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From the Heart of Kurdistan Region
The only English paper in Iraq - No: 484 Mon. April 06, 2015
GLOBE PHOTO
Kurdistan a nest for
coexistence and brotherhood
P3
National
P3
President Barzani
inaugurates 10th
International Book
Fair in Erbil
National
P4
Kurdistan received a $455
million budget payment
from Baghdad for March
National
P6
Peshmerga minister
asks France for
military help
National
P6
Ministerial Council
congratulates Akito and
New Year celebrations
No. 484, Monday, April 06, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
2
President Barzani Congratulates Iraqi
PM Al-Abadi on Liberation of Tikrit
What will happen
in the post-ISIS
and Houthi era?
US Vice President Joe Biden spoke
with Kurdistan Region President
Masoud Barzani on March 22 to
wish the President and the people
of Kurdistan a happy Kurdish
New Year or Newroz.
The US Vice President expressed
his condolences to the President
for the fallen Peshmerga in recent
battles against the ISIS terrorists.
He also praised the recent succm
cesses and reiterated US governmm
ment support for Kurdistan.
President Barzani thanked the
government and people of the
United States for their support and
stressed the need for continued
cooperation to defeat the terrorists
completely.
PRESS PHOTO
President Barzani Meets with Czech
Republic Delegation‫‏‬
By Gazi Hassan
Many events that are unfolding in Iraq,
Syria and Yemen are contradictory. The
contradictions are quite opposite too.
ISIS has devastated Iraq. Iran and the
Shias are fighting against the IS and simm
multaneously exploiting them for presm
serving their gained political position.
Saudi even if has no interest in having
ISIS around though, but as a Sunni, it
shares part of the disagreements, especm
cially in Syria.
In Yemen, Houthis are intending to
control the country with the support of
Iran, Iraq, and Hizbullah in Lebanon,
On the other hand, Saudi, Turkey, Gulf
countries, Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, Pakim
istan, the US and Europe are all against
the Houthis.
Suppose that group (1) is against ISIS,
while group (2) is not concerned with
ISIS being around, but we see that group
(2) are against Houthis and has started
fighting them in Yemen with group (1)
supporting them. It means that, the balam
ance and the international and regional
coalition have divided into factions in
each country. We may ask: How did that
happen?
This is the main question; the US policy
is essentially against both groups, and at
the same time, supports both coalitions.
The US is not against Iran’s intervention
in Iraq and Syria, at least for the sake
of Iran’s commitment to abandon its
nuclear programs. Russia criticized the
campaign against the Houthis because it
maintains that it was not sanctioned by
the Security Council resolutions. Exam
amining the developments more closely
we could clearly see that the US is the
final player and decision maker of the
events. And in each of them, it has its
Weekly paper printed in Erbil
First published in 2005
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Address: Erbil, Massif road
common enemy and not ordinary ally.
What’s happening in Yemen seems to
force Iran militarily not to think of steppm
ping into wider circles. The sharp fall of
oil prices also has direct impact on the
country. What hasn’t been accomplished
in Iraq, the delimitation of Iran's influem
ence, will be accomplished in Yemen by
Saudi and its allies. What Saudi was not
able to do in Iraq, it has succeeded to
accomplish in Yemen. It has managed
to reduce the political and military pressm
sure against the Kingdom as a result of
the rapid events in the Middle East.
The balance of the coalition is about to
be tipped. As it has special characteristm
tics in each event, it’s not far that such
coalition could end Iran’s power and intm
tervention in the Arab countries. Simultm
taneously, the process will convince Iran
that the area may move into a new phase
which will not abide by the contents of
Sykes-Picot agreements. The US, with
help of Saudi Arabia can play a decisive
role. Kurds as the only character in the
Middle East keep their neutrality, away
from the sectarian conflicts. The Kurds
have always struggled against any kind
of terrorism and violence, which makes
the ground to strengthen common interem
ests between America and Kurdistan.
And If Saudi wanted so it could maintm
tain the position of Sunnis in Iraq in the
future. So in the Post-ISIS and Houthis
war, whose outcome will generate new
regional balances, the area will move
towards deeper political problems, dispm
putes and divisions of interests. But the
Saudis will emerge as a new military
force worth reckoning with.
President Masoud Barzani held a
meeting with a delegation from the
Czech Republic today. The delegatm
tion was attended by members of
the diplomatic mission of the Czech
Republic in the Kurdistan Region
and was headed by Mr. Jan Fulik,
the Special Representative of the
President of the Czech Republic.
During the meeting Mr. Fulik and
President Barzani discussed the
current political and security develom
opments in the Kurdistan Region of
Iraq and the greater Middle East regm
gion. President Barzani expressed
optimism for a brighter future for
the Kurdistan Region, adding that
Ban Ki-Moon hails
Peshmerga successes
United Nations Secretary General
Ban Ki-Moon on Monday spoke
with the Kurdistan Region Presidm
dent Massoud Barzani over the
phone. In the call, he praised the
recent successes of the Peshmerga
against the Islamic State.
The UN Chief told President
Barzani that he wished to visit
the Kurdistan Region, but time
constraints prevented him from
making the trip during this visit
to Iraq.
As well as acknowledging the
Peshmerga’s successes, Ban expm
pressed his condolences to all
families who have lost loved ones
in the fight against the IS.
He thanked the Kurdistan Regm
gional Government and Kurdish
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Gazi Hassan +964 750 7747784
Senior U.K. Editor
Bashdar Pusho Ismaeel
gazihassan2013@gmail.com
bashdar@hotmail.com
ARTS EDITOR
Diyaco Qayoumy
+964 750 4036252
diyaco.kurdishGlobe@gmail.com
the fight against the terrorists of the
Islamic State are being defeated by
the Peshmega forces in a number of
fronts.
On his part Mr. Fulik expressed
his support on behalf of the governmm
ment of the Czech Republic to the
Peshmerga forces. Mr. Fulik also
delivered an invitation for President
Barzani to visit the Czech Republic
and explore further avenues of coom
operation between the two sides.
President Barzani expressed his
gratitude for the support of the
Czech Republic and accepted the
invitation to visit the country at
mutually convenient time.
Reviser
Honar Osman
honar.hawler@gmail.com
people for helping the hundreds
of thousands of refugees by provm
viding them with a safe heaven,
and promised that the UN will
continue to support the KRG in its
humanitarian efforts.
Furthermore, Ban expressed his
happiness regarding recent develom
opments and progress in negotm
tiations between the Iraqi central
government and the Kurdistan
government.
The UN Secretary General arrm
rived in Baghdad last week. He
met with senior Iraqi officials incm
cluding the Prime Minister Haider
al-Abadi, the Iraqi President Fuad
Maasum, the Parliament Speaker
Salim al-Juburi and the Foreign
Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.
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No. 484, Monday, April 06, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
3
backgrounds and that ream
ality will remain a part of
the values and principles
of the Kurdistan Region.
Cardinal Filoni said that
embracing such a huge
number of refugees withom
out taking difference relm
ligious and ethnic backgm
ground into consideration,
stressing that it means that
Kurdistan believes in the
valuable principles of coem
existence and humanitarim
ian values.
He said that he witnessed
how the Christians thanked
the KRG kindness in the
camps for serving them.
In addition, Cardinal
Filoni hailed the role of
Peshmarga forces and
asked President Barzani
to convoy Pope and his
gratitude to them who are
fighting bravely against
Islamic State militants.
He said that Peshmarga
forces are those who are
sacrificing their lives to
allow other people to live
in peace.
Cardinal Filoni added
that Peshmarga has now
become symbol of resm
sistance and struggle to
provide freedom because
Peshmarga is nog fighting
to occupy somewhere but
it is rather to defend civil
people.
He added that the situam
ation has changed since
he first visited Kurdistan
GLOBE PHOTO/Safin Hamid
President Massoud Barzm
zani received a papal delegm
gation headed by Cardinal
Fernando Filoni, the Specm
cial Envoy to His Holiness
Pope Francis. During the
meeting, Cardinal Filoni
extended the greetings of
His Holiness Pope Francis
to President Barzani and
expressed his repeated
gratitude to the Kurdistan
Region for their efforts
at assisting the Christian
refugees.
President Barzani warmlm
ly welcomed the delem
egation and conveyed his
personal greetings to His
Holiness Pope Francis,
adding that the Kurdistan
Region takes pride in the
fact that it has historically
been a region of coexistm
tence between people of
all ethnic and religious
GLOBE PHOTO
President Barzani stresses Kurdistan will
remain ‘safe haven’ for minorities
when ISIS was attacked
Kurdistan back to August
last year. He stressed that
Peshmarga did not have
enough and advanced
weapons, but they still
defended the region very
bravely and heroically.
The Christian delegation
thanked President Barzani
as he always issues statemm
ment in solidarity with the
Christian in special Christm
tian ceremonies.
During the meeting,
President Barzani stressed
that Kurdistan will always
remain as a safe haven
for the Christian and othem
er minorities and ethnic
groups.
The President stated that
the Kurdish Peshmarga
forces have been successfm
ful in defeating the myth
of Islamic State.
President Barzani
inaugurates 10th
International Book
Fair in Erbil
President Barzani inam
augurated the 10th Intm
ternational Book Fair
in Erbil in which 200
print houses joined it
and exhibited more
than 700,000 titles of
books.
Mada Foundation orgm
ganized the exhibition
and the books were in
different
languages,
including
Kurdish,
Arabic, English and
Persian.
Kurdistan Region Prime
Minister, Nechirvan Barzm
zani, yesterday received
members of the Turkish
Parliament, Leyla Zana
and Sırrı Süreyya Onder.
Mrs Zana and Mr Onder
briefed the Prime Ministm
ter about their recent visim
it to Imrali Island where
they met the imprisoned
leader of the Kurdistan
Workers Party, PKK,
Abdullah Ocalan.
They said, Mr Ocalan
is well aware of the attm
tempts undertaken by
Prime Minister Barzani
in supporting the peace
process in Turkey and
finding a settlement for
the Kurdish issue in this
GLOBE PHOTO
Ocalan praises PM Barzani’s role in the peace process in Turkey
country, for which, they
said, he expressed his
gratitude.
The two sides discussed
the latest developments
in the peace process,
highlighting the importm
tance of preventing the
process to be hampered
by minor problems.
Prime Minister Barzani
expressed his readiness
to continue supporting
the peace process and
settlement of the Kurdish
issue and carrying out
any task that is required
in order to help achieve
it.
They also discussed the
latest developments in
the war against terrorism
and the efforts exerted to
convene a pan-Kurdish
conference, highlighting
the importance of unity
among the Kurdistan partm
ties in facing terrorism.
In this regard the Prime
Minister expressed his
thanks and appreciation
for of the various Kurdim
ish groups which fight
terrorism.
No. 484, Monday, April 06, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
Kurdistan received a $455 million budget
payment from Baghdad for March
to a monthly payment of $1
billion.
So far, neither side has
been able to reach its immm
mediate targets. The Centm
tral Government has suffm
fered cash flow problems,
burdened by low oil prices
and the war against the Islm
lamic State.
The Kurds have struggled
to reach the export target
of 550,000 barrels per day
PRESS PHOTO
ports at a time when revem
enues are strained by low
global prices and the cost
of fighting the Islamic State
terrorists who seized contm
trol of large areas in the
north and west of Iraq.
“Both sides are committm
ted to implementing the
agreement in good faith,”
Finance Minister Hoshyar
Zebari told Reuters.
Zebari, a Kurd, added that
Fuad Hussein: Article 140
remains a sticking point
PRESS PHOTO
Kurdistan received a $455
million budget payment
from Baghdad for March, a
proof that the Central Govem
ernment honours the deal
over the Kurds’ oil policies,
the country’s Finance Minim
ister said on Thursday.
Baghdad cut the budget
payments in January 2014
over the semi-autonomous
Kurdistan region’s plans to
export its oil through Turkm
key but reinstated them in
December after the Kurds
agreed to export an averam
age of 550,000 barrels per
day through Turkish Ceyhm
han port via Iraq’s State
Oil Marketing Organisation
(SOMO) in 2015.
The agreement aimed to
help Iraq increase oil expm
the payments had come in
for the past five months.
Iraq made its last payment
to the Kurds for February
on March 19.
The
semi-autonomous
Kurdish Region was promim
ised 17 percent from this
year’s $105 billion national
budget, which averages out
from their fields and from
national fields in Kirkuk
they are now responsible
for exporting from.
Total Kurdish oil exports
have now reached an averam
age of 450,000 barrels per
day, according to Zebari.
Both sides have displayed
“a steady, insistent commitmm
4
The Kurdistan Regional
Government is attemptim
ing to solve economic
and political issues while
continuing to repel attm
tacks by the Islamic State
and manage the crisis that
began last year.
Chief of Staff to the
Kurdistan Region Presidm
dency Fuad Hussein
told London-based PanArab Newspaper, Asharq
Al- Awsat, “The KRG
has been successful in
managing the economic
and security crises since
the beginning of the last
year. The Iraqi Federal
Government has sent part
of Kurdistan’s share of
the budget as relations
between Erbil and Baghdm
dad improve and we are
coordinating in the fight
against IS."
Some issues between
Erbil and Baghdad remm
main however, “Issues
regarding
Peshmerga
forces have been solved
in the budget bill, but
cases, like article 140,
remain sticking points
as they are related to the
Iraqi constitution”.
“When IS took control
of Mosul, it upgraded
from a terrorist organizatm
tion to a terrorist ‘state';
our current strategy is to
degrade this ‘state’ and
defeat them,” added Hussm
sein.
“IS has lost most of its
experienced militants, it
is facing financial issues
and they treat their injm
jured militants in houses.
Increasing
casualties
among IS from fighting
the Peshmerga and other
groups is the reason that
Mosul hospitals cannot
cope."
“The KRG’s strategy is
to resist IS at any stage
and to cooperate with
those who fight IS militm
tants.”
Hussein continued, “Coam
alition air strikes and the
provision of heavy weapom
ons by the international
coalition have been very
effective, but we have
lost over 1,150 Peshmergm
ga and more than 5,000
have been injured."
“If we had received
heavy weapons earlier,
fatalities would be fewer.
Now we need more heavy
weapons to retake the occm
cupied areas.”
No. 484, Monday, April 06, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
Following a meeting and
discussing several internal
issues, Head of Change
Movement
(Gorran)
Noshirwan Mustafa and
Secretary of Kurdistan
Democratic Party (KDP)
politburo Fadhil Mirani
stressed on the unity of
Kurdish political parties.
A KDP delegation led by
Mirani visited Gorran HQ
in the province of Sulaimam
ani, aiming to discuss the
significant internal issues.
Speaking in a press confm
ference, Mirani said that
the major aim of the visit
was to talk about “stratm
tegic issues”. He added
that Iraq is now plunging
into a bloody war that will
have impact on Kurdistan
too.
Mirani announced that:
“We have to strengthen
our relations and unity
and intensify the leadersm
ship meetings and visit
each other frequently and
make the opinions more
close.”
By visiting each other
and maintaining unity,
Mirani said, the problems
of the government and the
PRESS PHOTO
Senior KDP officials and Gorran leader
reaffirm unity of political parties
crises will definitely get
solved. “If we get closer
and work together, then
we will have better governm
nance.”
In addition, Mirani stated
that it was the first visit,
but it would be continued
in the future. “Nothing
gets solved overnight.”
Mirani added that they
do not want to crunch
time because the happenim
ings are very fast and that
they do not want to get
into trouble.
On his part, Gorran
leader Mustafa said:
“They discussed the currm
rent situation in Iraq and
the Kurdistan Region and
Middle East in order to
have a common evaluam
ation of them. We also
talked about Yemen war
as well.”
Mustafa also repeated
Mirani’s statement that
the only condition for
success is “unity” of the
Kurdish political parties
in this sensitive moment.
Regarding the recent
negotiation about the dispm
putes emerged about the
presidential term in Kurdim
istan, Mustafa said: “We
discussed the issue of finim
ishing the presidential term
of the Kurdistan President.
We think that there should
be a political comprehensm
sive consensus on it and
common understanding
would be made amongst
the parties.”Mustafa also
added that the leadership
of the political parties will
make a decision on the issm
sue and then the Kurdistm
tan Parliament will work
on it.
5
Eminki praises
Poland for supporting
Kurdistan
Vice President of Kurdim
istan Parliament Dr. Jaafem
er Ebrahim Eminki, on
Tuesday, April 1, 2015,
received a high ranking
Polish delegation headed
by Ms. Retana Tcheneskm
ka the Polish Consul to
Kurdistan and accompanm
nied by a polish state TV
Chanel.
Eminki praised the Polim
ish government for their
continuous support for
the Kurdistan Region
in the fight against the
Islamic State (ISIS) terrm
rorists by helping out the
refugees and displaced
families in the same way
as other European countm
tries have done.
He also appreciated the
role of the Consulate of
Poland in Erbil.
Eminki said that Polm
land has had a significant
positive impact on the
European Union’s opinim
ion about Kurdish issues
and also has helped the
region’s education sectm
tor by admitting a large
number of Kurdish studm
dents in their universitm
ties and educational insm
stitutions.
Consul Tcheneska reim
iterated her country’s
commitment to support
Kurdistan and improve
its bilateral ties with the
region as well as participm
pating in the rebuilding
of the region using its
country’s
capabilities
and experience.
The delegation from
the Polish TV Channel
expressed their amazemm
ment about the stability
and security the Region
has among this chaotic
situation in Iraq and the
region.
They praised the Kurdim
istan Region for their
tolerance to the ethnic
and religious minorities
and accommodating this
huge number of refugees
and internally displaced
persons (IDPs) who have
been forced out of their
places of origin because
of their ethnicities or relm
ligious beliefs.
No. 484, Monday, April 06, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
NEWS BAR
An Expat’s View on Kurdistan: Complainers
By J. Watt
This is the second article in
a series designed to give an
American expatriate’s opinion
on discovering, understandim
ing, and enjoying authentic
Kurdish culture.
“Which country is better,
Kurdistan or America?” This
question greets nearly every
American expatriate in the
Kurdistan region. I usually resm
spond by explaining that both
places have beautiful people,
culture, and traditions—
though they are very different.
To which I usually get mixed
responses. There are, no doubt,
people who are proud of their
homeland, yet I find myself
continually frustrated by a
contingent who feels the need
to complain about Kurdistan
Iraq drops MMS case
and only talk about wanting
to leave for another country in
the west, without offering any
solutions to said complaints.
Kurdistan is indeed experiem
encing a tough time: slowed
economy, war with a ruthless
enemy, a short list of regional
allies, and a huge refugee crism
sis. Yet, instead of jumping
ship as many of the dreamers
suggest, now is the time to dig
in, commit to the long-term
prosperity of Kurdistan and
actually work towards the futm
ture.
Germany, for instance, was
a country economically, polm
litically, and socially ravaged
by World War 2. Yet from
the ashes, mostly through a
stalwart German work ethic,
Germany has now arisen as
Europe’s largest economy and,
again, as a major power in the
world. Imagine if those who
complained about Germany’s
woes left in the late 40’s or
early 50’s and never stuck
around to see Germany’s retm
turn to world prominence decm
cades later.
While some of the complainem
ers dream of an easier life in
the West with endless money,
government payouts, and bettm
ter services, this is far from
reality—even if it is reality,
which it isn’t, it misses the
point that the benefits these
countries offer were worked
hard for.
To the complainers, now is
the time to press deeper into
making Kurdistan the land
you really want it to be and to
work towards positive action
rather than negative critiques.
If you’re unhappy with your
economic situation, then innovm
vate and work hard. If you’re
displeased with social norms
or limitations, then strive for
change. If you’re tired of livim
ing in tough and unstable
times, then grab those around
you who can encourage you
and push harder to make it
through—or at least wake up
to the reality that the grass
isn’t always greener on the
other side.
Kurdistan is a great place to
live, for those who are willing
to work for it.
In a brief statement, the Iraqi Minim
istry of Oil said a settlement has
been reached between the two partm
ties. They agreed that when current
contracts between MMS and the
KRG expire, the company will not
load or transport Kurdish oil, unlm
less it is sold through the country’s
State Oil Marketing Organization
(SOMO).
Casualty Figures for
March 2015 in Iraq
PRESS PHOTO
Peshmerga minister asks France for military help
French President Francois Hollm
lande met with a Kurdish Peshmm
merga delegation on Wednesdm
day at the Elysee Palace to
discuss the possibility of armim
ing Kurdish forces to help them
defeat Islamic State.
Known for his proactive role
in France's intervention in Libym
ya in 2011, French philosopher
Bernard-Henri Levy was also
present at the meeting.
He accompanied the delegatm
tion on a visit to the Paris kosher
supermarket and a memorial
outside the former headquarters
of weekly satirical newspaper
Charlie Hebdo, where sixteen
people were killed by Islamist
gunmen in January.
Levy has been advocating the
arming of Peshmerga fighters,
particularly since the attack on
Charlie Hebdo and the Hyper
Cacher.
"When we were in front of
Mosul, I spoke to Commander
Barzani about Charlie Hebdo
and I told him that these were
the same killers, the same enem
emies and the same fight," he
said, speaking to Minister of
Peshmerga Affairs Mustafa
Sayid Qadir.
France's Defence Minister
Jean-Yves Le Drian greeted
Qadir, who was accompanied
by Peshmerga Commander
Sirwan Barzani and the represm
sentative of the Kurdistan Regm
gional Government in France,
Khaman Zrar.
While brave and well-led, the
Kurds have found themselves
outgunned in battles with Islm
lamic State.
Qadir appealed to the French
government to aid Kurdish
Peshmerga fighters by providim
ing them with weapons.
"Another reason for our meetim
ing and our visit is to ask the
president of the republic (of
France) to help us a little bit
more in terms of armament so
we can defeat Islamic State as
fast as possible," he said.
More than 1,000 Peshmerga
have been killed in combat
with Islamic State militants
since they overran a third of
Iraq last summer, but several
hundred Kurds have joined
the other side and are fighting
against their ethnic kin.
France will send a key delem
egation to Kurdistan Region
in Iraq to double its support to
Kurds and to arm Peshmerga
forces in their fight against the
terrorist Islamic State of Iraq
and the Levant organization.
Earlier, the French President
Francios Hollande promised
that his country “would supply
weapons and ammunitions to
the Kurdish forces fighting the
ISIL in a meeting with Kurdish
Minister of Peshmerga at the
Elysee palace in Paris on last
Wednesday.”
“We have been promised
weapons and ammunitions and
when they are delivered, you
will know what types of weapom
ons they are,” said Kurdistan
Regional Government Kurdistm
tan Region Peshmerga Minister
Mustafa Sayid Qadir at a press
conference.
PRESS PHOTO
communities in Kurdistan and
Iraq are spent under the umbm
brella of peace, stability and
victory, and that the terrorism,
terrorists and their dark minds
come to an end.
We wish our Assyrian, Chaldm
dean and Syriac sisters and
brothers a peaceful and happy
feast and hope they celebrate
their next feast with joy and
happiness in their own homes.
According to casualty figures relm
leased last week by UNAMI, a total
of 997 Iraqis were killed and another
2,172 were injured in acts of terrorim
ism and violence in March.
The number of civilians killed was
729 (including 42 civilian police),
and the number of civilians injured
was 1,785 (including 98 civilian polm
lice).
A further 268 members of the Iraqi
Security Forces (including Peshmm
merga, SWAT and militias fighting
alongside the Iraqi Army / Not incm
cluding casualties from Anbar Opem
erations) were killed and 387 were
injured.
Erbil Security:
no IS fighters
arrested in Erbil
After several local websites in
Kurdistan Region announced the arrm
resting of ten terrorists affiliated to
Islamic State (IS) in Erbil, the Kurdim
ish capital citizens became worried.
Regarding this news, "The Kurdim
ish Globe" contacted Head of Erbil
Security Directorate, Tariq Noori,
who rejected the news and said no
IS terrorists have been arrested in
the city.
KRG reveals the
number of martyrs
Ministerial Council congratulates Akito
and New Year celebrations
We sincerely congratulate our
Assyrian, Chaldean, and Syriac
sisters and brothers in Kurdistm
tan, Iraq and all over the world,
thousands of whose families
have been forced leave their
places of origin and live in refum
ugee camps, on the occasion of
the Assyrian and Babylonian
New Year and the Akito feasts.
We hope that the future feasts
of the Christians and all the
6
The Kurdistan Regional Governmm
ment’s Minister of Martyrs and Anfm
fal Affairs has announced that 1,500
members of Kurdish forces have
been killed since the beginning of
the conflict with IS.
Minister Mahmood Salih told the
Voice of America, “About 1,500
Kurdish Peshmerga, police and secm
curity forces have been killed up to
now, and a larger number injured
– some of them are receiving medicm
cal treatment abroad.”
No. 484, Monday, April 06, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
Sports News
PM Barzani: Peshmarga’s fight against terrorism
is to protect human rights principles
population represents
on the Kurdistan Regm
gional Government at
a time when the Kurdim
istan Region is going
through a financial crism
sis, lack of budget and
a war which has been
imposed on it by ISIS.
According to a recent
joint report by the Unitem
ed Nations and KRG
Ministry of Planning,
the IDPs and refugees
in Kurdistan Region
represent 28 per cent
of the local population.
Despite the difficulties,
the Kurdistan Region
has accommodated and
provided them all the
assistance and services
that it can.
The visiting delegatm
tion stressed that it will
plead the plight of the
IDPs and refugees befm
fore the international
community, in particulm
lar the European countm
tries, for them to provm
vide further aid to the
IDPs in the Kurdistan
Region.
The delegation also
stressed that it will
raise this issue at the
conference of donor
countries, which is
scheduled to be held in
Kuwait next week and
will inform the audiem
the frontline against
terrorism. The delegatm
tion expressed its govem
ernment’s readiness to
provide the necessary
assistance for medical
treatment to injured
Peshmarga.
Prime Minister Barzm
zani said that the
Peshmarga forces are
fighting against ISIS
terrorists in order to
defend and protect the
principles of human
rights, which are valum
ues that the Kurdistan
Region shares with all
supporters of freedom
across the world.
PRESS PHOTO
Kurdistan Region Prime
Minister, Nechirvan Barzani
and his accompanying delem
egation on Tuesday attended
the mourning ceremony, held
in Ankawa, for the late Patriam
arch of the Assyrian Church
of the East, His Holiness Mar
Dinkha IV.
The Prime Minister expm
pressed his grief and sorrow
to the Assyrian Church of the
East and it followers, praisim
ing highly the role that the
late Patriarch Mar Dinkha
IV played in promoting the
spirit of brotherhood and coexistence among various ethnm
nic and religious group in the
Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
and all the communities
in Kurdistan and Iraq are
spent under the umbrella of
peace, stability and victory,
and that the terrorism, terrm
rorists and their dark minds
come to an end.
We wish our Assyrian,
Chaldean and Syriac sisters
and brothers a peaceful and
happy feast and hope they
celebrate their next feast
with joy and happiness in
their own homes
By Swara Kadir
economic development.
What is the main source that
is feeding this huge nanny
state? Baghdad. It was grudgim
ingly sending Kurdistan’s
share of the budget. Kurdistm
tan has been entirely dependm
dent on Baghdad’s handouts
with no alternative mean of
income. Then it stopped all
together, which brought the
whole Kurdish economy to a
standstill. Now we are getting
what is equivalent to bread
crumbs from Baghdad in excm
change for giving them crude
oil. Over the long term this
creates a highly dependent,
non-productive economy.
Again the question is how
could this have been avoided?
This may seem simplistic, but
there could have been another
Ferguson: Neymar can reach
Messi and Ronaldo
Alex Ferguson believes Neymar is the
player best placed to reach the standard
set by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronam
aldo.
Ferguson said: "The boy Neymar gets
a lot of publicity about the potential he's
got, but I think that's still to be seen, still
to be fulfilled. Certainly, most people I
speak to speak highly of the boy. When
I had Anderson at United, he spoke volum
umes about the boy's ability. So hopefully
he'll be the next one who'll produce the
type of talent we see in Messi and Ronam
aldo."
Rodgers: Liverpool
will not sell Sterling
How it could have been all avoided!
The lack of capital injection
from Baghdad into the Kurdim
istan Region has slowly dried
up the economy. The question
is; how could it have been all
avoided in the first place?
I met with a senior official
at the Ministry of Finance a
few days ago. He said that we
have around 1,400,000 people
in Kurdistan on the governmm
ment pay roll. Only around
640,000 of these are actually
working in a government job,
the rest are just getting paid.
This huge number of employem
ees is consuming more than
70% of the Kurdistan Regionam
al Government budget, which
is around $700,000,000, leavim
ing only $300,000,000 for
everything else, including
reconstruction, growth and
Lionel Messi has been the best performing
forward in Europe's elite leagues in 2015,
according to a CIES Football Observatory
study, while it ranked Cristiano Ronaldo
only 29th among forwards.
Barcelona star Messi, who has scored 17
goals in La Liga since Jan. 1, rated as the
most effective forward, with teammates
Luis Suarez and Neymar also placing highlm
ly at fourth and 12th respectively.
PM Barzani attends the mourning ceremony of
His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV
Oil minister talks about
Maliki’s corruptions
We sincerely congratulate
our Assyrian, Chaldean, and
Syriac sisters and brothers
in Kurdistan, Iraq and all
over the world, thousands
of whose families have
been forced leave their
places of origin and live in
refugee camps, on the occm
casion of the Assyrian and
Babylonian New Year and
the Akito feasts.
We hope that the future
feasts of the Christians
ence about the extent
of humanitarian duties
that the Kurdistan Regm
gional Government has
implemented towards
the displaced and refugm
gees.
Prime Minister Barzm
zani emphasised that
the Kurdistan Region
has embraced all the
displaced persons regm
gardless of ethnicity,
religion or sect.
Both sides also discm
cussed the current
political situation in
Iraq, the fight against
ISIS and the progress
made by the Kurdistan
Peshmarga Forces on
Lionel Messi ranks top in 2015
PRESS PHOTO
Kurdistan
Region
Prime Minister, Nechirvm
van Barzani, on Mondm
day received Mr. Jean
Asselborn, Minister of
Foreign and European
Affairs of Luxembourg
and his accompanying
delegation.
The two sides discm
cussed the situation of
the internally displaced
Iraqis and Syrian refugm
gees that fled the violm
lent repression of the
Islamic State terrorim
ist organisation, ISIS,
and took refuge in the
Kurdistan Region.
They highlighted the
heavy burden that this
7
way of using the twelve billm
lion dollars that Kurdistan
was getting, instead of just
paying it as government
wages to people. What I think
would have been a better way
of spending that money is for
the K.R.G to have supported
the private sector. How? By
first creating the right envirm
ronment, and body of laws.
Second, by providing loans
and subsidies for good projem
ects. Third, by avoiding corrm
rupt practices such as senior
politicians having a stake in
private businesses. Fourth,
not allowing foreign workers
to work in Kurdistan except
for senior managerial and
training positions.
The K.R.G could in return
start a private –sector- hiring-
program that would shift peopm
ple from the government payrm
roll to working in the private
sector. As a result it would not
have ended up with the cumbm
bersome nanny state that we
now have. Inevitably, because
of competition and the profit
motive, those people working
in the private sector would
have to be productive or else
get the sack. Fat chance of
that happening in the governmm
ment sector!
In the end, the K.R.G needs
to encourage private enterpm
prise and bolster the private
sector. That, in my opinion, is
the best way to create a strong
independent economy with a
productive labour force.
swara7kadir@aol.com
With Sterling's future in doubt, the likes
of Arsenal and Manchester City have
been linked with a move for his services,
but Liverpool boss Rodgers has no intentm
tion of letting his prized asset go.
"Raheem is not going anywhere this
summer," he said. "As a club we've shown
that [money does not come in to it]. If the
club doesn't want to sell, it won't sell.
"I'm quite relaxed on it. It's part of the
modern game. Raheem still has a lot of
improvements. This a great place for
him."
Simeone: The battle for third
is tough - but I like it
Diego Simeone believes the fight for
third place in La Liga has become extm
tremely difficult for Atletico Madrid - but
he is happy to see more competition in
the league.
"It's complicated because Valencia and
Sevilla have grown a lot since last seasm
son," he told reporters. "Villarreal have
continued their upward trend and that is
good for competition in La Liga. Hopefm
fully over the course of the next few
games, at the end of the season, we will
be closer."
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Rostam Zada is an artist
from Eastern Kurdistm
tan-Iran. He is an experm
rienced and an innovatm
tive painter. Muhamad
Salih Rostam Zada is
his full name, but he
is known as Namo. He
is teaching art at the
College of Fine Arts
in Hawler. Namo was
born in 1964 in the city
of Bokan. He got his
BA in the department
of painting, College of
Fine Arts in Tahran in
1993. He got his MA
degree in painting with
excellent degree. He’s
gained artistic membm
bership in Southern
Kurdistan, and he’s the
honorary member in the
Council of Artists and
Sculptors in Tahran.
Kurdish artists in Eastem
ern Kurdistan, like other
artists in the world, want
and have been able to
shift the level of art and
handworks to a high
level.
Consequently,
they have gained populm
larity in their country.
For this purpose, they
have worked very hard.
The art of Rostam Zada,
in addition of being profm
fessional, appears to be
contemporary. He has
used many techniques
and methods to express
his ideas and themes in
his works.
GLOBE PHOTO
The Kurdish Painter Rostam Zada
He’s employed the
Kurdish motifs and cultm
ture in his paintings. He
himself is deeply commm
mitted to what is Kurdim
ish. That’s why he has
been influenced and insm
spired by his surroundim
ings. His choice of colom
or is a good example of
this fact. Innovation and
renewal have special
importance for Rostam
Zada, especially in the
used technique and the
execution of his paintim
ings.
In every exhibition, he
introduces a group of
new forms and styles.
Rostam Zada has had
One of the modern works of Rostamzada
exhibitions in the citim
ies of Sina, Bokan,
Saqz and other places.
The exhibitions create
dialogues between his
works and the Kurdim
ish audience. He too
has shown his works in
Suleimani and Hawler.
Now he teaches art at
the College of Fine Arts
in Hawler. He is an expm
perienced leader that
can inspire his students
and introduce them to
the magic world of cream
ativity.
By Ashti Garmiyani
"Where is the Land", a
81-minute drama film dirm
rected and co-written by
Hushyar Nerwayi, is an
amazing movie that expm
plores the extent of humm
man compliance and the
lengths in which callous
ignorance will sustain it.
At first, it appears to be
centered on Bewar but,
later on, the film starts to
revolve and focus on the
decisions and viewpoint
of his wife, Behar.
Bewar and his wife live
in a small village in Kurdim
istan near the Turkish bordm
der. Behar is pregnant with
their third child which
happens to be a girl. With
two other daughters as
proof Bewar is convinced
that his wife can only give
birth to females and in his
desperation to get a son he
decides to marry a second
wife. The father of Bewars
second wife reluctantly
agrees to give his blessing
but only if Behar is fine
with it.
Persuading Behar to give
her consent, he somehow
manages to convince her
to accompany him on a
perilous journey across the
border. Along the way, Behm
har finds her own compliam
ant and tolerant behaviour
waning as she's forced to
face her own doubts and
thoughts- something that
her husband does not expm
pect.
"Where is the Land?" is a
breathtaking cinematic expm
perience that follows the
realization of an oppressed
female and the dissolution
of her own unconsciously
submissive behaviour.
H.G. Hassan
PRESS PHOTO
The Kurdish film “Where is the Land?”