Assyrian Church Patriarch election ran in Erbil

From the Heart of Kurdistan Region
The only English paper in Iraq - No: 507 Mon. September 21, 2015
GLOBE PHOTO/Safin Hamid
Assyrian Church Patriarch
election ran in Erbil
P3
The newly-elected Catholicos-patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, Mar Gewargis Sliwa looks on before he is elected by the Holy Synod of the Assyrian
Church of the East during a ceremony at Saint Youkhana church in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq on September 18, 2015.
Mar Gewargis Sliwa was elected by a council of Prelates and will succeed to the late Mar Dinkha IV under the ecclesiastical name Mar Gewargis III.
No. 507, Monday, September 21, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
Kurdistan Deserves
Independence
2
GLOBE PHOTO
Barzani and senior US delegation
discuss recent developments
By Gazi Hassan
In recent years, contrary to the ancient poll
litical history of this region, the leadership
of Kurdistan demanded the ancient dream
of Kurdistan "independence" honestly and
directly for the first time. The Kurdistan
Region President ,Masoud Barzani, works
for the policy that leads towards economic
and political independence on all internatl
tional platforms and national occasions,
though some Kurdish political parties
have stood against this.
Iraq is a divided state among Kurds, Sunnl
nis and Shias. This is becoming obvious
militarily and politically. The radical Sunnl
ni Arabs who have been adopting a chauvl
vinist policy for a long time, and used to
be fiercely against the idea of federalism
after 2003, are now working for a peacefl
ful country far from Hashd Al-Shaabi, terrl
rorism and Shia Government’s pressure in
Baghdad. This is considered as one of the
beneficial realities in favor of Kurdistan.
After U.S withdrawal from Iraq, Baghdl
dad’s government and Nuri Al-Maliki pursl
sued a sectarian policy clearly, and broke
down the new voluntary unified authority.
Al-Abadi did nothing different than AlMaliki for unifying the powers, cooperatl
tion, restoring the common and real trust.
When Baghdad’s Prime Minister started
administrative reforms and wanted to
put pressure on his opponents within AlDaawa Party to which both Al-Maliki and
Al-Abadi belong, instead of fighting corrl
ruption, he started to fight the political
partnership and weaken political position
of others, especially Sunnis and Kurds.
This is the same direction and the same
mistake Al-Maliki made.
What’s more serious, they’re economicl
cally urging Kurds to separate more quickll
ly from Baghdad. Al-Abadi is moving on
the same pathway Al-Maliki went before,
and has extended the economic sanctions
on the Region. This issue was being triggl
gered to create differences to the level of
splitting up against Kurdistan Region. In
fact this will urge the leadership of Kurdil
istan to work more consistently than ever
and with legal and political trust to step towl
wards achieving an independent economy
and develop crude oil-selling- program in
Weekly paper printed in Erbil
First published in 2005
www.kurdishGlobe.net
Address: Erbil, Massif road
order to overcome the financial and econl
nomical sanctions.
Contrary to the unstable political circumsl
stances that the political parties in Kurdil
istan have caused concerning the issue of
Kurdistan Region Presidency which has
made people concern about the situation,
the unstable circumstance that has been
created by the media in Kurdistan for sellil
ing their news could have shaken a little
bit the idea and the ground making for
Kurdistan independence, but as a political
and historical prerequisite and maintaining
the balance of power by President Barzani
has been kept in mind and will be worked
on as a strategy.
The negligence and catastrophe of every
political process is that when temporary
political rivalry is set to become basis for
downgrading the values and strategic infl
fluences. It’s a fatal blindness if the politicl
cal parties intend to extinguish the hopeful
lights for the sake of their temporary and
political gains.
If the Kurdish political parties will not
unify their efforts with one power, directl
tion and viewpoint for stepping towards
establishing an independent Kurdistan, the
rapid changes in the area and Middle East,
the critical situation in Iraq, and the post
ISIS era will bring about many new ideas,
policies and strategies. So even if the US
and some decision maker countries think
that Kurdish political parties in Kurdistan
Region don’t yet deserve democracy and
the basic principles of building a democl
cratic society, but they can’t avoid the new
reality, which is moving towards achieving
a newer and higher reality for the Kurdistl
tan Region.
Now the alliance of Peshmerga and the
United States, the opening of military
centers and bases in Erbil, together with
the opening of so many European and
Arab consulates in Kurdistan, these have
marked a productive beginning for achievil
ing Kurdistan’s big dream. So, everyone
knows that Kurdistan deserves an independl
dent state, though it has not been finalized
when and how this should be declared.
Kurdistan
Region
President,
Masoud Barzani, today met with
US Ambassador to Iraq Stuart
Jones, US Presidential Deputy
Special Envoy to the Global Coal
alition to Counter ISIS Brett McGl
Gurk, and senior US military genel
erals to discuss the status of the
fight against the ISIS.
They discussed the ongoing effl
Barzani: Defeating IS requires
multilateral efforts
The Kurdistan Region President
Massoud Barzani met with a delel
egation from Belgium on Monday
September 14th, headed by Senatl
tor Alain Destexhe. They discl
cussed the latest developments in
the political and security crises in
the region.
The Belgian Senators praised
the Kurdistan Regional Governml
ment (KRG) and the Peshmerga
for their effective role in protectil
ing refugees and fighting Islamic
State (IS).
They promised to provide more
military and humanitarian suppl
port to the KRG and Peshmerga,
pointing out the strong relationsl
ship Belgium has always enjoyed
with the Kurds.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Gazi Hassan +964 750 7747784
Senior U.K. Editor
Bashdar Pusho Ismaeel
[email protected]
[email protected]
ARTS EDITOR
Diyaco Qayoumy
+964 750 4036252
[email protected]
forts to defeat ISIS in both Iraq
and Syria and preparation for the
liberation of Mosul, including cool
operation and coordination among
the Peshmerga, the Iraqi, and the
coalition forces.
They also discussed the political
developments in the country and
relations between Erbil and Baghdl
dad.
Reviser
Honar Osman
[email protected]
President Barzani thanked Belgl
gium and the international coalitl
tion forces for standing by the
Kurdistan Region in the fight
against terrorism. He stressed that
defeating IS requires multilateral
efforts which tackles not only the
jihadists, but also their ideology
and roots.
Barzani told his guests that the
Kurdistan Region has a history
of peaceful coexistence, and they
won’t participate in the sectarian
conflicts taking place in Iraq.
Regarding IS, Barzani said that
the refugees and internally displ
placed people (IDP) must be
guaranteed a secure life once IS is
completely defeated.
STAFF WRITERS
Zakaria Muhammed
[email protected] +964 750 475 3897
Salih Waladbagi
[email protected] +964 750 4912996
ADVERTISEMENT
[email protected]
Cell: +964 750 4055888
No. 507, Monday, September 21, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
Assyrian Church Patriarch
election ran in Erbil
GLOBE PHOTO/Safin Hamid
Australia continues
supporting Peshmerga
3
President Barzani received Australia’s
new Ambassador to Iraq
Kurdistan Region President,
Masoud Barzani, received
Australia’s new Ambassl
sador to Iraq, Christopher
Langman, in Erbil on Septl
tember 15.
The President and the
Australian Ambassador revl
viewed the fight against the
ISIS, including Australian
contribution in the air suppl
port to Peshmerga, the poll
litical and security developml
ments in the country and the
situation of IDPs and refugl
gees in Kurdistan.
Ambassador, Langman,
paid tribute to the bravery
and sacrifices of the Peshml
merga forces in the fight
against ISIS, and reiterated
his country’s commitment
to continue supporting the
Peshmerga forces as part
of the international coalitl
tion against the ISIS. He
also appreciated Kurdistan
Regional Government effl
forts for receiving a huge
number of refugees and displ
placed people.
Syrian Kurdish
refugees want Barzani
to remain president
As the talks and meeting
between the 5 main politicl
cal parties in Kurdistan Regl
gion has not yet reached a
solution regarding Region’s
Presidency Law and extensl
sion of President Massoud
Barzani’s period in office,
Syrian Kurdish refugees call
for an immediate solution
for this political deadlock
and argue that it is very impl
portant that President Barzl
zani remains in his position
at this critical time.
Jasim Rashid, a Syrian
Kurdish refugee in Erbil,
call upon the political parties
to reach an agreement about
the presidency issue since
it is not the time for some
political groups to make an
issue out of this for their
political interest or for the
sake of pleasing some other
people or groups.
“I am asking them to give us
a good news tomorrow [after
the recent meeting among
the 5 parties],” said Rashid.
“Otherwise let them go back
to their people and comply
with whatever decision the
people would make.”
“Around 300,000 refugees
have reached Europe till now
and the whole world is busy
with them, while Kurdistan
Region has accommodated
1.8 million refugees and the
situation here is not change,
and even better. All of this
is thanks to the wisdom and
capabilities of President
Barzani.”
Shahab Goran, another Syril
ian Kurdish refugee, says
President Barzani is impl
portant for all four parts of
Kurdistan, since in his opinil
ion if it was not because of
President Barzani, “the Syril
ian Kurdistan, and especialll
ly Kobane, would have been
destroyed by now.”
“Kurdistan Region has becl
come the most stable part
in the Middle East,” said
Goran. Kurds from all
around the world hope that
the dreams of the Kurds in
this part of Kurdistan come
true, so that other parts also
try to achieve the same.”
Followers of the Assyrian
Church of the East celebrated the
election of Maran Mar Gewargis
III as their new Patriarch.
After two days of deliberations
in the Kurdish capital city of Erbl
bil, on September 19 the Synod
of the Holy Apostolic Catholic
Assyrian Church of the East annl
nounced the election of Bishop
Gewargis (George) Sliwa as the
next Patriarch. The post had been
vacant since the passing of the
previous Patriarch on March 26.
Patriarch Sliwa was born on
November 23, 1941 in Habbl
baniya, Iraq. He was consecrated
Metropolitan of Iraq on June 14,
1981 in Chicago, Illinois by his
predecessor, Patriarch Dinkha IV.
Since his consecration, the Metrl
ropolitan has made his headquartl
ters in the Iraqi capital Baghdad,
and has witnessed political uphl
heaval, displacement and persecl
cution of Assyrians.
Patriarch-elect Sliwa, the 112th
patriarch of the Church of the
East, will be consecrated at St.
John's Cathedral in Erbil on Sundl
day, September 27, and will assl
sume the name Mar Gewargis
III. The Patriarchal See of the
Assyrian Church of the East will
return to Iraq after having been
established in-exile in the United
States since 1933.
US strongly reiterates ‘support for
President Barzani and Peshmarga’
Kurdistan Regional President
Massoud Barzani on September
15, 2015 met with US Ambassl
sador to Iraq Stuart E. Jones,
US Presidential Deputy Special
Envoy to the Global Coalition
to Counter ISIS Brett McGurk,
and senior US military generals
to discuss the status of the fight
against ISIS and the latest securl
rity and political developments
in Iraq and Kurdistan.
The main focus of the meeting
was about the ongoing efforts
to defeat ISIS in both Iraq and
in Syria and preparation for the
liberation of Mosul, including
cooperation and coordination
among the Peshmarga, the Iraqi,
and the coalition forces.
They also gave consideration
to the political developments
in the country and relations betl
tween Erbil and Baghdad.
The Kurdish team welcomil
ing the US delegation included
Kurdistan Regional Government
Premier Nechirvan Barzani,
Minister of Natural Resources
Ashti Hawrami, and Deputy
Prime Minister Qubad Talabani.
They has a productive discussl
sion on a range of issues includil
ing the security and economic
challenges facing Iraq, the situatl
tion of Iraqi internally displaced
persons and refugees, and the
important role of the Kurdish
Peshmerga in the fight against
ISIS.
Ambassador Jones echoed the
United States’ “strong support
for the Government of Iraq and
the Kurdistan Regional Governml
ment”.
Ambassador Jones welcomed
and thanked President Barzani
for the establishment of the new
Joint Coalition Coordination
Center in Erbil, which brings togl
gether elements of the Iraqi Secl
curity Forces and the Peshmerga
to begin planning and coordinatl
tion for the campaign to expel
ISIS from Mosul.
The Ambassador also ‘highly
praised’ President Barzani’s
continued leadership in the fight
to defeat and expel ISIS.
Ambassador Jones also pledged
technical assistance to the Kurdil
istan Regional Government’s
economic ministries.
No. 507, Monday, September 21, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
4
US want Kurds prioritize ISIS war
Kurdistan Region’s Prime
Minister Nechirvan Barzl
zani met Stewart Jones,
the U.S. Ambassador to
Iraq, Brett H. McGurk,
Deputy Assistant Secretl
tary of State for Iraq, as
well as a diplomatic and
military delegation.
The meeting was mainly
concentrated on the securl
rity situation and the war
against the Islamic State
terrorist organization.
The U.S. delegation
reiterated their commitml
ment to continue their cool
operation and support for
the Kurdistan Region in
their war against terror.
PM Barzani expressed
his gratitude for the U.S.
Embassy and Army for
their continuous support
towards Peshmarga Forcel
es; however, he reiterated
that more support will be
needed in the future and
a strong plan for both
Peshmarga Forces and
Iraqi Army should be desl
signed to free the remainil
ing areas from ISIS.
Talking about Kurdil
istan’s Presidency issl
sue, the U.S. delegation
called for continuation of
the talks among the poll
litical groups and a consl
sensus about this topic.
They emphasized that
at this stage Kurdistan
should give priority to
the war against terrorism,
and hoped an agreement
is reached in the near futl
ture.
PM Barzani told the
visiting delegation that
the parties are seriously
working on a solution
that is in the interest of
the Kurdish people and
the stability of the regl
gion, especially now as
the counter-terrorism war
is the top priority for both
the Peshmarga forces and
the President.
The political parties in
Kurdistan conducted the
eighth round of talks over
presidency. The KDP
welcomed the changes in
stance of other parties regl
garding the mechanism of
electing the president.
Jaafar Eminki, spokesml
man of Kurdistan Democl
cratic Party (KDP) of
Massoud Barzani, has
announced that his party
wants a strong leader who
should be elected by the
people.
“We will study the propl
posals of the four parties,
Patriotic Union of Kurdil
istan, Change Movement,
Kurdistan Islamic Union
and Kurdistan Islamic
League, with respect. We
will discuss them, but the
KDP’s position is very
apparent and it is the necl
cessity of having a strong
president with strong autl
thorities who is elected by
the people.”
Eminki said that the four
parties have always tried
to “impose” their stance,
adding that the KDP is
strongly committed to the
legitimate laws. “If the
four parties want to change
the laws, it should be done
through a referendum that
the people of Kurdistan
should vote on them.”
The KDP, Eminki said,
has been always open as
it told the parties if they
cannot reach an agreement
through the presidency
talks, then the best solution
is to return to the people.
It is worth mentioning
that the four parties offl
fered two proposals to the
KDP of Barzani in the last
presidency meeting. The
first one proposes that the
president of Kurdistan
should be elected by the
GLOBE PHOTO/Safin Hamid
KDP: People should elect strong president
parliament with lots of autl
thorities. The second one
proposes that the presidl
dent can be elected by the
people with ceremonial
authorities, what the KDP
does not want definitely.
The eighth round of the
talks was held in Saad
Abdullah
Convention
Center in Erbil, capital
of the Kurdistan Region..
The next meeting which is
set to be held in September
6, would be held in Sulaiml
mani, the second biggest
province of Kurdistan.
The KDP has told the
parties that it is interested
to talk with them over
the second proposal, with
having its own vision and
view.
Dr. Fuad Hussein, Head
of Presidential Divan, who
supervised the meeting of
the five parties, stated in a
press conference: “Today
a big door has opened betl
tween the parties to resolve
the presidency issue. The
four parties have offered
two proposals in written
to the KDP. The KDP is
assumed to discuss them
with its politburo later.”
Following the meeting
the political parties issued
statement addressing the
media outlets, asking them
to deal with the issues in a
responsible way and do not
attack each other through
the media.
“It is not acceptable that
the media outlets attack
the political opponents.
We are hoping that media
would be helpful in that
regard to calm the situatl
tion down,” said Hussein.
New school year in Kurdistan ’powerful response to adversaries’
The Kurdistan Region
began the new school
year this week as authoritl
ties struggle to cope with
major economic woes
complicated by a flood of
refugees, financial probll
lems with Baghdad and
the war with the Islamic
State group.
Starting the new school
year is a powerful resl
sponse to adversaries that
life in Kurdistan goes on
despite hardships,” Kurdil
ish Education Minister
Pshtiwan Sadiq told teachel
ers and students in Dohuk,
as more than 1.7 million
pupils began the first day
of classes on Tuesday.
The Kurdish governml
ment is coping with nearly
50,000 new pupils going
to elementary school for
the first time, as it fights a
war with the Islamic State
(ISIS) along a border
more than 1,300 kilometl
ters long.
The minister praised
the people of Dohuk for
their “hospitality towards
refugees” last year, when
a half-million displaced
people from Nineveh
province and Syria floodel
ed into the Kurdish provil
ince from other parts of
Iraq and neighboring
Syria, fleeing the conflict
with ISIS. Many sought
shelter in school buildings
across Dohuk.
Sadiq said the Kurdistl
tan Regional Government
(KRG) had allocated
three billion dinars (about
$250 million) to renovl
vate school facilities and
another 12 billion dinars
(around $900 million) to
print much needed school
books.
He said an additional
budget has been approved
for major investment in
English-language courses
alongside Kurdish.
But the picture is not all
too rosy, according to the
minister, who said earll
lier that the region will
need many more schools
to cope with the growing
number of school childl
dren.
“Classrooms built to accl
commodate 20 children
sometimes hold more than
50,” said Sadiq, adding
the region needed to build
400 schools a year over
the next decade to resolve
the shortage.
According to KRG estl
timates, 36 percent of
Kurdistan’s 5.2 million
population is under 14
years of age, and the ratio
will likely increase, given
the 2.6 percent population
growth rate expected over
the next decade.
Sadiq complained that
schools had to introduce
double shifts to accomml
modate demand, meaning
shorter class periods and
greater stress for teachers.
According to the directl
tor of the Dohuk Educatl
tion Office more than 400
schoolteachers have taken
a leave of absence and migl
grated to the West.
“The number could be
much higher when we
complete our survey,
which is ongoing now,”
said Abd Yousef, who
added that most teachers
had left because of the
double shifts and lack of
sufficient classrooms.
Yousef said no schools
have been built in Dohuk
province since 2013 due
to a budget crunch, from a
fall in oil prices and financl
cial disagreements with
the central government in
Baghdad.
The financial crunch
has been compounded
by nearly two million
refugees and displaced
persons that have sought
refuge in Kurdistan from
other parts of Iraq and
from Syria.
KRG sources said last
month that Baghdad had
refused to send its share of
oil revenues from Kurdish
oil, sold through the centl
tral government, for the
month of April, reneging
on a previous agreement.
The two governments
reached a groundbreakil
ing agreement in Decl
cember last year, which
ended simmering disputes
between the two governml
ments over the share of
oil revenues, but Baghdad
has refused to abide by the
terms of the deal.
No. 507, Monday, September 21, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
Masrour Barzani: the area
needs political revision
Masrour Barzani says
that the structure of the
Middle East needs revisl
sion which is a key duty
of the international comml
munity.
This statement of the
Chancellor of the Kurdil
istan Region’s Securl
rity Council came in a
meeting with Belgium
senators led by Dr. Alain
Destexhe with the partl
ticipation of Pol Van
Den Driessch and Sonja
Claes. The delegation
praised the role of the
Peshmarga forces in the
war against ISIS terroril
ists and hosting the numl
merous IDPs and refugl
gees by the Kurdistan
Regional Government.
“The Kurdish people are
humanists who are lookil
ing for peace and needs
larger assistances by the
international communitl
ty,” said Dr. Destexhe.
The meeting focused
on the historical animosil
ities and their relations
to the current problems
in the Middle East. On
his part Masrour Barzl
zani shared his perspectl
tive on those problems:
“If we want to stabilize
the area then we need to
revise the political structl
ture of the Middle East.
This is first and foremost
the duty of the internatl
tional community.”
The war against ISIS
and the advancements of
the Peshmarga were also
discussed, both reiteratil
ing the need of a larger
support by the internatl
tional community to the
Kurdistan Region.
The visiting delegation
promised Masrour Barzl
zani that they will work
hard to convince their
Senate and government
to elevate their assistl
tances to the Kurdistan
Region.
Masrour Barzani: Iraq was
born with problems
Masrour Barzani called
for stronger engagement
of the international comml
munity in the war against
the IS during a meeting
with a European Parliaml
ment delegation headed
by Charles Tannock from
the European Conservl
vatives and Reformists
block.
The delegation compl
prised of David Campbl
bell Bannerman from
the ECR, Anna Gomez
from the Social Democl
crats, Javier Nart from
the Liberal Democrats,
Tamash Mazirak from
the Green and Dlawer
Azhgayi the Representl
tative of the Kurdistan
Regional Government to
the European Union. The
delegation applauded the
Peshmarga forces of the
Kurdistan Region for the
security and stability and
expressed support in the
war against ISIS. They
too hailed KRG for hostil
ing the IDPs and refugl
gees currently resettled
in the Region. “What we
witnessed in this visit
requires appreciation as
the Kurdistan Region has
been a very successful
example compared to the
surrounding areas,” said
one member of the delel
egation.
On his part, Masrour
Barzani briefed them
about the latest developml
ments and said that the
Kurdistan Region needs
EU support in terms of
helping IDPs and refugees
and in the war against
ISIS and the other unresl
solved issues in the area.
He reminded the delegatl
tion of the thousands of
ISIS terrorists who come
from every corner in the
world towards the Middle
east and borders of Kurdil
istan. Therefore, he expl
plained, the international
community should come
forward with a larger
engagement in this war
against ISIS by helping
the Peshmarga and other
forces which are fighting
them.
As for the Iraqi probll
lems, Masrour Barzani
said: “This entity hasn’t
been born naturally. It
has been born with a lot
of problem since its incl
ception.”
“We as Kurds tried our
best to have a federal
and democratic system
in Iraq, but the deep histl
torical differences, unrl
resolved political issue
and the continuation of
a failed political system
have divided Iraq practicl
cally and the other Iraqi
parties are the reasons for
this situation,” concluded
Barzani.
5
PM Barzani to establish a
school, a hospital and a mosque
in Kobane after Alan’s name
The father of Alan Kurdi,
the three-year old child
who drowned in the Agel
ean Sea and was washed
ashore near Bodrum in
Turkey, is currently in
Kurdistan Region capital
city of Erbil.
Abdulla Kurdi said after
the loss of his wife and
two children he wants to
stay in Erbil for a while
for some peace of mind.
Abdulla is the guest of
Kurdistan Region’s Prime
Minister Nechirvan Barzl
zani.
“I came to Kurdistan
and visited Mr. Nechirvl
van Barzani,” said Kurdi.
“I did not feel he behaves
like a Prime Minister, but
rather as a brother. He
was so sad that I felt Alan
was his son too not only
mine.”
Alan’s father said PM
Barzani has promised him
to build a school, a hospl
pital and a mosque under
Alan’s name in Kobane,
and help Kobane childl
dren.
Abdulla also added that
PM Barzani has asked
him to stay in Erbil but he
likes to return to Kobane
and live near his family’s
graves.
Abdulla explains that he
had heard that there is a
nice village in the Kurdil
istan Region called Alana,
and that he named his son
after that village. While
here he would like to see
the village too.
Turkey-PKK conflict: Children
caught in the crossfire
Emine Cagirga has kept
three bullet casings she
found from the day her
daughter was shot. The
fourth was lodged in Ceml
mile, 10, who died instantll
ly.
Numb with grief, Emine
sits in her garden, a photl
tograph of her daughter
pinned to her dress.
Cizre has seen some of
the worst violence since a
two-year-long ceasefire betl
tween the Turkish state and
the Kurdish rebel group,
the PKK, collapsed in July.
With the town under curfl
few for nine days, no ambl
bulance came for Cemile.
And her family could not
leave their house to bury
her.
"It was sniper fire," says
Emine. "Cemile was at the
front gate. I ran towards
her, shouting her name. She
collapsed. 'Mama,' she said.
And then she died."
"I kept her body beside
me until the morning and
held her hand," Emine recl
calls, staring into the distl
tance.
"Then I took her to the
fridge and put her inside.
I didn't want her to decay.
We kept her there for two
days until we could bury
her."
Emine has now moved
the fridge next door since
her other children were so
terrified of it. She takes me
to see it: a grim memory of
her family's darkest hour.
"Cemile was an angel she was part of my soul,"
Emine says. "How can the
government bring this pain
upon mothers? In God's
name, what do you want
from us?"
The violence in southeast Turkey was sparked
by a suicide bomb, which
exploded in a Kurdish-majl
jority town and was blamed
on Islamic State (IS) militl
tants.
Kurds, however, accused
the Turkish government of
colluding with IS, and the
PKK (Kurdistan Workers'
Party) shot dead two Turkil
ish policemen in response.
Turkey resumed airstrikes
on PKK positions in Turkey
and Iraq - and the tit-for-tat
violence was unleashed.
More than 120 Turkish
security personnel have
since been killed by PKK
bombs and the government
says hundreds of militants
have died.
Corruption hotline gets 52 calls
Commission of Integrity
in Kurdistan Region has
launched a corruption hotll
line since more than a year
ago.
Since the announcement
of the hotline numbers, the
commission has received
calls from 52 people about
corruption cases.
According to Mushir
Rashid, Director General
at the Integrity Commissl
sion, people report corruptl
tion cases through their hotl
tline. However, the number
of reports and calls from
people is extremely low
compared to the scale of
corruption in the region.
Rashid says people are
not yet aware of the hotll
line and do not know the
numbers to contact the
commission.
In addition to the hotline,
the commission receives
information about corrupt
acts through many other
channels, including newspl
papers, copies of documl
ments and proofs, letters
and some other ways.
According to statistics
available at the commissl
sion, they have received
157 corruption reports
since 2013 through the
various channels.
No. 507, Monday, September 21, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
NEWS BAR
Nassif resigns from
State of Law Coalition
A special source close to Aliya
Nassif, stated that Nassif declared
that she has quitted working with
The State of Law Coalition. She has
apologized for not being able to work
with coalition any longer.
"The resignation of Nassif from the
Coalition is due to disagreements
she had with Ali Adeeb, a prominent
member of the alliance," revealed the
source
Nassif is now working on forming
a new entity in the parliament which
is supported by former Iraqi Prime
Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
Ahmed Chalabi: Iraq
is moving toward
income loss
In a statement posted on his social
network of Facebook account, the
Iraqi famous politician Ahmed Chall
labi said "A few years ago I declared
that the Iraqi income is distributed
based on satisfying different people
and there has been no economic plan
in distributing the income. For that
reason Iraq is moving toward income
loss,"
AUDK; A Project for the Betterment of Community
By Dr Honar Khoshavi Issa*
Less than two years ago, HE
Masrour Barzani, the Chairml
man of the Board of Trustees
(BOT) of the American Universl
sity Duhok Kurdistan (AUDK),
broke ground to begin building
the main campus of the universl
sity. During his speech at the
ground breaking ceremony,
Chairman Barzani promised
the people of Kurdistan that
AUDK would open its doors to
students the following year. In
less than one year that promise
was fulfilled.
At the beginning, many peopl
ple had the mistaken idea that
AUDK would be an investment
project whose main objective
would be to turn a profit. Howel
ever, HE Masrour Barzani, the
main benefactor of the project,
envisioned turning AUDK into
a high quality educational institl
tution which would attract top
caliber scholars and talented
students. As an academic figure
and a leader, Chairman Barzani
has decided to make AUDK a
not-for-profit institution to undl
derline his vision of promoting
a high quality system of educatl
tion in the region which far excl
ceeds the mere the notion of estl
330 ISIS members
killed in British strikes
About 330 ISIS fighters have been
killed in British air strikes since the
Royal Air Force began carrying out
raids against the group in September
last year, Britain’s Defense Secretary
Michael Fallon has said on Thursdl
day.
“This figure is highly approximate,
not least given the absence of UK
ground troops in a position to obsl
serve the effects of strike activity,”
Fallon said in a written parliamentary
statement.
“We do not believe there have been
any civilian casualties as a result of
UK strike activity.”
Britain has regularly conducted attl
tacks on ISIS targets in Iraq as part
of U.S.-led air strikes, but does not
take part in raids in Syria after Prime
Minister David Cameron lost a 2013
parliamentary vote to approve militl
tary action against Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad.
Shiite Militias confiscate
Christians’ properties
A security source in Baghdad stated
that some Shiite Militia leaders have
confiscated the houses of the Christl
tians who have left the city due to insl
stability of security situation.
Earlier, Iraqi Vice president, Nuri
al-Maliki said that the Christians'
lives and properties are guaranteed
to be safe, but his promise was not
kept.
Emad Yohanna, an Iraqi parliament
member from Christian entity, said
the Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider Abbl
badi promised to follow up the case
but nothing has been done so far.
6
tablishing a profitable project.
Ever since its establishment,
AUDK has enjoyed an outsl
standing start up as a center of
education and research. The
university currently offers five
programs: Computer Science,
Design, Management and Finl
nance, Media Studies, and Polil
itics and Public Policy. Within
these five programs, there are
20 majors that are generally
not offered by any other institl
tution in the region. These incl
clude Digital Forensic Science,
Fashion Design, Digital Animl
mation, Logistic and Supply
Chain Management, Hospital
and Healthcare Management,
Insurance and Risk Manageml
ment, and Security and Strategl
gic Studies.
The BOT has recently appl
pointed Professor Michael
Mulnix as the new president of
AUDK. Dr Mulnix has an outsl
standing academic record and
strong leadership skills. He is
drawing up a long-term strategl
gic plan to ensure the success
of university. That plan will entl
tail future expansion, self-sufficl
ciency, sustainability and it incl
cludes initiating the procedures
needed to gain accreditation.
This will be an arduous procl
cess but it is essential to guaral
antee high quality education at
AUDK. Schools of Nursing,
Medical Science, Engineering,
Education and Liberal Arts, and
Art and Cinema are planned for
future expansion in order to
meet the learning needs and aspl
pirations of students and to devl
velop their intellectual abilities.
It will also help to satisfy markl
ket demands. AUDK intends to
forge long-lasting relationships
with people of different walks
of life within the community
through establishing “AUDK
Foundation”.
In accordance with its comml
mitment to change people’s
lives for the better, AUDK offl
fers diverse programs to the
community. It has recently estl
tablished the “Center for Peace
and Human Security” which
aims to address the issues of
the local community and to
approach them academically.
AUDK is the first institution in
the region to offer a “Peace and
Community” course of study
as part of the general education
that students take during first
two semesters. Of equal importl
tance in terms of social impact
is AUDK’s positive contributl
tion to the economy and the
improvement of the communl
nity by offering professional
development programs such as
the training of teachers, nurses,
managers and professionals,
including English as Second
Language.
Thanks to the vision of HE
Masrour Barzani, AUDK has
recently introduced the “Mustl
tafa Barzani Honors Scholarsl
ship”, the “Chairman Barzani
Honors Scholarship” and the
“President’s Merit Scholarsl
ship”. These scholarship progl
grams will focus on the top
students in the region as part of
the strategic plan to attract high
quality students to AUDK.
AUDK stands as a landmark
project in higher education, one
which aims to educate future
leaders of the community and
to pave their way to the pinnl
nacle of knowledge and excelll
lence.
* Member of the Board of Trustel
ees, AUDK
Consultant, SHC
The Irony of 21st Century
Fundamental Terrorism
By J. Watt
The terrorist group Boko
Haram and ISIS both share
an animosity towards modernl
nity and, in particular, westel
ern education systems. ISIS
has reportedly banned several
subjects from schools in Mosl
sul and the name Boko Haram
actually translates as “Westel
ern Education is sin.” In their
war on creativity, free thinkil
ing, and innovation, an attack
on western education is their
main front.
Yet, in an ironic way, 21st
century fundamentalist terroril
ist groups have actually relied
on western education for their
rise, recruitment, and funding.
What do I mean?
The internet, which is the
most important propaganda
machine of both of these terrl
rorist groups, was created in
the late 1960’s by western
educational institutions for the
purposes of sharing academic
information for greater colll
laboration. The internet began
as a “network of networks”
within universities, specificl
cally beginning at the Universl
sity of California Los Angeles.
Furthermore, the internet was
not only created by universitl
ties, but is the byproduct of a
culture that fosters creativity
and innovation by investing
heavily into laboratory and
technology research.
Research exists, yes, for innl
novations like the internet or
other breakthroughs that have
come along. But at an even
deeper level, in the core of resl
search there is a value that is
also foundational to Western
Education: the joy of discovel
ery. Discovery is exactly what
offends Islamic fundamental
terrorist groups to the point
of banning the sciences and
music. The easiest apologetic
against the Islamic State is that
in education they stand against
everything our hearts—or
what I believe, God—tells us
is right: creativity, music, art,
discovery, learning and educl
cation. Yet somehow they try
to prohibit this in the name of
God.
Through terrorist propaganda
machines, we are seeing those
who hate science and innovatl
tion hijack the internet—the
result of 21st century science
and innovation—for their
wicked purposes, polluting it
with anti-education rhetoric.
Ironically, terrorist leaders
would do well to stop their
crusade against western educatl
tion because if western educatl
tion really was forbidden these
groups may not even exist.
HDP’s spokesman hails KDP’s attempts
for prompting peace
Ayhan Bilgen, the proKurdish Peoples' Democratic
Party's (HDP) spokesperson
talks about the importance of
Kurdistan Democratic Party's
(KDP) delegation visit to his
party's office in Ankara. KDP's
delegation visit came after the
office in the city was attacked
a few days ago. He says the
visit meant a lot to HDP and
he describes it as a message for
coexistence and peace.
During their visit, KDP's delel
egation met with HDP leaders
and discussed the Kurdish issl
sues and questions in all parts
of Kurdistan.
Concerning Kurdistan Region
President Masoud Barzani's
peaceful message about the issl
sues between PKK and Turkey,
Bilgen said "it is important to
try promoting peace and coel
existence principles regardll
less who makes the attempts
for these issue. We are pleased
with any efforts made by any
side for helping ease the tensl
sions,"
Bilgen also said the openness
process for creating dialogue
for all the sides and nations are
not only useful for Kurds, but
it is good for the reputation of
Turkey as well.
Bilgen declared that his partl
ty is ready for accepting any
propositions presented by any
sides from anywhere for the
sake of replacing fighting with
peace and dialogue.
"When two sides do not reach
solutions and agreements for
easing their tensions, the third
party is required to present
suggestions. The third does not
necessarily have to be a politicl
cal party as sometimes the civil
society organizations can play
that role." He divulges
No. 507, Monday, September 21, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
MAN Truck & Bus
Opens New Showroom
& Service Centre in
Erbil in Partnership
with Terramar
New facility to act as central
distribution hub for countrywide
sales and service network
MAN Truck & Bus in collaboration with
its partner Terramar launched a new state-ofthe-art showroom-cum-service centre in the
Iraqi city of Erbil to create a world-class infl
frastructure for supporting commercial vehicl
cle customers in the region. The high-profile
inauguration ceremony was attended by Mr.
Dieter Lamlé, Consul General of Germany
in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq; Mr. Volker
Wildner, Director of the German Liaison Offl
fice for Industry and Commerce in Iraq; Nihl
had Qoja, Mayor of Erbil; and senior executl
tives from MAN Truck & Bus and Terramar
along with a number of agents, partners and
customers.
The new facility consists of three fully
equipped repair bays and one diagnostic bay
that adhere to European standards for tools,
equipment, and management systems. Also
part of the new set-up is a 400 square metl
ter spare parts warehouse designed to ensure
uninterrupted supply of genuine MAN spare
parts including filters, lubricants and more.
“The opening of our new center in Erbil is
a further demonstration of MAN’s commitml
ment and support for the region and our custl
tomers,” said Franz von Redwitz, Managing
Director of MAN Truck & Bus Middle East.
“Our customers appreciate the existence of
such a reliable set-up to meet their needs for
state-of-the-art sales and service support in
spite of the challenging social and political
environment in Iraq. The new facility will act
as the central distribution hub for Terramar’s
countrywide sales and service network.”
For the second half of the year Terramar alrl
ready plans the inauguration of a second new
showroom in Baghdad.
Beside the extension of the sales and service
network, Terramar is also actively contributil
ing to the knowledge transfer of commercial
vehicle engineering. As part of a series of
technical lectures at the University of Technl
nology in Baghdad, the company has sponsl
sored and supported the educational program
with an extensive lecture on latest technologl
gies of diesel engines.
The lecture was given by Eng. Ali Zainy
from Terramar and more than 70 professl
sors, teachers and students of automotive
engineering attended the event, among those
where Mr. Amin Douai Thamer, the president
of the University of Technology and his vice
president, Mr. Abdul Hassan Karam Allah
and Mr. Muaaid Razuky the Head Master of
the Mechanical Engineering Department.
MAN and Terramar plan to organize a
similar training program in Erbil soon where
professors, students and technicians will get
an opportunity to learn about diesel engines
from MAN's top-notch experts.
7
The bad economic situation is
not such a bad thing after all!
By Swara Kadir
Is there any good to be had
from the bad economic
situation that Kurdistan is
facing? What will the new
Kurdish economy look like
after the facelift that it's
currently undergoing?
There is no denial that
Kurdistan is currently expl
periencing a bad economic
situation. Oil prices are as
low as they can be at around
fifty dollars for a barrel of
light crude oil. Kurdistan’s
primary source of national
income is crude oil and so it
has been adversely affected
by this big drop in oil price.
Just over a year ago, it was
over a hundred dollars per
barrel of light crude oil.
Those heydays are over and
the government is having to
adapt.
In order to pay off the
wages of over a million
Kurds who are living on
the government payroll
the Kurdistan Regional
Government (K.R.G) is
applying austerity measl
sures. These measures are
coming in the form of incl
creased taxation and tolls
on consumer products and
services. Also several anticorruption measures are
being applied. What's more
the accumulated salaries of
high ranking officials and
Members of Parliament are
being cut by a considerable
amount.
The easy money of oil is
no longer flowing through
the state coffers and it's effl
fecting the whole way the
country is being run and this
not a bad thing. It's similar
to a fat man going to a doctl
tor and being told he must
go on a serious diet and exel
ercising regime to improve
his health and get in shape.
Similarly once Kurdistan
shapes up and faces the econl
nomic hardships with new
economic measures and poll
litical changes, iIt will end
up having a leaner healthier
economy that can face the
future in a better way.
Oil prices are not going
to stay low for ever. In the
end, the black gold is limil
ited in supply and is a non
renewable resource. Sooner
or later oil prices will start
rising again. If Kurdistan
learns a good economic lessl
son from its current hardsl
ships, then later on in the
more prosperous future it
will be better able to use oil
money to create long lastil
ing economic growth.
[email protected]
Kurds and Baghdad struggle to
control oil-rich Kirkuk
The Iraqi government summl
moned Kirkuk’s police
chiefs to Baghdad for invl
vestigation after Kirkuk’s
Kurdish Governor Najmaldl
din Karim sacked the locl
cal Iraqi intelligence head,
Brigadier General Orhan
Khalil, whose unit was accl
cused of killing civilians.
A dispute erupted between
the Shia-controlled Interior
Ministry in Baghdad and
the Kurdish governor this
month over who is in charge
of the security forces in the
province of Kirkuk, followil
ing a clash between Iraqi
intelligence forces led by
Shiia Turkmen and Kurdish
civilians in Kirkuk.
Although officially the
Iraqi police controls inner
Kirkuk, in reality the police
force is Kurdish-led and
additionally the efficient
Kurdish internal security
force, known as Asayish,
operates in the city. Meanwl
while, the Peshmerga and a
small group of Shiia militl
tias fight IS on the outskirts
of Kirkuk.
On 3 September, a clash
erupted between Iraqi intelll
ligence forces and Kurdil
ish civilians in the Hay alAskari district in Kirkuk. A
civilian was killed.
“Three young men kidnl
napped one of our staff
and the intelligence forces
came to help him,” Khalil,
the Shiia-Turkmen head of
Iraqi intelligence, told Middl
dle East Eye.
“One of the intelligence
members called his friend
saying that there were some
terrorists and they want to
kill him. After this the intl
telligence forces went and
fired on a person. After the
investigation we found out
there were no terrorists,
and that the person who
was killed was a civilian,”
Halkawt Abdullah Aziz, the
head of Patriotic Union of
Kurdistan (PUK) security
police in Kirkuk told MEE.
According to a statement
released by the Kirkuk govel
ernor, the civilian was killed
when intelligence forces
intervened in a small fight.
Furthermore, the Kirkuk
governor accused the police
intelligence of torturing a
civilian and forcing him to
confess as being a part of a
“terrorist group”.
“After that the civilians
sued the intelligence officl
cer and the governor who
is the head of the Security
Council asked the police
intelligence chief to hand
over the killers. But they
refused,” said Mam Ghafur,
the deputy head of the PUK
in Kirkuk.
“Najmaldin Karim, the
Kirkuk governor, is a strong
proponent of the governoral
ate's rights to coordinate
security operations as intl
tended in the provincial
powers legislation,” Micl
chael Knights, an analyst
at the Washington Institute
for Near East Policy, told
MEE.
“Kirkuk is probably the
leading province in Iraq in
terms of commanding its
own security forces. This
naturally causes tensions
with both Baghdad and the
Kurdish leadership,” he
added.
Local Turkmen and Arabs
fear the move is another attl
tempt by the Kurds to assert
control over Kirkuk’s institl
tutions.
Last October, Arabs and
Turkmen protested at the
opening of an office of the
Kurdish government in
Kirkuk. Many Kurds oppl
pose the appointment of a
Shiia Turkmen by Baghdad
as the head of the state run
North Oil Company (NOC)
in Kirkuk, which is seen as
close to Shiia militias.
“The Kurds want to contl
trol all the headquarters in
Kirkuk. The last remaining
ones are intelligence, educl
cation and the NOC,” said
Mohammed, a Sunni Arab,
who uses a pseudonym for
security reasons.
On 4 May, armed Kurdil
ish students forced the
Baghdad-appointed head
of Kirkuk University, Dr
Abbas Taqi, to sign a letter
of resignation. “The Kirkuk
University is now under
full control of them [the
Kurds],” he said.
Ahmed, a Turkmen, who
refused to be further identl
tified, told MEE that some
of the Turkmen feel unsafe
after Kurds increased their
control.
“We feel no confidence,
especially after the Peshml
merga control of the city,
and we know full well they
will turn Kirkuk after a
period of time into a fully
Kurdish city. The Kurds
also did this before to Erbil,
the capital of the Kurdistan
region of Iraq in the 1990s,”
Ahmed said.
He complained that the
Kirkuk Kurdish police
head Jamal Tahir was not
dismissed by the governor,
despite the prison escape
of 19 al-Qaeda members in
March 2012, and an al-Qaedl
da attack in December 2013
on an intelligence building
that killed at least 11 peopl
ple, in addition to having
over 10 people held hostage
in the Jawahir mall.
“The governor did not
sack him for this, but when
the Turkmen intelligence
director makes one mistake,
he is dismissed,” Ahmed
added.
Intelligence chief Khalil
told MEE that so far Baghdl
dad has not replaced him,
but he cannot enter the Iraqi
police intelligence building
that is under full control of
the Kurdish Asayish.
Kurdish leaders say that
they will never hand over
Kirkuk to Baghdad’s contl
trol since Kurdish fighters
have secured the area themsl
selves.
“The disputed territories
are all in safe hands now,”
said Sirwan Barzani, the
General Commander of the
Kurdish Peshmerga forces
on the Makhmour-Gwer
frontline.
“These areas are safer
now, so why give it back
to them?” he said. “If they
want a referendum by the
constitution on the future of
Kirkuk, they are welcome.
If not, we are here to stay,”
he told Middle East Eye.
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN
ERBIL
38
35
36
38
38
37
WEATHER 38
20
18
18
18
19
18
18
FORECAST
The Kurdish Caricaturist Ali Darwish (1966 - )
Caricature is one of the
effective and important
arts and the expression
method that conveys the
general political, cultural,
social and art message
easily to the audience
and people. It also finds
solutions for many of the
world’s problems, whereal
as there are also times that
it creates various crises.
The Kurdish painter Ali
Darwish was born in 1966
in the city of Kirkuk.
He studied primary and
secondary schools in the
city. He had a good skill
in painting, especially
during the eighties when
he opened many exhibitl
tions in Kirkuk and has
taken part in many others
in other cities of Southel
ern Kurdistan. A different
method and school of art
can be seen in his works.
From the beginning of
1991 and on, he carried
on his art works by design
and caricatures on social
issues in newspapers,
magazines and exhibitl
tions. Due to the political
and social circumstance
of Kurdistan Region then,
the art of caricature was a
much more effective tool,
so quarrels and headal
aches with the artist was
something concerning. In
spite of that, Ali Darwish,
known as Bamo, carried
on his work and the issl
sues didn’t make him stop
his plans and agendas to
showcase his works.
Ali's personal and spiritl
tual sufferings were expl
pressed in caricatures.
He describes all the suffl
ferings and catastrophes
that Kurdish people have
seen during various times
in history and according
to the daily developments
in Kurdistan. The form
of caricature art is not as
easy as composing a form
of a drawing. I think that
it’s difficult that an artil
ist could find space for a
big problem on a paper
without writing and could
attract the attention and
feelings of millions. This
is what I call innovation
of art.
The artist Ali Darwish
lives a simple and humbl
ble life in Kirkuk. It’s his
dream when he gets inspirl
rations for new drawings,
forms and ideas so as to
be able to put a smile on
faces of thousands with
his ideas and brushes.
Expressionism is part of
his drawings and works
for which he finds spaces
in large and medium canvl
vases in various material
als. His courageousness
is a great; his art works
are many times much
stronger and effective
than political messages
and announcements.
By: Ashti Garmiyani
"The Big Restaurant," a
short film directed by the
young filmmaker Muhl
hammad Tawriwariyan
enters the competition of
the International Festival
of Drama’s 21st round
that is held in Greece. The
event takes place between
14 and 19th of September
in the Cultural city.
The plot of the short film
is written by the filmmakel
er Soran Fahim, and photl
tographed by Muhammad
Nuri.
The film is about making
money by illegal means,
when people intend to get
a sum of illegal money
and gain it by illegitimate
means they have dispute
over it that consequently
no one of them will have
it.
In the film, Hasan Taraqi,
Dniya Guftari, Majd Ahml
madi and Mukhtar Bahml
mani did the acting, and
produced by Muhammad
TawriWriyan. The film is
5 minutes long, shot in the
city of Sina-Iran using D5
digital camera.
“I’m happy that the film
enters the 21st round of
Drama Films Festival in
Greece” says Muhammad
TawriWiryan. He said that
he will attend the festival
because "It’s one of the
best and oldest festivals of
short films in the country.
My attendance will give
me new experience to my
life in art."
The Filmmaker and dirl
rector Muhammad Tawriwl
wariyan was born in 1990
in the city of Sina. He
studied Television Univl
versity in Iran, sounding
department. He’s participl
pated in five long films as
GLOBE PHOTO/Safin Hamid
“The Big Restaurant” enters Drama Film Festival competition
a sounding staff. He’s also
worked as assistant sound
director for 25 long films
along with famous Iranian
directors. He’s recently
worked as a sounding dirl
rector for some short films
including: "Lost in Dust"
and "Silence of Ants" by
Soran Ibrahim, "the End
of Third Season" by Soran
Fahim, and "Roots in Soil"
by Bejan Zaman Pira.
By H.G. Hassan
Childbirth statistics in Erbil Dates: 1-31 August, 2015
Boys
Girls Twins 1504 1409 Boys 62 Girls 46
Neonatal mortalities
Surgical deliveries
Natural deliveries
Boys 36
Boys 541 Boys 963
Girls 22
Girls 484
Girls 925
Total
2913