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From the Heart of Kurdistan Region
The only English paper in Iraq - No: 471 Mon. December 22, 2014
Barzani promises to
continue fighting ISIS
“We have no precondition when it comes to fighting the ISIS,” Barzani told reporters at Mount Shingal. 21 December 2014.
National
P2
National
P2
Abadi and Masum
congratulate
president Barzani
Biden commends
the courage of
Peshmerga
The Prime Minister, Haider al-Abaddi, congratulated the President of
Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Massoud
Barzani, over the victories achieved
by the Kurdish Peshmerga forces in
Nineveh.
In a telephone conversation on
Wednesday, the US vice President, Joe
Biden, congratulated the Peshmerga
forces for their victory over the Isllamic State (ISIS) in a day of intense
fighting near the Syrian border.
P6
National
Mirani: Kurds will
never make concession
on their lands
National
Kurdish capital hosts
10th Erbil
International Fair
The Secretary of the Kurdistan Demoocratic Party (KDP) Politburo Fazil
Mirani, in an interview with Zagros
Satellite TV channel, talked about the
security conditions, Islamic State, pollitical process in Iraq and Kurdistan
Region.
Mr. Abdulla Ahmed Abdul-Rahim,
supervisor of Erbil International Exhibbition told krg.org, “Hosting the Fair
amid the current situation, especially
after the initial agreement between Erbbil and Baghdad, shows that Kurdistan
can preserve its economic position and
successfully manage crises.”
P7
No. 471, Monday, December 22, 2014
The Kurdish Globe
Peshmerge, Symbol
of a Nation and
Freedom Ever
By Gazi Hassan
Up to the days of the brutal and
savage attacks of ISIS, Peshmerge
were just a national Kurdish force.
Now they have become heroes and a
well-known force. Their bravery and
strong will of resistance are commmended all over the world. They’re
not just defeating a brutal and barbarrous force, but they’ve become beareers of the banners of freedom. The
Peshmarge have really put the name
of Kurdistan and the Kurdish on the
world map.
During the recent months, Peshmmerge have been able to bolster the
national spirit across all parts of
Kurdistan, especially in the west part
of the greater Kurdistan. Through his
strategic decisions and his nationwwide leadership, President Massoud
Barzani mobilized Peshmerge to help
other parts of Kurdistan to achieve
a brighter future. In addition, as a
democratic Kurdistani who defends
the freedom of all components of
Kurdistan, Barzani is leading a great
international war on terror.
Last Thursday, Peshmerge managed
to liberate a large swathe of land in
Zumar, even reaching the Shingal
Mount. This was a great shift in the
balance of power, which seems to
be the beginning of the ISIS’s end,
because it doesn’t only damage the
morale of savage terrorists, but also
cuts a strategic way to Syria and unddermines their authority in the ArabSunni populated areas. With the
advance of Peshmerge, ISIS, which
have become a threat to everyone in
particular Ezidi Kurds, Shabaks and
Christians for several months, will
be wiped out from the Kurdish soil.
Peshmerge are the only trusted
force by the international coalition.
This is a guarantee for the political
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First published in 2005
www.kurdishGlobe.net
Address: Erbil, Massif road
future of Kurdistan. So if Peshmerge
were only symbol of libration of
Kurdistan in the past, now they’re
symbol of a new era, the era of fightiing terrorism and protecting freedom
across the world. The freedom with
its modern meaning which guaranttees every individual's right to prottection and welfare as we see in the
western countries.
Peshmerge are not only saving the
lives of people in Kurdistan, but
they’re breaking a force and pushing
them back to their original destinattion where they were created. Peshmmerge create a new identity for a
new era. An identity that has a messsage and asks why the free people of
Europe, the US, Australia, Canada
and China endeavor to root out any
tendency of political violence and
extremism. They create an identity
that how Peshmerge, with the simpplest types of weaponry, defeat a
brutal and barbarous force of ISIS.
Now the question is will Kurdistan
remain the same country prior to the
fall of Mosul? What’s more importtant, will Peshmerge accept the reaality of Kurdistan being part of the
central government in Baghdad, or
will Kurdistan emerge as a new inddependent state and entity in a new
era?
The new developments promise
optimism. The national identity of
the Kurds should be accepted and offficially recognized. The new reality
is the result of the precious sacrificees of the Peshmarge under the wise
leadership of President Barzani. The
renowned Kurdish forces inspire
hope and pride in its people and the
world as well.
Abadi and Masum congratulate
president Barzani
The Prime Minister, Haider al-Abaddi, congratulated the President of
Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Massoud
Barzani, over the victories achieved
by the Kurdish Peshmerga forces in
Nineveh.
A statement by the Presidency of
Kurdistan Region received by Kurdiishglobe.net cited “Abadi phoned
Barzani congratulating him over the
victories of the Peshmerga forces in
Zamar and Sinjar areas by breaking
the siege imposed by the ISIS terroriists.”
In a telephone conversation on Wednesdday, the US vice President, Joe Biden,
congratulated the Peshmerga forces
for their victory over the Islamic State
(ISIS) in a day of intense fighting near
the Syrian border.
The Vice President discussed with
President Barzani the passage of conggressional legislation that removes certtain undue restrictions on members of
the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)
and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
(PUK) under U.S. immigration laws.
This new law should help ease the proccess for many Iraqi Kurds who wish to
visit the United States.
As the Kurdistan Region is going
through a financial crisis, the parliamenttary blocs have started to find ways to
cut operating expenses and release this
burden on the government.
Abubakir Haladny, head of the Islamic
Uion Bloc at the Kurdistan Parliament,
says they have drafted a project to
amend some laws to help reduce expendditures and “we started with the retiremment law.”
“To cut expenditures we need to redduce senior government officials’ salarries as well,” MP Haladny stated. “This
would significantly help in the current
situations.”
According to MP Omed Hama Ali
from the Gorran Bloc, following the
decision by the Iraqi government to cut
senior official’s salaries by 20%, Kurdiistan Parliament Speaker decided to appply the same in Kurdistan and asked the
finance committee to draft a project for
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bashdar@hotmail.com
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The Vice President commended the
courage of the Kurdish Peshmerga and
Iraqi Security Forces fighting against
ISIS. President Barzani thanked the
United States and the international commmunity for their support.
Both the Vice President and the Kurdiish President noted the renewed coopeeration between Erbil and Baghdad and
agreed to work together, alongside other
Iraqi leaders, to sustain and deepen colllaboration among Iraq’s different commmunities. The Vice President undersscored America’s enduring support for
the Kurdish people and for the security
of Iraq as well.
Salary of senior government
officials to be cut by 20%
Senior U.K. Editor
Bashdar Pusho Ismaeel
+964 750 4036252
Abadi also appreciated the Pehsmmerga for their great achievement in
liberating process. He also reiterated
his cabinet support for Kurdish forces
against the terrorists.
Meanwhile the Iraqi President, Fuad
Masum, also called Barzani and conggratulated him and the people of Kurdiistan for the great victory Peshmerga
forces achieved in Zumar and Sinjar.
He also hoped all the Kurdish areas
that have been occupied by ISIS will
be liberated in a near future.
Biden commends the
courage of Peshmerga
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
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ARTS EDITOR
Diyaco Qayoumy
2
Reviser
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the purpose.
MP Hama Ali also added that the goveernment, on the other hands, has decided
to reduce ministries budgets by 50%.
There have been a lot of complaints
about the parliament members’ retiremment law, which retires 111 MPs every 4
years with a very high salary.
According to the parliament’s new
project, this should be regulated as
well.
Dr. Izzat Sabir, head of the parliament’s
finance committee, says they have made
the amdnedments to the retirement law
and they are waiting for the parliament’s
presidency to schedule a time for disccussing it inside the parliament hall.
“This is an effort to reduce governmment’s operating expenditures,” MP.
Sabir says. “It helps the region to survvive this current crisis. We expect to
have more projects in the future to cut
the wages of senior officials as well.”
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No. 471, Monday, December 22, 2014
The Kurdish Globe
3
Barzani promises
to continue fighting
ISIS
Kurdistan Region Presiddent Massoud Barzani
vowed to fight the Islamiic State (ISIS) “wherever
they are” and said Peshmmerga forces are ready to
support the Iraqi army in
the battle for Mosul.
“We have no preconddition when it comes to
fighting the ISIS,” Barzzani told reporters at
Mount Shingal. “We will
attack them wherever
they are.”
“It is a dream come true
to speak before you here
and extend my congratullations to the Kurdish
people, to our beloved
Yezidis,” an emotional
Barzani said.
“The Peshmerga have
made history here by reccapturing this area in just
24 hours. I’m sure our
martyrs are happy to see
this day,” he added.
Barzani said ISIS is in
control of very little in
Kurdistan, which he said
the Peshmerga will reccapture “very soon.”
Answering a question
by Rudaw about the batttle for Mosul, which has
been under ISIS control
since June, Barzani said:
“If the Iraqi government
and the people of Mossul have a plan, we will
study it and see how to
assist the Iraqi army in
recapturing the city.”
Peshmerga forces enttered Shingal late Satuurday after recapturing
2,700 square kilometers
of territory from ISIS,
military sources have
said.
Nearly 8,000 Peshmergga fighters launched their
biggest operation against
ISIS northwest of Iraq on
Wednesday.
Kurds gain more territory after
breaking siege of Mount Sinjar
Kurdish forces claimed to
have seized more territory
following breaking the
siege of Sinjar mountain
in what they called their
biggest victory yet in their
war against Islamic State.
A senior Kurdish official
said the peshmerga forces
had driven the Islamist
militants out of Snuny disttrict north of the mountain
on Friday, bringing them
closer to retaking the enttire Sinjar area on the bordder with Syria in northwwest of Iraq. Islamic State
captured huge swathes of
Syria and Iraq earlier this
year, killing or driving
out thousands of Shi'ites
and non-Muslims from
the region. But now the
tide of fighting has been
reversed.
Helped by intensified
coalition air strikes, the
Peshmerga fought their
way to the eastern tip of
the Sinjar mountain range
on Thursday, opening a
corridor for tens of thoussands of minority Yazidis
who had been trapped
there for months.
"Until now we haven't
started evacuating people.
We are still taking up deffensive positions. Then
we will bring them down,"
said Zaim Ali, the comm-
mander of Peshmerga for
Sinjar, Zumar and Mosul
dam areas.
The Kurdish President
Massoud Barzani is perssonally directing the offfensive, in which as many
as 8,000 Peshmerga are
taking part.
The aim of the operation
is to reach Sinjar town on
the southern side of the
mountain, which sits on
a road linking Mosul to
neighboring Syria and is
a key supply route for the
militants.
Sinjar
has
become
highly symbolic for the
Kurds, whose reputation
as fearsome warriors was
bruised after Islamic State
overpowered the Peshmmerga and killed or capttured hundreds of Yazidis
in August.
U.S. President Barack
Obama cited the duty to
prevent an impending
"genocide" of Yazidis by
Islamic State as one of the
main motives for authorisiing air strikes in Iraq this
summer.
Since then, Kurdish
forces have regained most
of the ground they lost in
northern Iraq, but Sinjar's
awkward geography, out
on a limb to the west, has
made it difficult to pene-
etrate.
Masrour Barzani, Head of
the Iraqi Kurdish Region's
National Security Council,
said on Friday the U.S.-led
air strikes had killed a sennior Islamic State figure in
Mosul on Wednesday .He
was identified as Shihab
Ahmed Hassan al-Luhaib-
bi, the Islamic State leader
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's
deputy for military affairs
in Nineveh province and
head of security for Mossul.
"The Peshmerga advvanced from Zumar, east
of Sinjar, recapturing 270
square miles in just a few
days," Masrour Barzani
added.
Barzani said the Peshmmerga soldiers fought
alone with no support from
the Iraqi army and did not
have heavy weapons. The
only outside support, he
said, were air strikes carrried out by the internationa-
al coalition.
According to the UN,
more than 500,000 Yazidis
and members of other minnority religions have fled
northern Iraq since June
and hundreds more have
been killed.
No. 471, Monday, December 22, 2014
The Kurdish Globe
4
PM Barzani in Turkey to discuss several issues
KRG and Turkey discussed a number of topics, mainly oil imports, supporting
Kurdish forces, Iraqi refugee, and confronting ISIS
KRG Prime Minister
Nechirvan Barzani paid a
visit to Turkey on Decembber 19, and met with Turkiish Prime Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu and President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
After a one-and-half hour
meeting with Davutoglu
in Istanbul, Barzani went
to Ankara and was recceived by Erdoan.
According sources in
Ankara, several issues
were discussed in the
meeting including: the
ongoing
cooperation
regarding the Islamic
State’s (ISIS) threats, eneergy issues, the training of
KRG peshmerga forces,
cooperation in the field of
humanitarian aid for intternally displaced people
who fled from ISIS and
other regional developmments.
Due to the ISIS threat,
Turkey launched a trainiing program for KRG
peshmerga forces in reccent months and Foreign
Ministry officials annnounced that 230 peshmmerga fighters had been
trained by Turkish Spec-
cial Forces, known as the
"maroon berets." During
the meetings, the Turkiish and Kurdish prime
ministers agreed that the
training program would
continue for as long as
necessary.
In early December, Bagddad and Erbil reached
an oil agreement. The
agreement is considered
the gateway to achieving
comprehensive Iraqi recoonciliation, but sources
have said that the agreemment still faces many
obstacles and therefore,
Turkish and Kurdish partties discussed possible
ways to solve these obsstacles and Turkey's role
as mediator between Erbil
and Baghdad.
In addition to oil, carrrying Kurdish gas to the
Turkish market, which
was to start by 2018, was
also discussed during the
meetings.
There was no press statemment regarding the meetiings and after the complettion of the talks Barzani
left Ankara.
Germany reiterates humanitarian and military support to KRG
krg
The Kurdish Prime Miniister, Nechirvan Barzani,
on Monday, December 15,
2014, received Mr. Georg
Enzweiler, on the occasion
of his appointment as Germmany's new General Consul
to the Kurdistan Region.
Mr. Enzweiler expressed
his pleasure to be appointeed as his country's Consul
to Kurdistan and hoped to
further develop bilateral
relations between the two
countries. He lauded the
Kurdistan
Government,
people and Peshmerga forcees for their fight against terrrorism and accommodating
a large number of internally
displaced people and refuggees.
Mr. Enzweiler reiterated
his country's humanitariian and military support to
the Kurdish Government.
The General Consul also
reaffirmed his country's
determination to further
strengthen the political and
economic ties with Kurdiistan. He added that many
German companies actively
participated in the Erbil intternational trade fair, which
was held last week in Erbil,
saying that Germany will
continue to encourage its
companies to work here.
Prime Minister Barzani
congratulated Mr. Enzweiller for his appointment and
reiterated the KRG's suppport for the success of the
Consul's mission in Kurdiistan. The Prime Minister
valued the humanitarian and
military support provided
by the German government
and hoped that this support
will continue in future.
The relation between Erbbil and Baghdad, the currrent political and military
situation and the threat of
the Islamic State terrorist
organization, the regional
security and stability were
also among the topics disccussed in the meeting.
The Consul welcomed the
breakthrough
agreement
reached earlier this month
between the Kurdistan and
the Federal Government of
Iraq and hoped for a succcessful outcome.
Both sides agreed on furtther developing the colllaboration and coordinattion between both countries
stressing the historical
relations between the two
peoples.
Oil exports from northeern Iraq are expected to
be between 300,000 and
400,000 barrels per day
in 2015, the International
Energy Agency said, inccluding crude produced in
the Kurdistan Region.
The estimate from the
West's energy watchdog,
citing regional and Westeern industry sources, folllows a temporary agreemment between Baghdad
and the Kurdistan Regionaal Government (KRG) this
month over their long-runnning oil sales dispute.
The IEA said the sources
believe the capacity of the
KRG's independent pipelline has been expanded,
potentially adding more
crude to the global oil markket that has already fallen
45 per cent since June due
to excess supplies.
“Regional and Western
industry sources reckon
that exports from northern
Iraq – including volumes
from the KRG and Kirkuk
– could rise to an average
of 300,000 bpd to 400,000
in 2015 if the 2 December
Baghdad/KRG agreement
is upheld,” the Paris-based
IEA said in its monthly
market report.
“The KRG pipeline has
been re-purposed and can
handle up to 550,000 bpd,
they say.”
The IEA lowered its
forecast for oil demand
growth and said prices are
likely to come under more
pressure. Brent fell to a
five-year low of $62.75 a
barrel after the report.
After years of bitter
feud, Erbil will provide
250,000 bpd of Kurdiish-produced crude to the
central government's state
marketer Somo under this
month's agreement, and alllow 300,000 bpd from the
northern Kirkuk fields to
flow in the Kurds’ pipeline
to the Turkish Mediterrannean port of Ceyhan.
PRESS PHOTO
Kurdish oil exports to increase to 300,000-400,000 bpd in 2015
Baghdad's own pipeline
to Ceyhan has been offline
since early 2014 after beiing attacked by militants,
largely cutting off Kirkuk
supplies. The line runs
through territory now conttrolled by Islamic State.
KRG forces took control
of Kirkuk and the nearby
field of Bai Hassan in June
after the Iraqi army melted
away in the face of Islamic
State's advance. The KRG
had previously controlled
only one of the Kirkuk
field's three formations,
Kharmala, with Baghdad's
North Oil Co running the
Avana and Baba domes.
"In November, flows of
120,000 bpd from Avana
and Bai Hassan allowed
the KRG to boost pipeline
flows towards 300,000
bpd,” the IEA said.
"By early December,
the KRG exported up to
350,000 bpd to the Turkish
Mediterranean, according
to regional sources,” the
IEA added, but said it was
unclear how much of this
crude was being stored
rather than sold.
Under the export deal,
Baghdad will restore the
KRG's 17 per cent cut of
the federal budget and provvide funding for the Kurdiish Peshmerga forces. The
KRG has long said the
Iraqi constitution allows
it to export oil independdently of Baghdad which
had decried such sales as
illegal smuggling.
No. 471, Monday, December 22, 2014
The Kurdish Globe
5
The Government of Iraq,
Kurdistan Regional Goveernment (KRG) and the
United Nations agencies
held a round-table meetiing with the donor counttries and diplomats based
in Baghdad to ask for suppport for Iraq's internally
displaced persons (IDP).
Karim Sinjari, Ministter of Interior, Ali Sindi,
Minister of Planning, and
Falah Mustafa, Head of
Department of Foreign
Relation represented KRG
in the meeting. The confference was chaired by
Saleh al-Mutlaq, Iraq's
Deputy Prime Minister
for Construction and Servvices and it was attended
by Iraq's Ministers of
Foreign Affairs, Finance,
Migration and Displacemment. The representatives
of UN agencies as well as
40 ambassadors were also
present.
Deputy Prime Mnister
Mutlaq said, "Deteriorattion of security in Iraq
which is mainly caused by
the attacks of the Islamic
State has resulted in the
PRESS PHOTO
KRG delegation partakes in a round-table
meeting with donor countries
displacement of nearly
two million people.”
He added, "Addressiing the needs of the IDPs
is out of the capacity of
Iraq. We are facing harsh
financial challenges and
sharp decline of oil price
has exacerbated the situattion. Iraq is in need of $5
billion to meet the needs
of IDPs and their return to
their areas.”
Iraq's Finance Minister,
Hoshiyar Zebari, gave an
overview of the financial
crisis facing Iraq and annnounced that the federal
government has agreed to
allocate $850 million for
the ministry of migration
and displacement as part
of the 215 budget.
According to the KRG's
Ministry of Planning and
the International Organnization for Migration
(IOM), 47 percent of all
Iraq's 2 million displaced
are now in the Kurdistan
Region. The rest of the
IDPs are spread throughoout Iraq having fled confflicts in Anbar, Ninewa,
Diyala and Salah al-Din
governorates. As people
continue to flee the viollence, the latest count inddicates that some 946,266
Iraqis (157,711 families)
have sought sanctuary in
the Region since the begginning of the year. This
represents an increase of
53,526 individuals since 1
September.
KRG minister of Plannning discussed the difficculties facing the KRG in
addressing the needs of
IDPs in the Region. He
said, “Hosting of IDPs in
the Kurdistan Region is
placing a huge burden on
the social services, as well
as its financial resources,
which is becoming unsusttainable.”
"This
humanitariian emergency is far from
over and with the winter
months the challenges
are becoming greater by
the day. The partnership
between the Government
of Iraq, the KRG and the
international community
is fundamental to address
this acute problem, but
this is not enough: fresh
funds are now needed to
avert this crisis from beccoming a humanitarian cattastrophe," said Jacqueline
Badcock, the Deputy Speccial Representative of the
UN Secretary General and
Resident and Humanitariian Coordinator for Iraq.
Commenting on the
meeting, Minister Musttafa said, "The large numbber of IDPs in the Region
has stretched the capaciity of our infrastructure
and social services to the
limit. This was a good oppportunity for KRG to be
present in Baghdad to adddress members of the intternational community to
highlight the plight of the
IDPs.”
PM Barzani discusses refugee situations with UN representative and Christian Patriarch
Kurdistan Region Prime
Minister Nechirvan Barzzani separately met with
Nikolay Mladenov, United
Nations Special Representtative for Iraq and Head
of the United Nations Asssistance Mission for Iraq
(UNAMI), and Patriarch
Mar Luis Rafael, first
Chaldean Patriarch of Iraq
and their accompanying
delegations.
The major topic of both
meetings was the situation
of the refugees and Internnally Displaced Persons
IDPs in Kurdistan.
Patriarch Rafael focused
specially on the Christtian IDPs and expressed
his gratitude towards the
support that the KRG has
been giving them.
He said, "Although the
IDPs are living through
harsh situations, they at
least feel safe and home in
Kurdistan and are treated
like brothers and sisters."
He also added that in
his last meeting with the
Pope of Vatican, he infformed him about the well
treatment of Christians in
Kurdistan, and he reitera-
ated that he would use his
connections and lobby in
Vatican and elsewhere in
the world to collect aid for
the IDPs.
Patriarch Rafael asked
PM Barzani to try to find
jobs for the professionals
among the IDPs to make
a living for themselves in
the Region.
PM Barzani reiterated
his government's commitmment to helping refugees
in the best way possible
with no discrimination.
He also thanked Patriarch
Rafael for praising KRG
when meeting Pope in
Vatican.
Mladenov, on the other
hands, reiterated UN's
commitment to encourage
the international commun-
nity to take more serious
steps in helping the refuggees.
The UN official welccomed the agreement bettween Erbil and Baghdad
and reconfirmed UN's
support for mutual undersstanding and solution to
all issues between the two
governments.
Kurdistan Regional Goveernment Prime Minister,
Nechirvan Barzani, on
Tuesday received US Conggressman Kevin McCartthy, the Majority Leader in
the U.S. House of Repressentatives, and his accomppanying delegation of conggressmen, along with the
Deputy US Ambassador to
Iraq, US General Consul
to the Kurdistan Region
and a number of advisors.
The delegation praised
the security and stability,
which prevail in the Kurdiistan Region, and lauded
KRG for accommodating
and protecting a large numbber of internally displaced
people and refugees.
The delegation comm-
krg
US congressional delegation welcomes Erbil-Baghdad agreement
mended the Peshmerga
forces in their fight against
terrorism and stressed that
the Kurdistan Region has
many friends in the United
States, and that they will
continue to support Kurdiistan.
The delegation also welccomed the breakthrough
agreement between KRG
and the Federal Governm-
ment of Iraq, and discussed
the overall situation in the
region with regards to the
Kurdistan's relations with
neighboring countries and
the international commun-
nity.
Prime Minister Barzani
pointed out that the US
support has been very efffective in stopping and
repelling the terrorists.
However, in order to elimiinate and eradicate terroriism completely, he said
that the Kurdistan Region
needs more support inccluding heavy weaponry
and training of the Peshmmerga forces.
Regarding the agreement
with the Federal Governmment, the Prime Minister
noted that the Kurdisttan Region considers the
agreement as positive and
that it will pave the way
for resolving the outstandiing issues between Erbil
and Baghdad. He reafffirmed Kurdistan Region's
support for the new Iraqi
Government led by Dr
Haider Al-Abadi.
No. 471, Monday, December 22, 2014
The Kurdish Globe
6
The Secretary of the Kurdiistan Democratic Party
(KDP) Politburo Fazil Mirrani, in an interview with
Zagros Satellite TV channnel, talked about the seccurity conditions, Islamic
State, political process in
Iraq and Kurdistan Region.
Mirani said that President
of Kurdistan, Massoud Bazzani, has always been very
cooperative with the internnational coalitions to partticipate in the war against
the Islamic State (IS) terrrorists; Barznai actually
supervises the war and is
aware of all developments.
Mirani praised some Arab
countries that have been
playing good roles in fightiing against IS. “The Arab
countries have better standppoint nowadays.”
Concerning the role of
Peshmerge in the war, Mirrani said “Peshmerge play
a major role in the war
against IS and the Kurdish
forces have taken big ressponsibility since the Iraqi
Army is not organized and
is not capable of fighting
systematically.”
Mirani thinks that the
Iraqi armed forces have to
be reformed. And the Iraqi
government has to benefit
from the improved relattions between Baghdad and
Kurdistan in this respect.
Speaking about the dispputed areas especially
Kirkuk province, Mirani
said Kurds will never make
concession on Kirkuk and
other disputed areas. “We
never want war. We always
want to solve the land isssues through peaceful
means and dialogue, but if
things go other way we are
ready to defend our land.”
After the IS attacks on
Kurdistan, some people
said Kurds would forget the
question of independence,
but Mirani said "Kurdish
leadership never abandons
this important question. We
are still insistent on holdiing a referendum on indeppendence.”
PRESS PHOTO
Mirani: Kurds will never make concession on their lands
Mirani rejected to identtify a specific date to get
rid of all IS groups in Iraq
and Kurdistan. Mirani bellieves that attempts have
to be made to cut the finnancial sources of IS and
protecting the borders in
order to eradicate the terrrorist group. “I see a big
changes in the map of the
area. I hope Kurds can gain
more and can have a better
picture in the political map
of the future.”
When asked if amending
constitution draft is necesssary before it is passed by
Parliament, Mirani replied
“All the opinions and appproaches of the different
political parties on the
draft have been taken into
consideration. A committ-
tee consisting of members
from inside and outside of
the Parliament is expected
to be formed to review and
amend the draft in a way
that all the sides can be satiisfied.”
In order to make a better
understating among the pollitical parties, Mirani thinks
all the political parties have
to work together peacefully
in Kurdistan. He also said
that Kurdistan Democratic
Party (KDP) and Patriotic
Union of Kurdistan (PUK)
need to work on improving
their relations.
Mirani also disclosed that
KDP politburo has decided
to delay holding KDP’s
14th congress due to the
current security issues in
the region. “The party conggress postponement is only
for one year. I hope that
does not last for a longer
time. I hope it will be held
in the nearest future.” Conccluded Fazil Mirani.
Iraqi Sunni leaders condemn Islamic State in Erbil conference
Shiite and some Sunnis claim that the conference is fruitless and against unity of Iraq
Iraq's top Sunni religious,
political and tribal leaders
met in the Kurdish regionaal capital Erbil, capital of
the Kurdistan region of
Iraq, Thursday to condemn
Islamic State terrorists and
call for the formation of a
National Guard to help
combat them.
The Iraqi Sunni leaders
met to discuss a common
defense strategy against
invading Islamic State
militants, pleading for
unity in the face of a dire
threat. One political leader
dubbed the Islamic State
the “Mongol invaders of
our era.”
Iraqi Sunni Vice Presiddent Osama Nujeify was
the keynote speaker at
the conference, urging
the approval of a National
Guard to combat the Isllamic State.
He said the international
community is sympathetic
to the plight of ordinary
Iraqis, and that he and
other leaders are lookiing to the international
coalition to help set up a
National Guard force to
represent various regions.
He insisted the force will
not be sectarian and that
it will not pose a threat to
the unity of the country.
Sunni politician Hekmat
Suleiman said the “sufffering of our women and
children is forcing us to
exert the ultimate effort to
relieve them of these horrrors.”
Reports of Islamic State
brutality in both Iraq and
Syria have been widesspread.
Unconfirmed
reports say the Sunni exttremists have executed
more than 750 members
of the Albunemr tribe near
the Anbar town of Hit.
A
report
Thursday
claimed the militants had
killed several hundred
members of the Sheitat
tribe near the Iraqi-Syrian
border, burying them in a
mass grave.
Sectarianism derided
Member of Parliament
Mohammed Mashhadani
told the conference the
forces of division in Iraq
are strong, but that sectariaanism is not the wave of
the future.
He asked, "Who will
profit from the division of
Iraq into Sunni, Shi'ite and
Kurdish regions?" He arggued that sectarianism is a
practice, but not a philosopphy, and that all religions
have their extremists. Secttarianism is backwards,
he insisted, and a force of
ignorance.
Ninevah province secrretary general Faris Sinjjary told the gathering
that defenders of a united
Iraq and the government
“need arms and help from
neighboring states to fight
the battle against Islamic
State terrorists, as well as
to rebuild their tattered nattion.”
Iraqi Prime Minister
Haidar al Abadi, who held
a joint press conference
Thursday in Baghdad with
visiting Jordanian Prime
Minister Abdullah Nsour,
thanked the Hashemite
Kingdom for volunteeriing to train Iraqi security
forces.
He said that security is
important to the governmment and that Jordan is
offering its help to train
64,000 members of Iraq's
security forces.
Unpredictable outcome
Several Sunni members
of parliament lashed out
against sectarian Shi'ite
militias,
which
they
claimed are alienating
many ordinary Sunnis in
the country. MP Sha'alan
Krayem of Sala'edin Proviince insisted that “evil
[Shi'ite militiamen] have
done awful things, like
burning houses, burniing fields and attacking
mosques." He argued that
"many of them are just as
bad as [the Islamic State
militants].”
A number of top Sunni
leaders, including Parliamment Speaker Selim al
Jabouri, did not attend
the meeting. Jabouri did
not give a reason. Governnor of Sala'edin Province,
Raed Ibrahim al Jabouri,
indicated he would not atttend because of what he
said was the “presence of
people connected with terrrorism,” at the parlay.
ISO certificate given to the Tourism Board
The international certificate
of administration of ISO by
Sayi Global organization
was awarded to the General
Tourism Board of Kurdisttan. The award has already
improved the quality of the
activities of the Organizattion.
Nadir Rosty, spokesman
of the Tourism Board of
the Region, told "Hewler"
newspaper that during a
ceremony held in the Hall
of Directory of Human Devvelopments that is subordinnated under the Ministry of
Municipalities and Tourism
the award was given to the
Tourism Organization. Acccording to Rosty, the certificcate has been achieved by
the hard work of the Touriism Board. This kind of certtificate is not easily given to
boards or firms. The companny has to go through many
stages; whether it is a public
or private board; it needs to
have some characteristics
that is required from these
organizations.
Arranging administration
systems, minimizing mana-
agement routines, executing
the people’s work effectivelly, documenting all operattions and keeping insufficciency to a minimum are the
requirements that the boards
need to meet. Rosty said that
after these requirements are
met, the delegate of ISO intternational organization visiits the board or the firm and
examines all the places and
later raises a memorandum
for their organization. If all
the requirements are met in
accordance with the internnational standards, then the
ISO sends their delegate to
the board to hold a certificattion ceremony.
The spokesman of the
Board of Tourism regards
the certificate as significant
and believes it is going to
be the reason for the Board
to care more for the quality
of their services. In addittion, the work is going to
be divided better and the
employees will know what
their tasks are and whom
they need to report to. Anoother impact of this certificcate is that the jobs will be
based on skills and qualificcations of the employees.
The International Organizzation for Standardization
is an international organizzation for standardization
whose goal is to set the
same qualifications and reqquirements to see the produucts and service in the same
way globally. 9001 ISO is
a special general measuriing instrument just to set a
global system that manages
qualitative evaluation for all
activities and operations in
a public and private sector.
Mr. Rosty explained that
at the moment they are busy
making the Board's internal
daily routines electronic. He
emphasized on the fact that
the Kurdish Region’s situattion was the reason for not
being able to be effective to
the extent needed. However,
this certificate will create a
more solid base to start
working in a more modern
way in the future for the
tourists in Kurdistan.
By: N. M. Mohammad
No. 471, Monday, December 22, 2014
The Kurdish Globe
Oil versus Water!
crease in crude oil supplies,
especially shale oil and gas,
and the demand staying as it
is and in some cases droppping, oil prices have come
down unprecedentedly to
reach around $60 dollars per
barrel. It seems that for now
oil has passed its hayday as
the most fought- over liquid
in the world.
In comes water as the comppetitor of oil and how it is beiing controlled by the regional
powers. One can turn his atttention to what Turkey is doiing in building more dams.
This is part of its public work
project (GAP project) to limit
the water flow from the Eupphrates and Tigris rivers that
supply Syria and Iraq. Iran is
also following suit but to a
lesser extent since it doesn’t
have the same water monopooly as Turkey.
Turkey and Iran are trying
to exert economic pressure
on Syria and Iraq to yield to
their demands and limit agrricultural production to keep
them in a state of economic
dependency on Turkish and
Iranian products. Thankfully
the Kurdistan Region is not
badly affected by these meassures due to the plentiful
water supplies as it accesses
around 46 billion cubic metters a year and it only needs
around 9 billion!
As populations grow and
food resources get scarcer,
soon enough battles may no
longer be fought over oil but
rather for that life sustaining
transparent liquid called watter!
swara7kadir@aol.com
Kurdish capital hosts 10th Erbil International Fair
After easing almost a year of
financial crisis and terrorism
threat, the Kurdistan Region
last week hosted the 10th Erbil
International Fair attended by
250 companies from 16 counttries. In the wake of the initial
agreement between Erbil and
Baghdad to resolve oil export
and budgetary issues, and of
security advances to halt the
ISIS threat, market confidence
begins to regain and business
continues to progress.
Kurdistan Regional Governmment Minister of Trade and Inddustry, Samal Sardar, highlighteed the importance of hosting
the fair amid current circumsstances. He said, “The partticipation of companies from
foreign countries might not be
at the level of previous years,
but hosting the Fair shows that
business activities have not
stopped and the Kurdistan Reggion's security situation is very
stable for business.” Minister
Samal Sardar stressed that the
Region's economy continues
to improve.
The breakthrough agreement
between Erbil and Baghdad on
resolving outstanding issues
has helped to resume and revvive business activities in the
Region.
Mr. Abdulla Ahmed AbdulRahim, supervisor of Erbil Intternational Exhibition told krg.
org, “Hosting the Fair amid
the current situation, especiall-
ly after the initial agreement
between Erbil and Baghdad,
shows that Kurdistan can presserve its economic position
and successfully manage crisses.”
He added, “Erbil Internationaal Fair managed to build trust
during the last ten years and
the KRG has played a key role
in developing the venue. The
fairground has so far hosted
more than 60 exhibitions in
various sectors and has greatly
benefited the people of Kurdiistan.”
Representatives of the privvate sector companies said
the economic crisis and terroriist threats adversely affected
their plans and caused suspenssion of some planed activities.
However, the situation did not
last long, as demonstrated by
participation of international
companies in various exhibittions.
Mr. Saman Brifkani, Supervvisor of Magic Art Advertising
Agency said, “Despite some
concerns by some companies
there have been various exhibbitions by big brands and comppanies in the Kurdistan Region
including Land Rover, Range
Rover and BMW in which
they showcased their latest
products. In addition, various
French, American and Britiish franchises in Erbil's markkets and malls have recently
launched.”
“The breakthrough agreemment between Erbil and Baghddad will strengthen trust and
support increasing business
activities,”he added.
On the sidelines at the Fair
the Czech Republic General
Consul to Erbil, Jaroslav Reif,
and a delegation from his
country's ministry of trade and
industry discussed their activitties in the Region.
The Czech Republic Consul
told krg.org, “Czech compannies together with Czech banks
implemented major projects
in the Kurdistan Region esppecially in the electricity secttor. We want to introduce the
Kurdistan Region's investment
market to the Czech Republic
and invite European investors
to support investment activitties in the Region.”
The Czech Republic is
among the active investors in
the Kurdistan Region's investmment market and has long reiiterated its interest to invest in
the Region.
Lebanon is among the counttries that have not suspended
their investment and business
activities in the Kurdistan Reggion.
Mr. Jacques Jean Sarraf,
Chairman of the Malia Group
which owns various investmments in the Region especially
in the tourism sector told krg.
org “The Lebanese private
sector is keen on the Kurdist-
tan Region and they did not
suspend their activities in the
Region.”
He added that his group is
one of the main exporters to the
Kurdistan Region and they are
working on finding an alternattive route for bringing their
goods to the Region through
air cargo as most of the Syrian
and Lebanon border is under
the control of the Islamic State
terrorist organization.
Mr. Sarraf said, “Lebanon
has played a significant role in
developing the Region's bankiing, construction and tourism
sectors, and has contributed to
the investment in the Kurdisttan Region, including in basic
and higher education.”
In another development, Britaain Business Group Kurdistan
was launched on December
10, 2014 to further collaborattion between British compannies and companies based in
the Kurdistan Region.
During the inaugural ceremonny, Mr. Frank Baker, British
Ambassador to Iraq, highlighteed the Kurdistan Region as a
stable and suitable environmment for economic and trade
activities.
During the ceremony, KRG
Spokesperson Minister Safeen
Dizayee reaffirmed, “The KRG
supports the free market and
facilitates foreign investment
in the Kurdistan Region.”
Peshmarga distributes gifts to 5000 children of IDP
On the occasion of the Kurdiistan Flag Day, Peshmarga
forces distributed gifts among
5,000 children inside the Bahhirka and Ainkawa refugee
camps.
"On the recommendation of
President Massoud Barzani
and under the supervision
of Kurdistan Region Intelliggence Agency Chief Masrour
Barzani we distributed 5,000
pairs of shoes to refugee childdren in Bahrika and Ainkawa
This Week
in History
December 15, 1955
By Swara Kadir
For long the crude oil, dubbed
‘black gold’, has been the
most precious liquid, but
things are quickly changing
as its price drops to a 5 year
bottom low. Water is gaining
ground, going from second to
first place as the most valuaable resource in the region.
Major conflicts in the oil
rich regions including the
Middle East have directly or
indirectly resulted from the
want to control this natural
resource by the global poweers especially the United
States. However with the inc-
7
camps," said a Peshmarga
representative who organized
the activity.
Peshmarga forces organized
a similar activity in Duhok
and Zakho before, and they
are planning to do the same
in other refugee camps in Sulleimaniya as well.
The children expressed their
happiness to get the gifts and
thanked the Peshmarga for
helping them out in this cold
winter season.
The Kurdish Radio
Channel in Iraq Transmittted its programs in Kurdiish language in Iraqi in
December 14, 1955.
December 16, 1950
The first edition of “Hawleer Newspaper” was publlished in Kurdish and Arabbic Languages in Erbil city
in December 16, 1950.
December 17, 1946
The Republic of Mahabad
was, officially known as
the Republic of Kurdistan
and was a short-lived Sovviet backed government,
destructed by the Iranian
government in December
17, 1946.
December 18, 2009
James Cameron's movie
"Avatar" was released
in the United States in
December 18, 2009. On
January 26, the movie beccame the highest-grossing
film worldwide.
December 19, 2002
- President of Kurdistan
Region, Masoud Barzani,
and Iraqi Presidnet, Jalal
Talabani met with Britiish Prime Minister, Tony
Blare in London in Deccember 19, 2002.
December 20, 1999
- The Fourth Cabinet of
Kurdistan Regional Goveernment headed by Prime
Minister, Nechirvan Barzzani, was declared in Deccember 20, 1999.
December 21, 2006
- President of Kurdistan
Region, Masoud Barzani
received U.S.A Defense
Minister, Robert Gates,
in the Iraqi capital city of
Baghdad in December 21,
2006.
MON
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ERBIL
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The Kurdish painter Sleman Shakir
was born in 1937 in Gwer sub-disttrict (Hawler Province) in Southern
Kurdistan. He’s one of the leadiing painters in the Kurdish art. He
gained his fame due to the special
characteristics of his works. Slemman Shakir has participated in
many exhibitions and art activities
both at home and abroad. The signnificance of Sleman Shakir’s works
is that he’s presented the Kurdiish art and culture tangibly. When
one talks about the archive of the
Kurdish painting Sleman Shakir
is an avant garde figure that cannnot be bypassed. Shakir has lived a
long life showing the beauty of the
Kurdish nature in his own special
colours. When we look at his lifellong artistic activity, we discover
that not only active painting was his
main mission but he has also helped
many young artists to develop and
learn about art. He graduated from
the Institution of Fine Arts in Baghddad in 1957. Sleman Shakir was
influenced by the major western art
schools. We can easily notice such
GLOBE PHOTO
Sleman Shakir , the
Kurdish Painter
influences in his paintings.
When we have a look at the details
of Sleman Shair’s works, we undersstand that he’s tried to present his
motifs and themes in an academic
and realistic style often using light
colors. He has used many materiaals and techniques during his carrrier. Mountains of Kurdistan, cities,
towns and plains during the four
seasons are some of the subjects of
his pictures. In addition, the sufferiing and the tragedies that have beffallen the Kurdish people also occcupy a large space in his works.
Shakir Sleman has had many of
his own exhibitions and taken part
in many joint shows in cities like
Kirkuk, Slemany, Duhok, Koya,
and Baghdad and even abroad in
Poland and Japan.
Shakir Sleman turned part of his
house to a gallery on June 18, 2007
in order to preserve and show his
works of art for his audience pemannently.
By Ashti Garmiyani
Nergiz forsh (The Seller of Narcissus)1973
Yazidis celebrate Ezi
feast every year in Deccember, but because of
the precarious situattion that Kurdistan goes
through and specially
the recent attacks on
Yazidi minority, Baba
Shaikh has decided to
halt the feast rituals this
year. Yazidi usually celeebrate the feast every
year with high spirit
among them. The 74th
genocide Yazidis faced
Doubled Feast for Yazidis
hindered them from celeebrating the feast. Thoussands of them have been
captured by ISIS and
many were killed. Duriing the three days fastiing, they prayed to God
to rescue the kidnapped
and free their lands after
they have gone through
many heinous crimes.
The Yazidis adhere to
their religion and have
not given it up after the
74 genocides. Their adh-
herence to their religion
and loving peace have
helped them survive.
It is true that they were
not happy with not celeebrating the feast but
they were happy that
their land has been
freed by Yazidi freedom
fighters and Peshmerge.
Masoud Barzani, the
Kurdish President has
dedicated Peshmerge
victory to Yazidi minoriity on the day of their
feast and has promised
to be in the front lines
fighting with Peshmmerge for freeing every
piece of Kurdish land.
Thus, the defeating of
IS by Peshmerge forces
has planted the roots of
hope among the Kurdiish people.
‘’In the past, streets
were filled with people
while celebrating the
Ezi feast but now they
are empty and no one
is celebrating because
of our people, because
of those who have been
killed, kidnapped and
those who are fighting.
There will be no feast
before freeing our men,
women and girls and beffore freeing our lands,"
Hazim Kori, a Yazidi
man, said. Jabir Khero,
26 yaers old, said, ’’I
will not celebrate the
feast until I see my sistter free from ISIS and
liberate Shingal." Qassim Shesho, Yazidi and
Peshmerge Commandeer, said that this year's
feast has become two,
one is our feast and the
other is liberating our
land from ISIS.
By Hassan Shingali
Childbirth statistics in Erbil Dates: 1-30 December, 2014
Boys
Girls Twins 1506 1592 Boys 44 Girls 40
Neonatal mortalities
Surgical deliveries
Natural deliveries
Boys 19
Boys 595 Boys 911
Girls 19
Girls 526
Girls 966
Total
2998