Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani addresses the Erbil Forum on “Kurdistan Region’s Vision for the Era of Uncertainty – the Impact of Regional Compromises and Divisions on Kurdistan.”
“As we sit here, in Erbil, a PUK and KDP delegation are in serious discussions on the formation of the next Kurdistan Regional Government,” President Barzani said, with efforts underway to form the next KRG.
“The Kurdistan Region held very successful elections in the last year. Voter turnout for the Kurdistan Region’s people was 72 percent. This is a source of pride,” Barzani stated, thanking the Kurdistan Region’s people for their trust in the political process.
President Barzani called on the Region’s top parties – the KDP and PUK – to make “serious efforts” to form the next regional government in a timely manner.
“The election that we held in the Kurdistan Region, honestly, I thank Baghdad for their complete support and assistance… for being partners to help us carry out the successful election,” President Barzani said.
The “strategic agreement” between the KDP and PUK is the “primary source” of agreements that contribute to the development of the Kurdistan Region, according to President Barzani.
“The PUK and KDP tried [to form the government] with all fronts, but these two parties need to sit together and form the government, and the other parties need to participate too,” Barzani said. “But the KDP and PUK are the main fronts.”
Regarding the Erbil-Baghdad tensions, “the biggest issue is that we have a federal system by name, but by practice and implementation it is everything but a federal system. It is a completely centralized system,” President Barzani stressed.
Baghdad’s actions “are so central that such centralism does not exist anywhere in the world,” Barzani lamented.
“The manner in which they [Iraq] act with the [Kurdistan] Region is very centralized,” the Kurdistan Region’s president affirmed.
“When I sat with them, I saw different viewpoints on the subject of cooperation,” Barzani said about his meetings with Iraqi officials in Baghdad.
“I believe that if this problem is resolved, we will no longer have issues of salary non-payments and other issues,” Barzani said.
“Turkey has constantly expressed that it is ready” for oil exports to resume and “has no problem with the Kurdistan Region exporting oil,” according to President Barzani.
“Iraq has incurred losses of nearly $19-20 billion” because of the halt of Kurdish oil exports. “This is a very significant loss for Iraq.”
“The technical aspect remains. Everything is ready. Turkey is ready and the Iraqi side is ready. Only the technical part remains,” Barzani said, with a resumption of Kurdish oil exports looming.
“The role of the US was a motivator for this issue to be resolved quickly,” President Barzani said about the halt of Kurdish oil exports.
“The Iraqi Federal Court’s ruling is clear. It says that the salary issues that we have with Baghdad need to be resolved,” the Kurdistan Region’s president stressed.
“In my opinion as the [Kurdistan] Region’s president, I believe the KRG has cooperated in a transparent manner with Baghdad,” Barzani stated.
“This [Development] Road… must make the country one, not divide the country. In the Kurdistan Region, we are very concerned with knowing where this road traverses,” President Barzani said.
“If we see a design that does not benefit the Kurdistan Region whatsoever, it is very natural for us not to support the project,” Barzani said about the Development Road project, reiterating that it must benefit the entire country.
President Barzani commended Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and his government for not allowing Iraq to be involved in regional issues.
“Armed groups must all be brought under control by the Iraqi government. It is unacceptable for an armed group to act independently,” Barzani stated, adding that the prevention of Iraqi armed groups from entering Syria circumvented a “big issue.”
“This process is a serious process,” Barzani said about efforts for a peace process in Turkey. “Our role is the role of a helper. It is not our authority to interfere in Turkey’s internal affairs.”
“This issue will not be resolved through weapons,” Barzani stated, adding that the resolution of the Turkey-PKK conflict will require a lot of time.
President Barzani called on the PKK and all other fronts to heed their jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan’s call when it is announced.
On the pro-Kurdish DEM Party delegation that recently visited the Kurdistan Region, President Barzani said the delegation came at the request of PKK leader Ocalan.
“We are awaiting the first step – how will the PKK respond to Ocalan’s call?” Barzani said. “What we have in Iraq, you cannot have the same model in Turkey or Iran. It is very different,” Barzani explained.
“Our message for our Syrian brothers is: You must include yourself in the political process. You must not wait. Go to Damascus and participate in the political process,” Barzani said, advising the Kurds in Syria.
“If their policy is truly that they want to resolve Syria’s problems, I believe that all sides must help them to carry it out,” Barzani said about the new Damascus administration, mentioning their controversial past.
“We are concerned about the administration’s resolve for centralization,” President Barzani added about Syria.
President Barzani’s Erbil Forum address focused on stability and progress. He urged KDP-PUK unity for government formation, a fair federal system with Baghdad, and resumed oil exports. He advocated for Iraqi government control of armed groups and peaceful regional conflict resolution, emphasizing dialogue and collaboration for regional stability.
