From the Heart of Kurdistan Region

From the Heart of Kurdistan Region
GLOBE PHOTO
The only English paper in Iraq - No: 527 Mon. February 29, 2016
Barzani welcomes
first Saudi Arabian
consul general
No. 527, Monday, February 29, 2016
The Kurdish Globe
Saudis Welcome in
Kurdistan; Kuwaitis,
Congratulations!
2
Barzani, Gen Austin
Discuss Current Crises
By Gazi Hassan
We know that Kurdistan is passing
through severe crisis, but it’s not only
Kurdistan that has economic hardss
ship. Baghdad has hit rock bottom
and owes more than 81 billion USD.
Haidar Al-Abbadi has also used all
money reserves without returning to
bank officials. The falling price of oil
has caused concerns in Russia, Iran,
Venezuela, Arab Gulf countries and
Europeans countries as well. So the
financial crisis in Kurdistan is part of
the international crisis. It seems natus
ural that enemies want Kurdistan to
fall financially; yet because Kurdists
tan is not a state, this adds to its right
for statehood.
Amidst political dilemma and
awaiting further military outcomes
in Syria with a deepening RussianUS conflict, the area is sinking into
troubled waters. Amidst the claim
of the KRG’s demise by political
opponents and opposing political
groups, the Saudi Arabian consulate
was opened, resulting in great favor
for Hawler. During a meeting with
President Masoud Barzani, maintainis
ing bilateral relations was discussed,
reiterating “terrorism and radicalism
threats on security and stability of
the area.” This is considered as a new
outset in the Region’s relations with
Arab counties. It’s true that Saudi’s
step came after a long wait, but it will
form a new horizon and a productive
diplomatic step for the area’s future,
security and stability.
The second event, in which Presids
dent Barzani took part, was remembs
bering the 55th year of independence
and 25th year of Kuwait’s liberation.
Kuwait Consul “praised President
Barzani’s role in leading the fight
against terrorists and the brave roles
of Kurdistan Peshmerge in confrontis
ing the terrorists to protect human
values.”
While the Kurdistan Region is devs
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First published in 2005
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Address: Erbil, Massif road
veloping its diplomatic ties, it is
working to strengthen the role of the
Peshmerge in defeating ISIS, and
providing services to more than 1
million and 700 thousand refugees
and IDPs; at the same time it is carrs
rying out reforms and surpassing a
financial crisis. Meanwhile the PKK
may have blown up the Kurdistan
Region’s oil and gas pipelines, an
action that’s opposite to all political
trends.
As the Kurdistan Region is working
to preserve its mutual interest with
countries of the area, it respects the
friendly coordination among Kurdis
ish political parties in all other parts
of Kurdistan, without negative intervs
vention to state affairs or even the pols
litical parties themselves. However,
as a result of its involvement in some
regional countries’ policies used by
the Russian, Iranian, Iraqi and Syrian
coalition, the perpetrator’s behavior
causes a severe crisis for the people
of Kurdistan themselves in the area.
Besides the ongoing financial crisis
in the Kurdistan Region, it still welcs
comes Saudi Arabia in Hawler. Some
may think this could be the Region’s
alienation to the Saudi led Sunni
front, but in fact this is a shortsighted
and sectarian opinion. Saudi could
provide great support for solving the
financial crisis too. The Kurdistan
Region is against terrorism, not any
of the region’s states and parties, but
at the same time is not unaware of the
plots some countries make against the
Kurdistan Region. The same lesson
can be learned from remembering
Kuwait’s Independence. Kurdistan
needs to cross the enclosed circles
towards friendly and widespread rels
lations. Kurds need to restore dignity
and achieve the independent coopes
eration and deal with ally countries,
which is the best measure of victory
and overcoming the crises.
President of Kurdistan
Region Masoud Barzani
received a United States
military and diplomatic
delegation headed by
General Lloyd Austin,
the Commander of the
United States Armed
Forces. The meeting was
attended by a number of
United States and Kurdis
istan Region officials incs
cluding the U.S. ambasss
sador to Iraq, Mr. Stuart
Jones and the Chancellor
of the Kurdistan Region
Security Council, Mr.
Masrour Barzani.
Tilkaif District adminis
istration called on USA
to speed up areas of
Nineveh Plain and Moss
sul and work for returnis
ing the displaced to their
area after setting up a
safe zone for the compons
nents.
According to a statems
ment by Abna Al-Anns
nahrain Bloc, Tilkaif
Mayor and the Deputy
Head of the Bloc, Bass
sim Ballo has met with
U.S. Assistant Secretary
for Democracy, Human
Rights and Labor Tom
Malinowski and U.S.
Senior U.K. Editor
Bashdar Pusho Ismaeel
[email protected]
[email protected]
+964 750 4036252
[email protected]
Region.
President Barzani states
ed that on behalf of the
Peshmerga forces, he is
appreciative of the supps
port that has been given
to the Kurdistan Region
by the US-led coalition
against the terrorists.
The two sides spoke of
the current economic
crisis facing Iraq in genes
eral and the Kurdistan
Region in particular and
the need for an urgent
solution to the crisis.
Tilkaif Calls on Washington
to Speed up Nineveh
Plain Liberation
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Gazi Hassan +964 750 7747784
ARTS EDITOR
Diyaco Qayoumy
General Austin discs
cussed the operations
against the terrorists of
the Islamic State in both
Iraq and Syria and added
that the enemy has witns
nessed a decisive defeat
after the operations in
Sinjar and Ramadi. Genes
eral Austin also stated
that during his recent
visits to the Gulf States
of Kuwait and Bahrain
he had made reference to
the bravery of the Peshms
merga forces and the
urgent need to continue
to support the Kurdistan
Reviser
Honar Osman
[email protected]
Ambassador to Iraq Stuas
art E. Jones during their
visit to Tilkaif Mayoras
alty in its alternative
headquarter in Alqush
sub-district.
The meeting discussed
the displaced situation
and ways of helping
them to ease their hardss
ship, the statement read,
explaining that Ballo
gave a presentation
about what genocide the
minorities such as Asss
syrian and Ezidies have
faced on hands of ISIS.
The statement added
that Tilkaif Administs
tration called on U.S.
to speed up liberating
Nineveh Plain and the
city of Mosul and work
on returning the disps
placed to their own dists
tricts and villages, and
establishing
stability
and harmony between
components of the area,
demanding a safe zone
under international sups
pervision for protecting
the minorities. They also
demanded help and supps
port in reconstruction of
Nineveh Plain after libes
erating it from ISIS.
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No. 527, Monday, February 29, 2016
The Kurdish Globe
3
British Experts to Help Kurdistan Overcome Current Crises
President Barzani received British Ambassador to Iraq
The British envoy in Iraq
has reiterated that his
country is ready to send
British experts to help the
Kurdistan Region overcs
come the current crises.
Kurdistan Region Presids
dent Massoud Barzani recs
ceived the British Ambasss
sador to Iraq, Frank Baker,
on Tuesday in Erbil to revs
view the latest Munich Secs
curity Conference 2016,
where Barzani met with
several world leaders.
According to a statement
released by the Kurdistan
Region Presidency, the
pair also discussed the
acute financial crisis faced
by the Kurdistan Regional
Government (KRG), with
the UK ambassador exps
pressing readiness to help
Erbil by sending British
experts to the region.
The latest developments
in the war against the Isls
lamic State (IS), and the
anticipated operation to
liberate Mosul were also
on the agenda.
Baker was accompanied
by the British Consul Genes
eral in Erbil, Angus McKes
ee, and other officials.
Barzani participates
in Kuwait National
Day in Erbil
Consulate General of
the State of Kuwait today
hosted its first ever Nats
tional Day reception in
Erbil, the capital of Kurdis
istan Region.
Consul General of the
State of Kuwait, Dr. Omar
Al-Kandari, thanked Presis
ident Masoud Barzani for
attending the event and
expressed
appreciation
to the KRG for the supps
port given to his mission
in Erbil. Consul General
Al-Kandari said, “Our
mission is to strengthen
bilateral historical relats
tions between the State of
Kuwait and the Kurdistan
Regional Government in
order to build bridges of
cooperation and communs
nication in various fields.”
Highlighting the sacrifs
fices of Peshmerga forces,
Mr. Al-Kandari stated,
“I am honored to express
my appreciation to the
Peshmerga forces who are
marking great achievems
ments of courage and
sacrifice against the ISIS
terrorists; their success in
this fight has attracted the
admiration of the whole
world.”
Barzani Welcomes
First Saudi Arabian
Consul General
in Erbil
Kurdistan Region Presids
dent Masoud Barzani
received the first Saudi
Arabian Consul General
in Erbil on Wednesday,
February 24, to discuss the
bilateral relations between
Erbil and Riyadh.
The Consul General of
Saudi Arabia in Erbil, Abds
dul-Mun'im Abdul-Rahms
man, expressed his delight
to start as the first Consul
General in Erbil.
The pair insisted on
strengthening the ties bets
tween the Kurdistan Regs
gion and Saudi Arabia,
reports the Kurdistan Regs
gion Presidency's official
website.
After exchanging views
on terrorism and security
crisis in the region, Barzs
zani finally wished the
consul general every succs
cess in performing his dipls
lomatic tasks.
After Barzani’s visit to
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabs
bia in December last year,
the diplomatic relations
between Riyadh and Erbil
significantly improved.
The Saudi Arabian goves
ernment recently opened
its consulate general in
Erbil to strengthen its ties
further with Kurds in Iraq.
Barzani meets
Osama Nujaifi
On February 25, Barzani
received the prominent
Iraqi Sunni politician Osams
ma Nujaifi in his office in
Salahaddin. The two discs
cussed the political and
security developments in
the country, including the
fighting against ISIS.
They also discussed the
future of the liberated ares
eas and stressed on coords
dination and cooperation
among the political sides
in the country.
KRG says negotiations with Baghdad a priority
The Kurdistan Regional
Government (KRG) restates
ed on Thursday, February
25, 2016, that negotiations
with Iraq’s federal governms
ment were a priority.
The KRG released a statems
ment on its website reportis
ing the KRG Prime Minis
ister Nechirvan Barzani
met with Kuwaiti ConsulGeneral Omar Ahmad alKandari to discuss issues
in Iraq and the Kurdistan
Region. Topics of discusss
sion were the fight against
the Islamic State (IS) and
the economic crisis in the
Kurdistan Region.
PM Barzani said during
the meeting that the Kurdis
istan Region was ready for
any signal from Baghdad
to resolve the issues on
both sides.
“The KRG’s priority is
to tackle the issues with
Baghdad by negotiation
and with mutual underss
standing,” Barzani stated.
Barzani also explained
that the Kurdistan Region
is facing a crisis and reqs
quires assistance from the
international community,
especially the Gulf nats
tions.
“The KRG is serious
about reform and will take
all necessary measures to
implement it. The KRG
will attempt to find other
income sources as an alterns
native to oil and gas, “he
added.
The global slump in oil
prices, the war against
IS, the influx of refugees
and displaced Iraqis and
the ongoing dispute with
Baghdad over the Kurdis
istan Region’s share of
the federal budget have
strained the region’s fins
nances leaving it unable
to pay public employees’
salaries.
Revenue from crude oil
exported via pipeline to
Ceyhan in Turkey reprs
resents the Kurdistan
Region’s main means of
survival. Without such
revenue, salaries of Peshms
merga, the security forces
and other key government
workers cannot be paid.
The KRG has struggled
to pay salaries on time for
public employees in the
region, with some having
gone up to five months
without wages.
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 offics
cials in December 2014.
Officials from Baghdad
and Erbil had signed a
revenue sharing deal, unds
der which the KRG would
receive 17 percent of the
federal budget in exchange
for exporting 550,000 barrs
rels of oil per day to the
Iraqi State Organization
for Marketing Oil (SOMO)
at Ceyhan Port in Turkey.
Prime Minister Barzani and Turkish Prime Minister Davutoglu discuss terrorism
Prime Minister Nechirvs
van Barzani condemned
the terrorist attack that
targeted the Turkish capis
ital, Ankara, on 17 Febrs
ruary 2016.
In a telephone converss
sation yesterday with
Turkish Prime Minists
ter, Ahmet Davutoglu,
Prime Minister Barzani
expressed condolences
to the families of the victs
tims and to the governms
ment and people of Turks
key, and wished prompt
recovery of the injured.
Prime Minister Barzani
and Prime Minister Davs
vutoglu stressed the need
to strengthen anti-terroris
ism efforts and reinforce
cooperation among the
international coalition in
order to eradicate terroris
ism as a threat to the regs
gion and the world.
No. 527, Monday, February 29, 2016
The Kurdish Globe
4
KRG official says only reform will fix Kurdistan’s issues
A senior Kurdistan Regs
gional Government (KRG)
official says the only way
for the region to fix its defs
ficiencies is to submit to
reforms and restore goves
ernance, the economy and
finance.
The Kurdistan Region’s
Security Council (KRSC)
issued a statement to
its Facebook page sayis
ing KRSC Chancellor
Masrour Barzani received
a UK delegation headed
by Ambassador Frank
Baker in Erbil on Monday
to discuss the recent politics
cal, economic and military
circumstances.
Barzani said all the regs
gion’s political parties are
responsible for issues facis
ing the Kurdistan Region
and urged them to all lend
support to reforms.
“There is no way except
carrying out reform, rearrs
ranging the administrats
tive, economic and financs
cial systems of the region
on a healthy and transpares
ent basis,” Barzani said.
“The reform process
needs time, but the region
needs speedy assistance
from Coalition forces becs
cause support and money
to be spent on the front
lines cannot take more
delays,” the chancellor
added.
Peshmerga forces have
been fighting against the
Islamic State (IS) since
the militant group overrs
ran large swathes of Iraq
in 2014. Political infightis
ing among Kurdish parts
ties have added to issues
facing the KRG, includis
ing the global slump in oil
prices, refugees and disps
placed Iraqis in the region
and ongoing issue with
Baghdad.
Turkey bombards PKK headquarters after sabotage allegations
Turkish air force on
Wednesday shelled for alms
most two hours the Kands
dil Mountain believed to
be the headquarters of the
Kurdistan Workers’ Party
(PKK,) targeting logistical
centers, ammunition deps
pots and shelters.
The assault took place
on the same day that the
Kurdistan
Democratic
Party (KDP) alleged in
a statement posted on its
website that the PKK was
behind the damaging of
the pipeline in the Turkish
province of Sanlifura on
February 17 that disrupted
exportation through Turks
key for a week.
Sources didn’t state if the
airstrikes were linked to the
allegations of the KDP that
rules the semi-autonomous
Kurdistan region in Iraq.
Spokesman Sefin Dizayi of
the Kurdistan regional goves
ernment said sabotaging
the pipeline “has happened
several times before” as he
accused the armed group
of seeking to undermine
the exportations.
The regional government
generates around $380mills
lion per month from oil
sales but has been struggs
gling over the past few
months to pay the salaries
of civil servants.
The warplanes that bombs
barded the mountains took
off the airbase in Diyarbs
bakir province in south
eastern Turkey where prots
tests held against military
operations and curfews in
the city ended with clashes
with security forces.
The population claims
that the curfews are affectis
ing their way of living as
some parts have been unds
der 24hour curfew since
December. Ankara has
always stressed that it is
fighting terrorism and last
week began to shell Kurdis
ish armed groups close to
its border with Syria.
A fragile peace process
fell apart between the goves
ernment and the PKK over
the summer and since then,
Turkey has been intensifyis
ing its military operations
against Kurdish groups esps
pecially along its borders
with Iraq and Syria.
Political Parties Condemns Sabotage of Ceyhan Pipeline by PKK
Political parties in Kurdis
istan Region stand against
the sabotage of the Ceyhan
pipeline by the Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK).
Rebaz Berkoty, a membs
ber of the Erbil Provincial
Council from the Patriotic
Union of Kurdistan (PUK)
bloc, told K24 that PKK’s
actions interfere with doms
mestic affairs.
“This move [sabotaging
the oil pipeline] damages
the Region's economy,
which [in turn] affects the
people and the governms
ment,” he said
Political parties in Kurdis
istan Region have helped
the PKK before, but they
are not considering the
[economic] situation in
the Region, Berkoty said.
“In the name of the Erbs
bil Provincial Council and
people of Erbil, we call
upon PKK to stop their ints
terference in the Region’s
affairs...this will not serve
any side [and] it does not
assist the peace process
and our brotherhood,”
Berkoty said
On Feb. 16, KirkukCeyhan crude oil pipeline
near the city of Urfa in
southeastern Turkey was
sabotaged, triggering a
long-lasting interruption
in oil flow and millions
in damages. The PKK
claimed responsibility for
the attack.
In response, Kurdistan
Regional
Government
(KRG) Prime Minister
Nechirvan Barzani anns
nounced in a press confs
ference last week, “This
[oil exports] is a domestic
matter for Kurdistan…
PKK should not interfere
in the Region’s affairs. It
is neither in their interest
nor necessary, and this behs
havior is not acceptable.”
A Kurdish MP in the
Kurdistan Islamic Union
(KIU), Haji Karwan, siad
“PKK should be supportis
ing Kurdistan and its peops
ple [during these] difficult
economic and financial
times…if they have probls
lems with Turkey; they
have to resolve it with
them.”
Karwan stated that if
PKK did not stop its atts
tacks on the oil pipeline,
the issue should be raised
in the international comms
munity.
In late July, the PKK
military wing in Turkey
claimed its forces carried
out an operation against
the pipeline in the area
between Silopi and Cizre
district, where the KirkukCeyhan pipeline transports
Kurdistan Region's oil.
Explosion of Gas Pipes Enrages People of Kurdistan
Kurdistan Region has
been targeted by political
conspiracies from some
of the countries and pols
litical sides; some of the
sides that hate to see
Kurdistan moving forws
ward are Kurdish or are
the political forces from
other parts of Kurdistan.
The reason of the conspiras
acy is allegedly because
of the relations between
Kurdistan Region and
Turkey, but in fact it is
the hostile policy against
Kurdistan Region. This
coincides with the currs
rent financial crises creas
ated by the Baghdad's
political and economic
pressures on the region.
This conspiracy aims at
creating bad influence
over Kurdistan Regional
Government. We have to
remember that this action
does not madden Kurdish
authority, but it annoys
and enrages the people
of Kurdistan and it ends
in the favor of Kurds' enes
emies who do not want
Kurdistan to become inds
dependent.
Kurdistan Workers Parts
ty (PKK) has been planns
ning to weaken the posits
tions of Kurdish authority
since several years ago.
Due to unresponsive of
some sides in Sothern
Kurdistan and with the
cooperation of some
others, PKK has gained
chances to use the good
relations between Kurdis
istan Region and Turkey
as excuse for attacking
the gas and oil pipes.
Another interpretation is
PKK and Iran may have
the same aim for removis
ing the authority that is
ruling Kurdistan region
currently.
Kurdistan Region will
remain if it has gas pipes
or not. It is really a dangs
gerous and inhuman acts
tion to work on targetis
ing the Kurdish citizens'
source of life and on
worsening the financial
statement. Those, who
explode the gas pipes,
have a failing policy and
do a free service to the
enemies. These actions
are extremely inhuman.
No. 527, Monday, February 29, 2016
The Kurdish Globe
5
2016: The Year Kurdistan
Finally Breaks from Iraq?
In early February the
president of the Kurdists
tan Regional Government
called for a referendum
on Kurdish independence.
“The time has come and
the conditions are now
suitable for the people to
make a decision through
a referendum on their futs
ture,” wrote Massoud Barzs
zani. He cautioned people
that it did would not entail
the “immediate declarats
tion of statehood” but
rather judging the will of
the “people of Kurdistan”
and to create the political
landscape to “implement
this will at the appropriate
time and circumstances.”
On February 13, the
German foreign minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier
took to Twitter to express
“serious concern” about
plans for a referendum,
after reportedly meeting
Barzani at the Munich
Security Conference. Sers
rious concern would be
diplomatic speak for “no.”
Critics abroad see the inds
dependence referendum
as a mix of political strates
egy and long-time policy.
Ibrahim al-Marashi, a
California-based history
professor, wrote at Al
Jazeera, “Not only does a
call for independence apps
peal to Kurdish constitues
ents, it serves as a tool to
empower the KRG vis-avis the central government
in Baghdad.”
If a referendum was
merely a cynical ploy,
then why is the KRG’s
own government being so
hesitant about it? Perhaps
because this has happened
once before. The last time
Kurdistan had a referends
dum for independence was
in 2005, when 1.9 million
Kurds voted in Iraqi nats
tional and KRG regional
elections. 98 percent of
those casting ballots said
YES to independence.
In 2014, Barzani told the
BBC he wanted to hold a
referendum. The Kurdish
parliament was supposed
to set a date for the deciss
sion. Then Kurdistan was
attacked by Islamic State
on August 3, 2014.
Cut off from Baghdad,
the region functioned inds
dependently. It had to
control its own economy
and develop its own oil ress
sources. Its budget was cut
from Baghdad as well due
to the war, and the KRG
was plunged into financial
crises, having to support
two hundred thousand
Kurdish peshmerga fightes
ers on the frontline against
ISIS. Iraq’s Baghdad goves
ernment condemns any
attempt by the KRG to
secede. “Any unilateral
position from any party
without coordination or
approval will be against
the constitution and ills
legal,” Saad al-Hadithi, a
spokesman for Iraqi Prime
Minister Haider al-Abadi,
told the press in late Januas
ary.
The KRG has cited refes
erendums in Catalonia,
Quebec and Scotland as
precedents. But in each of
those cases, the nationallevel democracy accepted
the regional referendum
and did not actively opps
pose it, or try to prevent it
by force. Neither did fores
eign governments express
opposition to the concept
of Scottish independence,
or Quebecois independs
dence, for instance. Perhs
haps a more interesting
precedent would be that
of Kosovo. In 1991, more
than one million Kosovars
voted in a referendum for
independence from Yugs
goslavia. Although Serbs
boycotted the vote, 99
percent of voters supps
ported independence. Afts
ter Kosovo had declared
independence in 2008, ten
years after a U.S.-backed
intervention to push Serbs
bian forces from the provis
ince, Kosovo Serbs voted
in 2012 against accepting
Kosovo administration.
Unsurprisingly, more than
99 percent of the twentysix thousand who voted
refused to accept Kosovo.
In these instances, the
referendums took place
against the central goves
ernment’s wishes. There
are many other examples
of such referendums, such
as the one held in Somalilas
and in 2001, affirming
independence from Somals
lia. While 112 countries
recognize Kosovo, it is
notable that many do not,
despite the support it has
received from the U.S.,
the EU and the internats
tional community. Counts
tries that try to go it alone,
such as Somaliland, do not
face a bright future. Even
countries that have won
independence through a
referendum, such as South
Sudan, have found themss
selves plagued by interns
nal conflict. The Crimea
referendum, in which 96
percent were said to have
voted to join Russia, was
widely seen as discredited
by the fact that the Russs
sian army had occupied
the peninsula.
This leaves Kurdistan in
an unenviable position.
Sero Qadir of the Institute
for Research and Developms
ment in Kurdistan argues
that the referendum is a
way to show the public’s
approval for independs
dence, but he stresses that
with or without the referes
endum, Kurdistan has a
right to independence.
“In my view the referes
endum is connected with
independence and I bels
lieve we could have indeps
pendence anyway without
the referendum,” Qadir
explained. “When Barzani
speaks about it,” he said,
it “is because he wants to
bring together the political
parties and collect them in
one idea…” Qadir added
that in such an event Barzs
zani would have a strongs
ger hand in dealing with
Iraq and the international
community.
He expects to see indeps
pendence in 2016: “There
are three who support it
formally: Israel, Saudi,
France. But some smaller
countries, we estimate
around 40 others, support
our independence.”
Dr. Kemal Kirkuki, a
former speaker of the
KRG parliament, member
of the KDP politburo and
a peshmerga commander
near Kirkuk, wrote in a ress
sponse to a query about inds
dependence that the “selfdetermination is a natural
right” of all nations.
“Self-determination is a
right that the Internationas
al Law, the UN charters
and covenants, and Hums
man right laws all agree
on—it is an international
legitimate legal right for
people.” He asserts that
any independence would
not violate the Iraqi conss
stitution, an issue raised
by Baghdad, because the
constitution states the
various components of the
country have taken it upon
themselves to “decide to
unite by choice.” They
can therefore separate by
choice.
He also asks why the
international community
has watched Kurdistan
defend the world against
ISIS but does not demand
that Kurdistan receive its
full budget from Baghds
dad. “The international
community should be also
willing to recognize our
natural and legal right to
practice self-determinats
tion, and conduct our refes
erendum…”
Qadir argues that as time
goes on, the KRG’s indeps
pendence goals will be
eroded and undermined by
Iran, and by the region’s
Sunni-Shia sectarianism.
“If we stay in Iraq we lose
what we have, we will be
a small government in Iraq
which has ethnic-sectarian
war and we will end up as
[a] slave of Iran.” There is
a sense that Iran works behs
hind the scenes to encouras
age other parties in the
KRG, such as the Goran
(Change) movement, to
oppose
independence.
Publicly, these other parts
ties claim to support inds
dependence, but have not
spoken out about the need
for a referendum with the
gusto of the KDP.
Contending with presss
sure from within as well as
outside Kurdistan’s bords
ders, Barzani will surely
face no end of challenges
between today and the refes
erendum.
The Kurdish Globe
NEWS BAR
PM Barzani Unsure
Who Sabotaged
Ceyhan Pipeline
Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzs
zani said on Saturday he was not sure
who sabotaged Erbil-Ceyhan 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 confs
firm that the Kurdistan region oil pipels
line was blown up and I cannot also say
that PKK was behind it."
Asked who has been behind the sabots
tage, Barzani replied "there are military
operations in the area, and we cannot
confirm that it is blown up, but it is certs
tainly broken."
"If the question is who has blown up
the pipeline, I cannot affirm that PKK
has done it."
Kurdish Groups
Ready to Repulse
Iranian Army
Both branches of Iranian Kurdistan
Democratic party; KDP and KDP-I
have situated their forces in the Qandil
Mountains alongside the Iran-Kurdistan
Region border for more than a year.
They are based just three kilometer
from Iranian forces and say they are preps
pared for anything.
Iran has sent reinforcements to its side
of the border also. The commander ress
sponsible for border protection said that
the Iranian Army are on the lookout for
any unusual movement.
After the Kurdistan Worker’s Party’s
(PKK) withdrew forces from some part
of borders between Iran and Kurdistan
Region, Kurdistan Democratic Party’s
(KDPI) forces took control of approxims
mately 60km of that border.
The KDPI, founded in 1945, is the oldes
est political Kurdish party in Iran. It has
opposed both the Shah's regime and the
present Islamic Republic regime.
Shi’ite Militia not
Allowed to Enter
Kurdistan Region
The Kurdistan Regional Government
has made it clear that no forces other
than the agreed Iraqi army brigades are
allowed to enter the Kurdistan Region.
The agreement between the central
government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regs
gion is to permit only Iraqi official
army, and not the Shi’ite militia Hashd
al-Shaabi, to enter the Kurdistan region
territories, a senior Peshmerga official
said.
Jabar Yawar, a senior official from the
Peshmerga ministry, told BasNews that
the Iraqi forces, which are stationed in
Makhmoor and other areas in the Kurdis
istan Region, were sent on an agreement
between the Kurdistan Region and the
central government of Iraq.
Yawar explained that, according to the
agreement, only the brigade 15 from the
Iraqi army has been allowed to enter the
Kurdistan Region for preparations that
are being made to move onto Mosul.
No. 527, Monday, February 29, 2016
6
From Kurdistan to Tehran: Iranians Turn
Out to Vote in Parliamentary Elections
As excitement mounts
leading to Friday’s parliams
mentary elections, a palps
pable difference in priorities
is emerging, as it often does,
between voters in Iran’s urbs
ban areas and its provinces.
Unlike in Tehran, voters and
campaign activists in the
suburbs and rural areas are
engaged in discussions that
diverge sharply from their
fellow countrymen in the
capital.
While provincial voters are
primarily concerned with
practical issues related to
rural development and ethns
nic and kinship affiliations,
urbanites are often drawn
into the kind of political and
ideological discourse that
makes national headlines
– a never-ending battle of
reformists,
conservatists,
moderates, and everything
in between.
Farshad, a campaign organs
nizer for a Kurdish candidate
in Kermanshah province,
has studied in Tehran and
experienced the urban-rural
contrast first hand.
“People here are not subjs
ject to the forces of national
politics,” says Farshad of
the political environment
in the Kermanshah district
his candidate is hoping to
seize. “Elections in big citis
ies, especially in Tehran, are
subject to the political situas
ation – how open or closed
the political environment
is.” He adds: “Instead of our
demands being political, the
demands here are more locs
cal.”
Voters are concerned with
economic development, Farss
shad says of Kermanshah’s
electorate. “Instead of lookis
ing for a representative who
ascribes to a certain political
discourse, they’re more ints
terested in someone who’s
going to bring about welfs
fare, development, and betts
ter services.”
For Mona, who lives in
Tehran but is originally from
Kermanshah, demands are
more tangible in her home
province. She says it’s imps
portant Kermanshah’s winns
ning candidate should supps
port the right to teach in her
mother tongue, Kurdish, as
opposed to Iran’s national
language, Persian. “It really
matters to me who represents
[my] region because we
have some specific unique
issues,” she says, noting she
plans to depart Tehran, and
its reformist-principlist cacs
cophony, and cast her ballot
back home.
In one sense, demands in
Kermanshah have changed
since the 1979 revolution,
when citizens supported lawms
makers promising to expand
access to basic necessities
like water, gas and electricis
ity, says Farshad. Today, in
a marked shift, pleas for exps
panded internet access have
joined the ranks of those bass
sic needs, Farshad claims.
“Internet, though it wasn’t
a serious need at first, is tods
day part and parcel of Iranias
ans’ lives,” he adds. “Even in
remote villages and towns,
people are using the internet
frequently…Both the literate
and the illiterate, they’re all
users of social networks.”
In that respect, the Kerms
manshah electorate shares
the same interests as its Tehrs
ran counterpart. Throughout
the country, much of the preelection discussion is taking
place on Telegram, Iran’s
most popular messaging
app. Back in Tehran, where
factional political rivalries
continue to rage, the reformis
ists have leveraged Telegram
to conduct their campaigns
to make up for their lack of
access to funds and broadcs
cast media outlets, which
are controlled by Iran’s conss
servatives.
Kurdish Special Forces rescue
Swedish girl from ISIS in Iraq
Kurdish Special Forces
rescued a 16-year-old Swedis
ish girl from ISIS captivity
in Iraq last week, Kurdish
military officials said on
Tuesday.
The Kurdistan Region Secs
curity Council (KRSC) rels
leased a statement on Twitts
ter that identified the girl as
Swedish national Marlin Stivs
vani Nivarlain and revealed
that she was rescued near
ISIS-held Mosul, Iraq’s secos
ond-largest city.
“She is 16 years old and
was rescued on 17 February
2016. We were called upon
by Swedish authorities and
her family to help rescue
her,” the statement reads.
“She’s currently in the
Kurdistan Region. We are
working with Swedish auts
thorities to allow her to rets
turn home as quickly as posss
sible.”
The security arm of the
semi-autonomous Kurdists
tan Regional Government
in northern Iraq said that
Nivarlain is from the town
of Boras and had been “misls
led” by a member of ISIS
in Sweden to travel to Syria
and on to Iraq.
The Swedish government
is yet to comment on her
rescue. A Swedish foreign
ministry spokesman told
Swedish newspaper Boras
Tidning that the government
had no information about
the case.
The BBC cited Swedish
media outlets as reporting
that she was 15 and pregnant
when she ran away with her
boyfriend to Syria last year.
According to the reports, she
was then taken captive by
ISIS in the northern Syrian
city of Aleppo before being
moved to Iraqi territory.
Swedish tabloid Aftonbs
bladet reported that Nivarls
lain’s boyfriend was killed
in a Russian air strike on the
western Iraqi city of Ramadi
but this remains unconfs
firmed.
The Kurdish Globe
Sports News
Kurdish footballer called to
join Iraqi National Team
Preparing for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers,
the Iraqi Football Team Coach summoned
several new players to join his team.
The Kurdish Capital of Erbil Football Club
player, Hardi Syamand is one of the new
players who will join the Iraqi team for the
coming matches.
Real Madrid ans ask
Perez to resign
Real Madrid fell to a home defeat against
fierce rival Atletico and Zinedine Zidane
hinted he could be out of a job at the end of
2015-16.
Zinedine Zidane was less than impressed
with Real Madrid's 1-0 defeat to Atletico
Madrid, and suggested his position could
come under threat at the end of the season.
Antoine Griezmann settled the derby with
a clinical finish in the 53rd minute at Sants
tiago Bernabeu, as Real fell nine points behs
hind La Liga leader Barcelona, which hosts
Sevilla on Sunday.
Some Madrid fans called for president
Florentino Perez to resign during the game,
although those chants were swiftly drowned
out by whistles from Perez's supporters.
With hopes of a first Liga title since 2012
seemingly fading away, Zidane conceded
his job may come under pressure.
Infantino elected as new
FIFA president
The UEFA general secretary defeated Sheikh
Salman bin Ibrahim in the second round of
voting, earning the right to succeed Sepp
Blatter.
Gianni Infantino was elected as FIFA's
new president Friday in Zurich, earning the
right to succeed Sepp Blatter.
UEFA's general secretary secured 115
votes in the second round of polls, beating
out favorite Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa
in second while Prince Ali bin Hussein finis
ished third.
Infantino succeeds the dethroned Blatter,
who was suspended from all football acts
tivities for eight years — later reduced to six
— along with ex-UEFA president Michel
Platini for corruption.
Rooney not ready for
England’s friendlies
Wayne Rooney does not require knee surgs
gery but the Manchester United captain will
not be ready for England's upcoming friendls
lies, with manager Louis van Gaal insisting
he is the club's priority.
Rooney has been sidelined since damaging
ligaments in his knee against Sunderland on
Feb. 13.
The 30-year-old, who had scored seven
goals in nine appearances in all competits
tions this year, is expected to remain in a
knee brace for almost another three weeks.
And while Van Gaal does not believe knee
surgery is necessary, in a boost to England's
Euro 2016 hopes, the Dutchman warned
Roy Hodgson that his skipper will not be fit
for friendlies against Germany (March 26)
and Netherlands (March 29) next month.
No. 527, Monday, February 29, 2016
7
Conditions of Two Parties Hinders
Parliament Reactivation
The Committee of Reactivs
vating Parliament and Goves
ernment could not reach a
solution for the disputes inss
side Kurdistan Region. Fuad
Hussein, Chief of Staff to
the KRG Presidency said
the committee was not able
to reach an agreement for
reactivating the parliament
due to the conditions raised
by Change Movement and
Kurdistan Islamic Group
(KIG).
"The committee formed in
order to hold meetings with
tries to meet with Change
Movement and KIG but it
looks like that these two
sides have some conditions
preventing them from decidis
ing on reactivating the parls
liament," said Hussein.
This is in a time when
Kurdistan Region people are
living in a bad economic situs
uation and want the political
sides to resolve their issues
and tensions through dials
logue and conversation.
The Committee of Reas
activating Parliament and
Government was formed
on January 26, 2016, duris
ing a meeting between Masss
soud Barzani and Kurdish
political parties, excluding
Change (Gorran) Movement
and Kurdistan Islamic Group
(KIG). The Committee’s
aim was to resolve the currs
rent economic crisis and the
region’s political stalemate.
short film tells story of Kurdish Yazidi woman’s
ordeal at hands of Islamic State
Thousands of Yazidi Kurdis
ish women and girls have
been sold into sexual slavery
by the Islamic State jihadists.
Photo
A new Iraqi feature film
portrays the ordeal of a young
Yazidi woman kidnapped by
Islamic State (IS) militants.
Taken from her home in
northern Iraq after her town
is captured, a woman named
Jwan, which is the name of
the film, suffers brutal atts
tacks and enslavement at the
hands of her captors.
Hundreds of Kurdish Yazs
zidis were killed and thouss
sands captured and enslaved
by IS militants, who overran
the northern city of Mosul in
June 2014 and a proclaimed
Islamic caliphate spanning
Iraq and Syria.
Iraqi Kurdish Yazidi MP Vian Dakhil wins
Int’l Women’s Rights Award 2016
Iraqi Kurdish Yazidi MP
Vian Dakhil has won the Ints
ternational Women’s Rights
Award 2016 for her outstandis
ing efforts to protect women’s
rights.
A global coalition of 25 hums
man rights organizations anns
nounced Tuesday that one of
the world’s most prestigious
international women’s rights
awards will go this year to
Vian Dakhil, a Yazidi membs
ber of the Iraqi parliament,
and to German psychologist
Jan Ilhan Kizilhan, for their
“extraordinary and inspiring”
work to rescue Yazidi and
other women enslaved, asss
saulted, and sexually abused
by Islamic State group (IS) in
Syria and Iraq.
The statement said both laurs
reates will personally receive
the 2016 Geneva Summit’s
International Women’s Rights
Award at a major ceremony to
take place this Tuesday, Febrs
ruary 23, 2016, where they
will address UN diplomats,
several hundred human rights
activists, and journalists from
around the world attending
the 8th annual Geneva Summs
mit for Human Rights and Dems
mocracy.
Dakhil broke into tears duris
ing a parliament session in
August 2014 while describing
the plight of her fellow Yazidi
Kurds during the onslaught by
IS in northern Iraq.
Dakhil’s impassioned plea
made the world sit up and take
notice, and was instrumental
in President Obama’s decision
to order airdrops of urgent
supplies and airstrikes against
IS.
Due to her tireless work to
provide solace for and rebuild
the shattered lives of traumats
tized IS escapees, she is today
at the top of IS’s hit list.
“I am honored to have been
selected for this prestigious
award on behalf of all women
victims of IS,” said Dakhil.
“The Yazidi community has
been victimized by IS, especs
cially the women and girls.
The world needs to do more
to release the girls in IS capts
tivity and protect the human
rights of all the people under
IS control.”
Islamic State group (IS) has
extended its control on most
parts of Sinjar (Shingal) dists
trict in northwest Iraq on Augs
gust 3, 2014 which led thouss
sands of Kurdish families to
flee to Mount Sinjar, where
they were trapped in it and
suffered from significant lack
of water and food, killing and
abduction of thousands of Yazs
zidis as well as rape and capts
tivity of thousands of women.
Some 50,000 Yazidis scrambs
bled up Mount Sinjar to escs
cape the IS onslaught. About
5,000 men and boys in Sinjar
and nearby villages were masss
sacred.
According to Human Rights
organizations, thousands of
Yazidi Kurdish women and
girls have been forced to
marry or been sold into sexual
slavery by the IS jihadists.
The United Nations in Novs
vember 2015 described the
attack on the Yazidis as a posss
sible genocide.
U.S. Democratic presidential
candidate Hillary Clinton said
on Dec 29, 2015 she now bels
lieves the Islamic State group’s
persecution of the Kurdish
Yazidi minority and other rels
ligious and ethnic minorities
in the Middle East should be
defined as “genocide.”
What Does 2016 Have in Store
for Kurdistan?
By Swara Kadir
Just as a mother must go
through severe birth pangs
so does the Kurdish econos
omy need to go through a
painful transformation procs
cess before giving birth to a
newer, leaner economy.
Right now the Kurdish
economy is going through
some very serious changes.
The heaviest burden on the
Kurdish economy is the
welfare state payments that
amount to around seven
hundred million dollars per
month for approximately
one million, three hundred
thousand Kurdish governms
ment wage earners. The
government has declared
its inability to keep sustainis
ing such a huge expenditure
and is currently seeking alts
ternative means.
Oil revenues have graduas
ally become less and less,
due to lower oil prices. This
is forcing the government to
look for alternative ways to
raise revenue. This will take
some time but it's starting.
Taxation and custom duties
are now being managed betts
ter. Agriculture and tourism
sectors are being explored
and energized to provide
more national income. Also
the government is loweris
ing commodity and service
prices so Kurds can afford
living expenses better with
lower costs.
In my opinion, it's quite
possible to overcome the
current economic crises.
The main problem right
now is that valuable cash
is going out of Kurdistan
to other countries to pay
for imports. This is a very
serious economic handicap.
There is very little Kurdish
industry and even services.
This is forcing local demand
to seek foreign supply.
The government must stop
this monetary bleeding. Locs
cal production of food stuffs
and basic services must be
encouraged. This will provs
vide incentive for farmers
and factory owners to start
producing. Heavy tariffs
must be imposed on foreign
goods and services.
If this plan is carried out
a major portion of local
revenue will stay inside
Kurdistan and will keep circs
culating internally and this
would reduce the monetary
bleeding.
[email protected]
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8
Kurdish Painter Aras Hama Hussein
Aras Hama Hussein, a
Kurdish artist and painter
from Southern Kurdistan,
was born in Suleimani.
He studied Institute of
Fine Arts, Department of
Painting in 1987. There
he not only received his
education but also gained
experience about life and
history of art in Kurdists
tan and the world. His acas
ademic portraits became
the step that gave soul
Last Saturday, lovers of
winter converged by the
hundreds on a local Snow
and eyes to the lifeless
instruments, moving the
beautiful nature of Kurdis
istan with its mountains,
plains, woods and snows
into his drawings.
He has created many
stunning works, especs
cially during the end of
eighties when he was a
main participant in other
artists’ exhibitions in Suls
leimani and abroad. In
1988 he settled in Nethes
erlands and participated
in every exhibition by
art organizations conds
ducted for refugees. He
now resides in Zeist town
near Utrecht. He has his
own method and techns
nique—a special type of
his own work that moves
from realism to surrealis
ism. Sometimes he utilizes
es Kurdish culture in his
works with realism, deps
picting his subjects with
acrylic, oil, gouache and
water instruments.
Aras Hama Hussein
is well known among
Kurdish artists as well as
Dutch organizations for
his Kurdish art, consistis
ing of the shape of Kurdis
ish traditional clothes
and the mountains of
Kurdistan. On the other
hand, the modern world
of Europe is also part of
the paintings that have
grabbed his audiences’
attention.
Warm colors, Kurdish
clothes and Kurdistan’s
flag catch viewers’ eyes
when they look at Husss
sein’s works, in which
he’s returned to Kurdish
portraits back in the past
centuries. This is a live
example of his ‘Kurdhs
hood’ and that his mind
was always preoccupied
with his country and
wants to protect his idents
tity with these symbols.
Aras Hama Hussein is
a member of many art
organizations and Dutch
and European intuitions
in order to display his
nation’s identity and art.
He’s completed Acads
demic School in Utrecht
and Enschede in Netherls
lands.
By Ashti Garmiyani
Kurdistan Snow Festival draws hundreds
Festival on Kurdistan’s
Kodo Mountain. The fests
tival sought to draw interns
national attention to Kurdis
istan’s natural beauty and
tourism potential.
The one-day event, in
the Haji Omran region
near Kurdistan’s border
with Iran, attracted drivers
looking for fun driving in
the snow, skiers, and othes
ers who came just for the
festivities, which included
traditional Kurdish music
and dance.
Participants came from
the region’s three provis
inces, Duhok, Sulaimani
and Erbil, showing supps
port at a time when Kurdis
istan has struggled to draw
new tourists due to the war
with Islamic State.
This was only the secos
ond winter festival to be
held in the area and was
organized by the Center
of Youth and Culture in
the towns of Choman and
Soran. The first winter
festival was held in the
1950’s when King Faisel
II was still ruler of Iraq.