” Barzani added.
Tensions between the
KRG and Iraq’s federal
government hit a high in
2015 after officials from
both sides accused each
other of failing to abide by
the terms of an oil revenue
sharing deal struck by officg
cials in December 2014.
Officials from Baghdad
and Erbil signed a revenue
sharing deal, under which
the KRG would receive 17
percent of the federal budgg
get in exchange for exportig
ing 550,000 barrels of oil
per day to the Iraqi State
Organization for Marketig
ing Oil (SOMO) at Ceyhg
han Port in Turkey.
The Kurdish Globe
Kurdistan PM vows thorough probe
of fire that killed 13 OFWs
Authorities in Iraq’s Kurdig
istan region have assured
the Philippine Embassy of
a thorough investigation
into the February 5 fire
at the Capitol Hotel here
to make sure that anyone
found responsible for the
tragedy that claimed the
lives of 13 overseas Filiping
no workers would be held
accountable.
“We are deeply sorry
about what happened,”
Prime Minister Nechirvan
Barzani of the Kurdistan
Regional Government told
Chargé d’Affaires Elmer
G. Cato during a meetig
ing at the regional capital
where he also conveyed
his condolences and solidg
darity with the Philippine
Government and the Filipg
pino people.
“Our hearts go to the
victims of this tragedy and
their families back in the
Philippines,” Prime Minig
ister Barzani said, addig
ing that the Embassy can
count on the full support
and cooperation of the regg
gional government.
“We are ready to coopeg
erate,” Barzani said in
assuring Cato that a thorog
ough investigation would
be conducted and appropg
priate action would be
taken against those found
Kurdistan Region a safe haven
for minorities: UN Rapporteur
responsible for the trageg
edy that had initially been
blamed on faulty wiring.
Present during the meetig
ing were Interior and
Peshmerga Affairs Minig
US warns of
Mosul dam collapse
in northern Iraq
No. 528, Monday, March 07, 2016
ister Karim Sinjari, Foreg
eign Minister Fallah Mustg
tafa Bakr, Erbil Governor
Nawzad Hadi, and Goveg
ernment
Spokesperson
Safeen Dizayee.
For his part, Cato
thanked the Prime Ministg
ter for the support and coog
operation that Kurdish autg
thorities have extended to
the Embassy to ensure the
immediate repatriation of
the remains of the 13 Filipg
pinas who were among the
19 people who perished in
the fire.
“We would not have been
able to reunite our departeg
ed kababayans with their
loved ones in the Philippg
pines in such a short timefg
frame without the support
of Prime Minister Barzani
and the Kurdistan Regg
gional Government,” Cato
said, noting that it took the
Embassy only seven days
to send the victims home.
4
He noted that Governor
Hadi and Minister Dizayeg
ee went out of their way
to accompany the remains
to the airport prior to their
departure for the Philippg
pines on 12 February.
Cato also thanked the
United Nations Assistance
Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)
for making it possible for
the Embassy to reach the
incident site within hours
after the fire by allowing
the use of one of their aircg
craft.
He personally thanked
the Special Representative
of the Secretary General
Jan Kubis and other UNAg
AMI officials for the gestg
ture, which allowed the
Embassy to immediately
inspect the scene of the
fire, coordinate with investg
tigators and identify the
remains of the victims.
Nechirvan Barzani meets
with top Norwegian official
Work is under way to
strengthen the dam
The UN Special
Rapporteur on Ming
nority Issues has
praised the spirit of
tolerance and coexig
istence among the
people of Kurdistan
Region, vowing to
secure further interng
national support for
Erbil.
In a meeting
with the Kurdistan
Regional Governmg
ment (KRG) Prime
Minister Nechirvan
Barzani, Rita Izsák
commended the role
of KRG in creating
an atmosphere of coeg
existence and a safe
haven for religious
and ethnic minoritg
ties in the region.
Izsák promised to
closely work with
the
international
community to gain
more
humanitarig
ian support for the
Kurdistan Region in
Iraq.
PM Barzani briefed
the UN rapporteur
on the current situatg
tion in the Kurdistan
Region,
asserting
that despite the sevg
vere financial crisis
faced by KRG, over
1.8 million refugees
and IDPs, regardlg
less of their ethnic
and religious backgg
grounds, are taken
in by the Kurdistan
Region.
Regarding
the
minorities in Kurdig
istan Region, Barzg
zani explained that
their rights are fully
maintained within
the constitution of
the Kurdistan Regg
gion, and the Kurds
have proven their
spirit of coexistence
throughout the histg
tory.
The US embassy in Baghdad has
warned the risk of the Mosul Dam
collapsing is "serious and unpreceg
edented" and has urged people to
be ready to evacuate.
Maintenance work was disrupted
after the dam was briefly seized by
militants from so-called Islamic
State in 2014.
If the dam burst, floodwaters
could kill 1.47 million Iraqis living
along the River Tigris, the embassy
said.
Iraq's prime minister has said
precautions are being taken, but
that such a scenario is "highly unlg
likely".
The dam, Iraq's largest has suffg
fered from structural flaws since
its completion in 1984, with the
water constantly eating away at the
soluble gypsum base on which it is
built.
To counter the erosion, engineers
need to drill holes in the gypsum
and fill them with a cement grout
mixture six days a week.
Kurdistan Region Prime
Minister Nechirvan Barzani
discussed with the head of
the Norwegian Parliament’s
foreign relations committee
Anniken Huitfeldt the crisg
ses plaguing the Kurdish
government.
The discussion came durig
ing a meeting in Erbil where
PM Barzani called on the
international community to
step up aid to the governmg
ment to help overcome the
crises.
Barzani talked about
Kurdistan’s battered econog
omy and the fight against
terrorism.
Huitfeldt praised the role
of Peshmerga battling IS
and confirmed her countg
try’s support for the Kurdig
ish people.
Kurdistan Region has
been plunged in an econg
nomic crisis after Baghdad
stopped sending its share
of the national budget since
early 2014 while fighting
Islamic State terrorist since
August 2014.
PM Barzani unsure who sabotaged Erbil-Ceyhan pipeline, not blaming PKK
Kurdish Prime Minister
Nechirvan Barzani said on
Saturday he was not sure
who sabotaged Erbil-Ceyhg
han crude oil pipeline. He
revealed that it was not
blown-up but that it had
been tapped into and oil
stolen.
Barzani told reporters,
"I cannot confirm that the
Kurdistan region oil pipelg
line was blown up and I
cannot also say that PKK
was behind it."
Asked who has been behg
hind the sabotage, Barzani
replied "there are military
operations in the area, and
we cannot confirm that it is
blown up, but it is certainly
broken."
"If the question is who
has blown up the pipeline, I
cannot affirm that PKK has
done it."
The Group of Communitg
ties in Kurdistan (KCK), an
affiliate of Turkey’s Kurdistg
tan Workers’ Party (PKK)
denied claims last week it
sabotaged a key oil pipeline
from the Kurdistan Region
to Turkey's Ceyhan Port.
Demhat Agit, a KCK
spokesperson, told PKK
media that the group did not
know who was behind the
Feb. 16 pipeline bombing.
The export of the Kurdistg
tan Region's oil will remain
delayed for an additional
two weeks due to security
threats to the pipeline which
runs through Turkey's Kurdig
ish southeast where the
Turkish state is once again
engaged against the Kurdig
istan Workers Party (PKK),
Reuters reported Saturday.
"The physical repairs of
the pipeline will not take
a long time. However, the
work to fully restore the
security of the pipeline will
take more time. We think
that it will take two weeks
at least," Reuters quoted a
Turkish industry source as
saying.
A reported $14 million
is being lost a day. About
600,000 barrels of oil were
sent through that pipeline
daily.
No. 528, Monday, March 07, 2016
The Kurdish Globe
5
President Barzani congratulates Peshmerga
for defeating ISIS attack west of Mosul
Kurdistan Region Presidg
dent Massoud Barzani
issued a statement, congg
gratulating and hailing
the brave Peshmerga
forces for defeating the
terrorists west of Mosul
and driving them back.
The President thanked
the international coalitg
tion warplanes for suppg
porting the Peshmerga
forces by aerial coverag
age.
“For this great victory,
I would like to congratulg
late the people of Kurdig
istan and courageous
Peshmerga forces.”
Barzani also thanked
the Peshmerga commg
manders in the frontline
battling with ISIS, wishig
ing fast recovery for the
wounded
Peshmerga
forces. No Peshmarga
was martyred in the
fighting.
“As we, people of
Kurdistan, have such
brave and valiant sons,
defeat would be always
the share of our enemies
and opponents.”
More than 100 terrorists
of the so-called Islamic
State (ISIS) were killed
in an intense battle with
the Kurdish Peshmerga
forces west of Mosul.
The ISIS militants carrg
ried out several attacks
on different Peshmerga
frontlines around Mosul,
but the Kurdish forces
repelled them immediag
ately, inflicting the jihadig
ists with heavy damages
and high casualties.
“We killed 100 militg
tants and all their bodies
are left under Peshmerga
control,” Majid Sindi,
commander of the Zeravg
vani forces west of the
Tigris River told Kurdig
ish media outlets.
The Peshmerga forces
could defeat the offensg
sives after a four-hourlong confrontation with
the extremists, Peshmergg
ga commander added.
According to Peshmg
merga commander Zaim
Ali, more than 400 militg
tants launched an attack
on several Peshmerga
defense posts in the regg
gion that led to an intg
tense confrontation lastig
ing several hours.
A Peshmerga commg
mander revealed that the
jihadists found the foggy
weather suitable to attg
tack Peshmerga forces;
“but they were surprised
by Peshmerga’s immediag
ate reaction.”
German army trains Peshmerga in Northern German countryside
Some 28 Kurdish Peshmg
merga officers are currg
rently being trained at a
German army base by offg
ficers of the Bundeswehr
in northern Germany.
"What we learn here
will not only help us in
the battle of Mosul, but it
helps our army in general
to fight the enemy," said
Major Nazar of the Peshmg
merga in his local dialect
of Sorani which is spoken
mainly in Iraqi Kurdistan,
as well as the Kurdistan
Province of western Iran.
Nazar said that the help
of the international commg
munity had already weakeg
ened the Islamic State
(IS), adding that the help
from Germany was "withog
out comparison."
"We hope for even more
support through even
more courses. It all helps
to fight the enemy."
Special attention is paid
to the reconnaissance of
enemy units using relatg
tively simple means, accg
cording to the German
army.
"Reconnaissance saves
blood," said German army
colonel Norbert Haehnlg
lein.
"If I know a lot about the
enemy I can act accordig
ingly and I have fewer
losses. I can lead my opeg
eration better and be more
successful,"
Haehnlein
said.
The Peshmerga learn
how to gather information
on the enemy without radg
dar or drones and to evaluag
ate it for future military
operations, the German
army said in a statement
on Tuesday (March 1).
After the end of the
two-week course, the
Bundeswehr hopes the
Peshmerga will transfer
their knowledge to the
other fighters in Iraq.
Germany supports the
Kurds in the Kurdistan
Region with training and
weapons.
As of 2014, Peshmerga
officers are also trained
in Germany, mostly in the
Bavarian town of Hammg
melburg.
U.S. plane makes emergency landing near Erbil
A plane reportedly belg
longing to U.S. civilian
aircraft carrying four
passengers was forced to
make an emergency landig
ing on Saturday (March
5) in Khabat district near
the Erbil due to technical
issues.
The cause of the accidg
dent is unclear. No passg
sengers were harmed and
engineers are inspecting
the grounded aircraft for
signs of damage.
The plane appeared to
have sustained a major
impact underneath.
The plane reportedly
landed just 37 kilometers
from the center of the
city of Erbil where road
access is poor.
Reporters
said
an
American team arrived
at the site of the landing
and transported the passg
sengers and plane staff
away from the scene.
The Kurdish Globe
NEWS BAR
Italy to Send
Helicopters to Erbil
Italy officially decided on Wednesday to
send infantry troops to Iraq and base 8
planes in Erbil, according to a statement
from the Italian Defense Ministry.
Roberta Pinotti, the Italian defense
minister, announced in a statement that
her country is planning to send four
A-129 Mangusta helicopters and four
NH90 military helicopters in the comig
ing days.
Pinotti revealed that the helicopters
are going to be based in the Kurdistan
region capital, Erbil and will conduct
combat as well as search and rescue opeg
erations.
The chief of staff of the KRG's Peshmg
merga ministry, Jabar Yawar, said "The
Peshmerga ministry welcomes the Italig
ian Defense Ministry decree to send
troops to Iraq, we were already aware
that Italy was going to base its helicoptg
ters here in Erbil."
Pinotti has also mentioned that 130
Italian infantry troops will be sent to
Iraq to confront the Islamic State (ISIS)
and protect Italian military personnel,
investors and the staff of an Italian compg
pany currently working on repairing the
Mosul Dam.
Yawar also said that the helicopters
will "protect an Italian military force
which is expected to be stationed at the
Mosul Dam.
Krikuk Governor
Satisfied with KRG Deal
Iraq’s self-governing Kurds are cementig
ing control over oil produced in the
north of the country by agreeing to sell
crude pumped in the contested province
of Kirkuk, a year after they started sellig
ing all their own oil independently on
global markets.
The accord covers oil produced in
Kirkuk, which Kurdish forces controlled
after federal troops fled the area ahead
of advancing Islamic State militants in
mid-2014, Kirkuk Governor Najmuddin
Omar Karim said. The Kurds, who are
exporting Kirkuk crude with their own
oil through a pipeline to Turkey, agreed
to deposit $10 million a month into a
dedicated bank account for Kirkuk,
Karim said
Karim said that he likes the oil of his
province to be sold by Kurdistan Regg
gional Government.
U.S. Delta Force Capture
ISIS Militant
U.S. commandos have captured a suspg
pected ISIS militant in northern Iraq, defg
fense officials confirmed to NBC News
early Wednesday.
The "ranking" ISIS member was captg
tured by Delta Force, the Army's top covg
vert combat unit, according to the officg
cials. It was not clear how long the U.S.
will interrogate the alleged ISIS membg
ber before turning the operative over to
Iraqi or Kurdish authorities.
One senior defense official said the
man captured as a "key operator" in terrg
rorist operations though not a "significg
cant leader.
No. 528, Monday, March 07, 2016
6
Powerful Iraqi Shi'ite cleric calls for
'government of corruption' to be toppled
Powerful Iraqi Shi'ite Muslg
lim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr
called for the "government
of corruption” to be overtg
thrown on Friday in the biggg
gest show of opposition yet
to Prime Minister Haider alAbadi's authority.
Around 200,000 people
rallied at the entrance to the
heavily fortified Green Zone
in central Baghdad, demandig
ing reform, better services
and an end to corruption in
response to a call by Sadr.
Abadi promised political
and economic reforms last
summer after mass street
protests, but quickly ran into
legal challenges and systemig
ic resistance to change.
Last month he vowed to
appoint technocrats to repg
place ministers appointed
on the basis of political affg
filiations but that pledge too
remains unfulfilled and frustg
tration with the government
has increased.
“A chance should be giveg
en to efficient independent
people, and those who took
Iraq to the abyss should step
aside,” said Sadr, whose AlAhrar bloc holds 34 seats in
parliament and three cabinet
posts
Sadr's speech was broadcg
cast on huge screens set up
in the street and protesters
waved Iraqi flags outside the
entrance to the Green Zone,
which was guarded by riot
police standing behind razor
wire.
Sadr, whose opinion holds
sway over tens of thousg
sands, including fighters
who fought U.S. troops in
2006-07, threatened to break
into the Green Zone unless
Abadi took action.
The Green Zone houses
government buildings and
foreign embassies including
that of the United States and
has also become a symbol of
the isolation of Iraq's rulers
from its citizens.
Baghdad-based political
analyst Ahmed Younis said
failure to root out corruptg
tion, and economic pressg
sures due to slumping oil
prices compounded by the
battle against Islamic State
had "pushed Abadi with
the country to the edge of a
cliff".
"Everybody is watching
Abadi drag his feet in carryig
ing out real reforms Moqtadg
da al-Sadr is now trying to
take the imitative and be the
winner in the reform race”.
After a 100,000-strong
protest held by Sadr last
week, Abadi said it was his
critics that stood in the way:
“The political blocs are still
holding on to their ministers
and by doing so we cannot
reform the country,” Abadi
added.
Muhanad al-Gharrawi, an
aide to Sadr and leader of the
protests said: “Today we are
here to call for major reform.
We want a technocratic goveg
ernment that serves Iraq’s
interests. We won’t accept a
solution to be like morphine
used only to tranquilize the
anger of people."
Iraq Displacement Passes 3.1 Million
The latest IOM Iraq Dispg
placement Tracking Matrix
(DTM) has identified more
than 3.1 million Iraqis dispg
placed by conflict since
the beginning of 2014.
This number includes over
250,000 individuals dispg
placed from Ramadi, the
capital of Anbar governorag
ate, since April 2015.
The DTM has identified
3,112,914 persons displaced
by conflict in Iraq. The majg
jority, 67 per cent, are sheltg
tered in private settings that
include rented housing, host
families and hotels. A smalleg
er but significant number,
20 per cent, are identified as
living in critical shelter arrg
rangements, which include
unfinished buildings, religg
gious buildings, informal
settlements and schools.
Eight per cent of those currg
rently displaced in Iraq are
living in camp settings.
In alignment with the most
recent data and DTM methog
odology, the UN Humanitg
tarian Country Team will
maintain its humanitarian
response planning figure at
3.1 million displaced.
The latest IOM Iraq Emergg
gency Tracking data has
identified more than 75,000
individuals displaced from
the Fallujah area since 8
July, as Iraqi Security Forces
intensify their efforts to regg
gain control of the city from
armed groups.
In response to the overwg
whelming and continued
displacement, IOM has
distributed non-food aid to
more than 138,000 families
across Iraq. Since 1 July,
IOM has distributed approxig
imately 3,950 non-food item
(NFI) kits, including cool
boxes, rechargeable fans,
mattresses, summer blankg
kets, tarps, hygiene kits and
other items.
Of these, 1,250 kits were
distributed to people recentlg
ly displaced in Salah al Din
governorate.
Continuing
IOM services for affected
communities in Iraq countg
try-wide include non-food
item aid, shelter provision,
psychosocial
assistance,
health service provision,
livelihoods training and suppg
port, and transportation servg
vices.
IOM Iraq Chief of Mission
Thomas Lothar Weiss said:
“As displacement continues
from conflict areas, IOM
continues to work with the
UN Humanitarian Country
Team, especially through its
Rapid Response Mechanism
(RRM), the Government of
Iraq and other humanitarian
partners to provide assistg
tance to the most vulnerable.
With temperatures in Iraq
soaring, prompt and effectg
tive aid delivery is saving
lives.”
The Kurdish Globe
Sports News
Kurdish Car Enthusiasts
Off-roading
Two off-road teams have emerged in Kurdig
istan Region to head out on adventures in
natural terrains in Kurdistan.
Fariq Sadiq, the Head of Sulaymaniyah
Off-Road team said that the team has been
formed a few years ago and they have 15
off-road vehicles, they have performed advg
venturous off road shows in most of the
mountainous areas in the Kurdistan Region.
Liverpool chases
Barcelona teenager
Liverpool wants to sign Barcelona teenager
Sergio Gomez. The Reds are prepared to
make a substantial offer to the left-footed
forward when he turns 16.
Conte to meet with Falcao
over Chelsea future
Chelsea has been spotted for the second time
in recent weeks keeping tabs on Juventus
star Paul Pogba, this time in the Old Lady's
Coppa Italia clash with Inter.
Real makes Aguero
priority signing
Real Madrid has prioritized the signing of
Sergio Aguero this summer, while PSG is
also monitoring the Manchester City strikeg
er.
Juventus ready to bid
for Benatia
Carlo Ancelotti is not conviced by Medhi
Benatia and wants to sell him. Juventus has
already shown interest in signing Bayern's
center back and is ready to offer almost the
same fee that Bayern payed for him.
No. 528, Monday, March 07, 2016
PKK Planning to Establish Raparrin Canton
Kurdistan Workers’ Party
(PKK), in cooperation with
Gorran (Change Movemg
ment), is allegedly planning
to establish a separate cantg
ton in Raparrin area of Slemg
mani province.
A source, speaking on condg
dition of anonymity, claimed
to BasNews that PKK is attg
tempting to exploit the currg
rent financial crisis in the
Kurdistan Region to gain
people’s support for establg
lishing a separate canton in
Raniya and Qaladize areas.
The party has allegedly
deployed more than 500
Neuer not going to
Manchester City
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has
dismissed the prospect of goalkeeper Manug
uel Neuer joining him at Manchester City
next season.
"Neuer will be the Bayern Munich goalkg
keeper for the next five, six, seven, eight or
nine years if he wants," Guardiola told repg
porters. "I hope he will end his career here."
Guardiola said
guerrillas to the area and
held meetings with locals,
ensuring them that PKK
will militarily support an
uprising against the Kurdig
istan Regional Government
(KRG) in Raparrin area.
BasNews previously repg
ported that Qadir Haji Ali,
a senior Gorran official, had
visited Qandil and sought
PKK’s support for bringing
Slemani province under the
full control of Gorran; but
the request was not respondeg
ed immediately.
According to the source,
the Patriotic Union of Kurdig
istan (PUK) has warned
both PKK and Gorran. “It
has also deployed military
forces to the area to standby
for any eventuality.”
Member of Kurdistan Regg
gion Parliament Maryam
Samad told BasNews that
KRG must meet demands
of the people and find a solg
lution to the acute financial
crisis in the region; “but it
does not mean an uprising
or standing against KRG
can improve the situation,”
MP Samad asserted.
Kurdistan
Democratic
Party (KDP) official in Rapag
arrin area, Najat Hasan, belg
lieves that PKK has no right
to interfere in KRG’s interng
nal affairs, and it must focus
on the Turkish Kurdistan
instead.
Hasan confirmed that PKK
has recently held meetings
with locals in Raparrin area,
encouraging them to support
PKK’s plan for establishing
a canton outside the authorig
ity of KRG.
However, Babakr Drayi, a
Gorran official, rejected the
allegations and stated that
there is no such agreement
between Gorran and PKK.
Mustafa Barzani statue unveiled in India
A statue of prominent Kurdig
ish leader Mustafa Barzani
has been unveiled in India
March 1, 2016.
The unveiling took place
during a ceremony today
which marks that at the Ovro
hotel in Mumbai where the
Indian Interior Minister,
some British MPs and Kurdig
ish residents of India will be
gathering.
Tuesday March 1, marked
the 37th anniversary over
Mustafa Barzani’s death.
The statue, made of wax by
Kurdish artist Jalal Ahmed,
shows the Kurdish leader
in Kurdish outfit holding a
BRNO rifle.
The artwork will later be
transferred to Mumbai Musg
seum next to the sculpture of
the Indian Leader Mahatma
Gandhi and the former South
African president Nelson
Mandela.
Mustafa Barzani is consideg
ered the most prominent and
influential political leader in
modern Kurdish politics who
fought most of his life for the
Kurdish cause.
Iraq Deploys Special Forces after ISIS attack
Iraqi authorities have deployed
Special Forces around Baghdg
dad following a “rare” attack
by ISIS terrorists in the Iraqi
capital, a senior Iraqi officer
told Anadolu Agency.
Brigadier-General Sabah alWaeli said anti-terror special
forces have been deployed in
the vicinity of Baghdad Interng
national Airport and the westeg
ern part of the Iraqi capital.
“Snipers and mobile checkpg
points have also been deployed
to check on the identity of the
passers-by,” al-Waeli said.
The deployments came
shortly after ISIS launched
a brazen attack in the city of
Abu Ghraib, west of Baghdg
dad, which left 12 Iraqi troops
dead.
On Sunday, ISIS also claimed
twin bombings in Baghdad’s
Shia district of Sadr City,
which killed at least 65 people
and injured dozens.
In another development, four
pro-government
tribesmen
were killed in clashes with
ISIS terrorists in the western
province of Anbar.
Army officer Walid al-Dulg
laimi told Anadolu Agency
that ISIS terrorists attacked a
factory used as a base for Iraqi
army forces and allied tribesmg
men in eastern Ramadi.
“Four tribesmen were killed
and six others injured in ensuig
ing clashes between tribesmen
and ISIS terrorists,” he said.
According to al-Dulaimi, 16
ISIS terrorists were also killed
in the clashes.
Oil; a glimmer of hope !
Barcelona set new
unbeaten record
Luis Enrique's men have now gone 35
matches without defeat across all competitg
tions, bettering the streak Los Blancos manag
aged under Leo Beenhakker in the 1988-89
season.
Barcelona has now gone 35 matches unbg
beaten in all competitions after claiming
victory over Rayo Vallecano on Thursday
evening, setting a new Spanish record in the
process.
7
By Swara Kadir
Is the rise of crude oil prices
going to bring back the glory
days of the Kurdish economy?
Is it going to bring the much
needed money to satisfy the
disgruntled unpaid Kurdish
population? Has Saudi Arabia
finally learned its lesson to
curb crude oil production?
In the face of dropping crude
oil prices, OPEC (Organisatg
tion of the Petroleum Exportig
ing Countries) has tried seveg
eral times to come together
and bring about a consensg
sus. An agreement was not
reached to limit or lower the
production of crude oil. Why?
Because the big player Saudi
Arabia was not convinced and
wouldn't listen to the requests
of the other OPEC countries.
Now things have changed
for Saudi Arabia. As a result
of the lower crude oil prices,
its foreign reserves have run
dry, no more spare cash. Furtg
thermore its starting to borrow
money, something it hasn't
done for a long time, which
shows how serious is the situag
ation is with the Saudi econog
omy. Government subsidies
for fuel and other products are
being reduced too in order to
cut spending. Only this interng
nal pressure could bring about
the change needed in Saudi oil
policy.
These financial losses have
brought Saudi Arabia to the
OPEC negotiations table.
Now it's agreed to control
crude oil production in line
with OPEC policies. This is
something that Saudi Arabia
has resisted doing for a long
time. It's explicit reasons beig
ing to drive out competition
from smaller crude oil produceg
ers. There is also the implicit
reason that Saudi Arabia is
being pressured by the United
States to keep pumping oil at
low prices to keep the United
States happy.
What's in it for the Kurdistg
tan economy ? The Kurdistan
economy is highly dependent
on crude oil revenues and the
current recession is mainly the
result of the big drop in crude
oil prices from around $100
per barrel to $30 a few months
ago. As of the time of writig
ing this article, price is rising
to $40 per barrel of the light
Brent crude oil type. If it rises
ten or twenty more dollars
then the increase in oil reveng
nue would be enough to cover
regional expenditure costs.
Most of these costs comprise
of the unpaid wages of over a
million Kurdish citizens who
are dependent on government
wages.
This glimmer of hope in the
form of rising crude oil prices,
if it continues, should bring
about some positive economic
changes in a very dire situatg
tion that the Kurdistan Region
hasn't seen for over a decade.
Will it signal a return to the
golden times of a few years
ago? One cannot tell unless
the political situation improves
alongside the economic one.
[email protected]
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9
Kurdish Sculptor Kamaran Dartash
The
Kurdish
artist
and sculptor Kamaran
Dartash was born in
1968 in Kirkuk Province,
Southern Kurdistan. Devg
veloping an early schoolage love for handcrafts,
he has narrowed his visg
sual art focused to the
use of wood, stone, and
iron. During the 1980’s,
which is often referred to
as the golden era of Iraqi
and Kurdish art, Kamarg
ran plunged himself deep
into the world of Kurdish
artistry.
In 1984 and 1985, he
took part in the first and
second art exhibitions in
Kirkuk. Long after, follg
lowing the liberation of
Iraq, he was still practicig
ing his craft, particularly
focusing on the excavatg
tion of stone and usage of
wood. In recent years, his
works have awarded him
great fame regionally.
His sculptures have
been used by Kirkuk mung
nicipality, which has seveg
eral contemporary pieces
of his in parks and aveg
enues across the city. Kamg
maran’s art is noteworthy
particularly since very
few artists can use naturg
ral elements such as mud,
stone, plaster, or wood in
their work. He’s manag
aged to use these difficult
techniques to capture the
lost human sufferings of
the people of Kurdistan,
particularly through depg
pictions of the Halabja
bombardment. Kamaran
is passionate about art in
public areas of cities as it
gives life and preserves
history. He has done this
through his many sculptg
tures of the missing Anfal
victims.
Perhaps
Kamaran
Dartash’s favorite tool is
the timeless material of
stone because with it one
can capture dreams that
may be realized and enjg
joyed by the next generatg
tion of audiences.
By Ashti Garmiyani
Erbil to Hold Cinema Forum for Women
For International Women
Day on March 8th, a cinemg
ma forum for women is to
be held in Erbil in which
famous actresses and femg
male filmmakers will take
part.
“Cinema in Women’s
Perspective” is what the
forum will be called.
Kurdish, Foreign, Iraqi
and Arabic films consistig
ing of 14 short films (incg
cluding 11 directed by
women) will be included
in the event, with the otheg
er 3 films centered around
women’s issues.
Pshtiwan
Abdullah,
chairman of the forum,
stated that the majority
of Kurdish films are prodg
duced by the Directorag
ate of Erbil Cinema Art.
Actresses from Baghdad,
Kirkuk, and Suleimani
have been invited, includig
ing Miss Iraq, Shayma
Qasim who is originally from
Kirkuk. The total number of
actresses invited to the forum
is 12, according to Abdullah.
Apart from showing films,
live music concerts and exhibg
bitions for female students of
the Institute of Fine Arts will
be conducted.
Layla Majidi, one of the
directors taking part in the
forum with her film “Ballet”
says that it’s her first experieg
ence in the field.
The event will take place
with 8 Kurdish films, 2 Iraqi
films, one Moroccan, two foreg
eign and a Palestinian film.
There are two different showig
ing times of 11 a.m. and 7
p.m.
In addition, 8 active women
in cultural, cinema and media
domains will be awarded durig
Pirbal’s film takes part in International Festival
The film “(1-7)”, writtg
ten by Dr. Farhad Pirbal
and directed by Hassan
Ali, will take part in an
international film festival
in Bogota, Columbia this
May.
“I’m proud that I was
able to produce the film
amidst the financial crisis
and that it will take part
in an international film
festival,” Pribal stated.
“I’ve received an officg
cial invitation from Colg
lumbia, but I’m not sure
whether I can make it to
the country or not due to
financial crisis,” Pribal
added.
Apart from this film,
Farhal Pirbal is working
on producing a movie on
the Peshmerge, for which
he has found significant
sponsorship.
“Everything is ready,
the only thing left is
choosing a director for
the new film,” Pirbal
said.