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From the Heart of Kurdistan Region
National
P3
President Barzani
ends Europe tour,
returns to Kurdistan
National
P4
KRG to commit to
agreement with Baghdad
Interview
P5
Masrour Barzani the Head of the
Kurdistan Region Security Council
“We Need More from
U.S. to Fight ISIS.”
National
P5
Joint forces to storm
Mosul in months...
Kurds are backup force
National
P6
Kurdish PM attends 2015
Dubai Government Summit
and meets with top officials
PM Barzani says Kurdistan needs
more international humanitarian
and military support
GLOBE PHOTO/Safin Hamid
The only English paper in Iraq - No: 478 Mon. February 16, 2015
No. 478, Monday, February 16, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
The Refugees Changed
Kurdistan Region’s
Demography!
2
krp
President Barzani: “A
drop of Peshmerga blood
is more precious than all
fortune in the world.”
By Gazi Hassan
Kurdistan Region, like several regional
states, opened its doors for refugees and dispp
placed people. This hospitality reflects the
true positive picture of Kurdsitan with some
undesired consequences:
Firstly: the international community has
made clear that Kurdistan Region is a safe
area, and has a high level of tolerance, hump
manitarian spirit and opportunity of coep
existence. It has received the refugees and
displaced beyond its capacity. This is consp
sidered as a politically productive and diplomp
matically successful policy.
Secondly: Kurdistan Region is threatened
by security concerns and fears, demographic
changes, worsening economy, disability to
provide services and job opportunity for the
people.
It was good that the Prime Minister, Nechirvp
van Barzani, said honestly in a conference
on February 12th in Hewler that the Kurdip
istan Region is under threat of demographic
change. Within a year, the population has
increased by 28% due to the war refugees
from both Syria and Iraq.
The Prime Minister’s revelation is importp
tant. It’s true, Kurdistan Region is under the
threat of a demographic change and security
and stability concerns as well, because of
the refugees’ sectarian and political alignmp
ment that some of their relatives could be
involved with the radical terrorist groups,
or they themselves could be under the influep
ence of the developments due to some religp
gious and sectarian factors.
It’s been a year salaries of people of Kurdip
istan are cut by Baghdad government; the
people are confronting ISIS just like the
Peshmerge, because all people here are
against the ISIS, while the Baghdad govep
ernment is against IS as an ethnic group. So
even now this unified attitude of the Kurdish
people against terrorism has not been appp
preciated. The Central Government wants
to form Hashd Al-Shaabi (the local militias
formed to combat ISIS).
The KRG Prime Minister hit on the nail!
What power, economy, humanitarian capp
pability can solve the problems of over a
million and a half refugees and can provide
Weekly paper printed in Erbil
First published in 2005
www.kurdishGlobe.net
Address: Erbil, Massif road
them non-stop services? While Baghdad is
the one responsible for protecting all those
refugees. But instead, it carries on its politicp
cal, economic and psychological pressures
on the Kurdistan Region authority.
What about the disputed territories outside
the Kurdistan Region in which Peshmerge
are waging a crucial and fierce war against
ISIS? Isn’t this a real humanitarian crisis
that Baghdad and the international communp
nity are responsible for? Isn’t it a political
crisis? Instead of supporting the Peshmerge
to maintain the stability of these areas, the
Baghdad Government considers deployip
ing Shia militias to re-occupy the areas and
carry on Arabization policy to change the
demography of the local population.
Kurdistan Region is practically under a
political and economical pressure, as well
as forced demographic changes. Has the intp
ternational community taken into account
what would happen if this stable area face
further crisis? Have they thought that the
financial capability the Kurdistan Region
will not last for long on the same level? It’s
true that people of Kurdistan are all against
ISIS, and has opened their doors to the refugp
gees and displaced people, but the situation
is energy-consuming. It’s not possible that
sons of Kurdistan are martyred while some
of the guests whistle for ISIS’s continuation,
enjoying parties at night and sleep well in
the daytime. Yes, it’s not possible that Peshmp
merge and their families are not getting their
salaries while the refugees are provided with
jobs in the safe places and behave irresponsp
sibly besides.
There’s no doubt that the war is destructp
tive. It seems to last for years in Syria and
Iraq. Recapturing Mosul and the Sunni arep
eas needs much time, which the Iraqi army
and Shiia militias cannot do alone, contrary
to what the Baghdad officials maintain. It
needs the US and coalition ground forces,
or the Arabic countries’ forces could achieve
the task in case the Shiia-majority authorip
ity in Baghdad and Iran agree and give the
green light.
The Western powers, particulp
larly Germany, have promised to
supply more arms to the Kurdip
ish forces in the coming days,
said Kurdistan Region President
Massoud Barzani on Feb 8. in
Munich in Germany.
“Our meeting with Angela
Merkel was very productive and
she is very concerned about the
situation in Kurdistan,” Barzani
told Rudaw. “She also told me
that they have decided to send
more and better weapons to the
Peshmerga which was delightful
news.”
The Kurdish President who
attended the Munich Security
Conference with other world
leaders said that he had met with
the German Defense Minister
and her European counterparts
on the sidelines of the conferep
ence.
Germany has been one of
Kurdistan Region’s staunch allp
lies in the war against the Islamip
ic State (ISIS). German Defense
Minister Ursula von der Leyen
has visited Erbil twice in the
past few months.
Barzani said that he also met
with a number of US senators
who had pledged to discuss
sending more arms to the Kurds
with the US government.
“What is important is that they
all have a lot of respect for the
bravery and dedication of our
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Gazi Hassan +964 750 7747784
Senior U.K. Editor
Bashdar Pusho Ismaeel
[email protected]
[email protected]
ARTS EDITOR
Diyaco Qayoumy
+964 750 4036252
[email protected]
Reviser
Honar Osman
[email protected]
Peshmerga forces,” said Barzp
zani.
Barzani also met with Iraq’s
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadp
di for the first time in Munich
where they discussed the war
against ISIS and future plans for
Mosul.
“I met with Abadi and we discp
cussed many issues among them
the situation in Mosul and we
agreed to have more cooperatp
tion between us from now on,”
said Barzani.
Concerning the sacrifices of
Peshmerga, Barzani said, “A
drop of Peshmerga blood is
more precious than all world's
fortunes, but if we want to protp
tect our honor we have to sacrp
rifice ourselves. We get terribly
sad when we see our people
martyred in the wars. But our
mission is very sacred and needs
sacrifice. We need to have resp
spect for our martyrs and their
families. I bow and kiss the
hands of those mothers who
have lost their loved sons in this
war.”
The Peshmerga forces have
pushed back ISIS on many fronts
and are currently positioned 25
kilometers outside Mosul, but
Kurdish leaders believe the Iraqi
government and local Sunnis
are responsible for the city’s finp
nal liberation.
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No. 478, Monday, February 16, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
3
President Barzani ends Europe tour,
returns to Kurdistan
President Barzani meets French
President Hollande in Paris
PRESS PHOTO
Kurdistan Region Presidp
dent Masoud Barzani met
with French President
François Hollande in Paris
on Tuesday.
In their meeting at the
Élysée Palace, the two
presidents discussed the
ongoing fight against ISIS
terrorists and efforts to libep
erate the city of Mosul.
President Hollande welcp
comed President Barzani’s
visit to Paris and reiterated
his country’s support for
the Kurdistan Region, in
particular the Peshmerga
forces. He praised the role
of the Kurdish forces in
taking the fight to the ISIS
terrorists. He said France
would continue to provide
military, humanitarian and
political support to Kurdip
istan, and that it would
also seek to gather support
for Kurdistan among other
European countries too.
President
Barzani
thanked President Hollp
lande for his continuous
support and France’s aerial
support for the Peshmerga
forces. He said President
Hollande’s visit to Erbil
in September was very
important and showed that
our people have true and
great friends.
The two also discussed
joint preparations underwp
way by the Peshmerga and
the Iraqi army to liberate
the city of Mosul from
ISIS terrorists. They also
discussed relations betp
tween Erbil and Baghdad
and the recent meeting
between President Barzp
zani and Iraqi Prime Minip
ister Abadi in Munich last
week. They underlined the
importance of close coopep
eration between Erbil and
Baghdad to address the
challenges facing Iraq.
President Barzani also
met with French Defense
Minister Jean-Yves Le
Drian on Monday in Paris
to discuss the fight against
ISIS and the military needs
of the Peshmerga.
PRESS PHOTO
krp
Following his Europe tour,
Kurdistan Region’s President
Massoud Barzani returned to
Kurdistan Region via Erbil Intp
ternational Airport on Saturday,
February 14, 2015.
President Barzani and an accp
companying delegation visited
Europe to attend the 2015 Munp
nich Security Conference last
week.
During their stay in Europe,
the Kurdish delegation also met
with a number world leaders
in Germany. President Barzani
visited Paris, France, where he
met the French President Françp
çois Hollande and other top offp
ficials.
Austria was the delegation’s
last stop, where they met the
Austrian President Hans Fischep
er.
The world leaders reiterated
their support for the KRG in
their fight against terrorism
as well as in the refugee crisis
the Region faces as more than
1.5 million people have fled to
Kurdistan Region escaping violp
lence in Syria and Iraq.
KRG condemns the murder of Kayla Mueller
The Kurdistan Regional
Government
condemns
the murder by the Islamic
State terrorist organizatp
tion of Kayla Mueller, an
American who had travep
eled to Syria to provide
humanitarian assistance to
those in need.
The kidnapping and
murder of humanitarian
workers runs counter to all
basic moral imperatives
that are the foundation of
modern civilization. ISIS
has displaced millions of
innocent civilians from
their homes; their attacks
on humanitarian aid workep
ers demonstrate an incompp
prehensible and cynical
callousness toward human
life.
Ms. Mueller was a brave
young woman who dedicp
cated her life to the servp
vice of those in need. It is
tragic that her life should
be cut short. On behalf of
the people of Kurdistan,
the Kurdistan Regional
Government expresses its
deepest condolences to the
family, friends, and collp
leagues of Kayla Mueller
and we should continue
working hand in hand to
combat this terrorist organp
nization.
No. 478, Monday, February 16, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
4
KRG to commit to agreement with Baghdad
A Kurdish high-level delegation led by KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani on Sunday visited Baghdad. The delegation included
deputy to PM Qubad Talabani, KRG Spokesman Safin Dezayee and KRG Minister of Natural Resources.
Baghdad, but the same is
expected from the Iraqi
government, a KRG offp
ficial said Saturday.
Erbil and Baghdad had
reached an agreement in
December 2014 where
the Kurdish region would
export 250,000 barrels of
oil per day and its Kirkuk
province would export
300,000 barrels per day,
while Baghdad would allp
locate 17 percent of the
Iraqi oil budget to the
Kurdish region.
The Kurds, however,
have sent only 200,000
barrels of Kirkuk’s oil to
the port for daily export
to international markets.
"We agreed on an
agreement and the centp
tral government in Iraq
should send KRG's budgp
get,” KRG spokesman
Safin Dezayee said in Erbp
bil during a conference.
“I think the December
agreement was a good
one, but it seems that
there are still disputes
between the two sides.”
“This dispute is about
the amount of Erbil's oil
to be sent to Baghdad,"
he added. "Erbil will ship
the necessary amount in
line with the agreement
till the end of the year."
PRESS PHOTO
KRG Prime Minister
Nechirvan Barzani is
scheduled to meet Iraq’s
PM Haydar al-Abadi in
Baghdad on Monday.
PM Barzani told Kurdip
ish media outlets that the
Kurdish delegation will
try to resolve all the misup
understanding between
the two sides.
He also stressed his
government’s commitmp
ment to the Erbil-Baghdp
dad agreement signed in
last December.
The Kurdish Regional
Government is commp
mitted to doing its part
when it comes to the
2014 oil agreement with
MOP and World Bank Report suggests KRG
needs US$1.4b to stabilize economy
PM Barzani says Kurdistan needs more international humanitarian and military support
The Kurdistan Regional
Government (KRG) is facip
ing an economic and hump
manitarian crisis as a result
of the influx of Syrian refugp
gees and more recently the
Internally Displaced Persp
sons.
According to a newly
completed KRG – World
Bank report, economic
growth contracted 5 percp
centage points in the Kurdip
istan Region, and poverty
rate more than doubled incp
creasing from 3.5 percent to
8.1 percent.
The report, Economic and
Social Impact Assessment
of the Syrian Conflict and
ISIS Crisis, provides natp
tional and regional policy
makers with a technical assp
sessment of the impact and
stabilization costs needed
for 2015, associated with
the influx of refugees and
IDPs. The stabilization cost
for 2015 is estimated at
US$1.4 billion in additional
spending above and beyond
the KRG budget.
This estimate could get
much higher depending on
how long the crisis persists.
While the KRG has been
responsive to addressing
the needs of the displaced
population up till now,
more resources are needed
to avert this humanitarian
crisis and address the needs
of the displaced population
in the medium and longterm. Impact refers to the
immediate economic and
fiscal effects on the KRG
economy and budget, while
stabilization cost refers to
the additional spending that
would be needed to restore
the welfare of residents of
the KRI.
“The international commp
munity remains deeply concp
cerned by the circumstances
facing the refugees and Intp
ternally Displaced Persons
in the Kurdistan Region
of Iraq,” said Robert Bou
Jaoude, World Bank Special
Representative for Iraq.
“We hope that this assp
sessment will support the
KRG’s dialogue with its
national and international
counterparts and that a swift
resolution to this problem
will be identified’, noted
Jaoude.
The study highlights how
prices and unemployment
have increased, and refugp
gees and IDPs entering the
labor market are pushing
wages down. A surge in
violence led to supply side
shocks. The ISIS crisis has
had a significant effect on
trade of goods and services.
Transportation routes were
disrupted. Foreign direct
investment flows have decp
clined and operations of forep
eign enterprises have been
adversely affected. Disruptp
tion of public investment
projects has had a negative
impact on the economy.
“As a result of the Syrian
conflict and the ISIS crisis,
KRI’s population increased
by 28 percent placing strains
on the local economy, host
community, and access to
public services. We acceptep
ed and treated them as our
own by providing access
to all public services in our
region,” said Dr. Ali Sindi,
KRG Minister of Planning.
“While our government
has allocated significant
resources―through the Immp
mediate Response Plan―to
accommodate the needs of
the displaced population,
it cannot address this big
scale humanitarian crisis
on its own. Greater suppp
port from the national and
international partners will
be needed to rise above
this humanitarian crisis
and meet the needs of the
displaced’, adds the KRG’s
Minister of Planning.
The report is an outcome
of close collaboration betp
tween a wide spectrum of
World Bank experts and
regional government institp
tutions and international
partners.
“A national and internatp
tional response is needed
in the immediate future and
in the medium-term there
is a need for structural refp
forms,” said Sibel Kulaksiz,
World Bank Senior Economp
mist and Project Leader.
“The authorities have alrp
ready recognized the need
for economic reforms and
the diversification of the
economy. Indeed, one of the
main pillars of the KRG Visp
sion is the development of a
diversified economy driven
by the private sector.”
MOP and the World Bank
organized a conference in
Erbil about the findings of
the joint study. The conferep
ence, took place on Thursdp
day, February 12, 2015 at
the Saad Convention Centp
ter.
The conference attended
by the KRG Prime Minister
Nechirvan Barzani, Ministp
try of Planning and World
Bank officials.
PM Barzani expressed his
gratitude to the World Bank
for helping out Kurdistan
Region, in an address to the
Conference.
PM Barzani said in 2003
KRG drafted a comprehp
hensive economic strategic
plan, and achieved a fast
development in all aspects
in a short time.
“Kurdistan became a focp
cus point on the region’s
map,” said PM Barzani.
“Although we have continup
uously had disagreements
and problems with Baghdad
over several issues that the
previous federal governmp
ment not even failed to addp
dress but also complicated
them further day after day.”
Kurdish PM also talked
about the Syrian conflicts,
the ISIS war and the internal
political and security crises
inside Iraq has led to the
displacement of hundreds
of thousands of people into
Kurdistan Region, and the
Kurdistan Region tried to
extend its helping hand to
all of them according to the
humanitarian principles and
international regulations.
“All these happened in a
short period of time with
no strategic plan, and the
federal government continup
ued to worsen the crisis in
the Region by cutting the
Region’s budget share and
its government salaries, and
also created a big problem
for the country’s national
budget. Hence, despite the
humanitarian crisis, the terrp
rorism war and protecting
security and stability, the
Region faced a big econp
nomic crisis.”
He said that the KRG
strongly believes that the
crisis is going to reach an
end but for this it needs a
big support from the internp
national community in the
shape of military support
to the Peshmarga Forces in
their war against terrorists
and humanitarian aid for
the refugees and IDPs.
Barzani said that there are
more than 1.5 million refugp
gees and IDPs in the region,
amounting to a 28% incp
crease in population in only
one year, which has put a
huge burden on the governmp
ment in terms of education,
health, accommodation and
employment for the refugp
gees.
Commenting on the MOPWorld Bank report, PM
Barzani said they can use
the findings of the report as
a road map for the evaluatp
tion of the situation and settp
ting a mechanism for overcp
coming this economic and
humanitarian crisis.
PM Barzani expressed his
gratitude for all governmentp
tal, non-governmental and
international organizations
in helping the KRG through
this difficult situation, and
also thanked the Peshmarga
forces for being able to keep
the security and stability of
Kurdistan Region in the
middle of all the instability
in the region and fighting
the world’s most dangerous
and powerful terrorist organp
nization.
“For ultimate victory, the
International Coalition has
to provide advanced weapop
ons and modern technology
to the Peshmarga Forces.”
He also added that the
Syrian crisis and the IS war
will continue and the crises
in Kurdish will continue as
well, and it is expected that
more people seek refuge in
Kurdistan both from Syria
and from inside the country.
Therefore in cooperation
with the Iraqi government
and the international commp
munity, effective plans have
to be developed to strengthep
en Kurdistan Region in all
aspects.
“We believe in ourselves
and are determined to devp
velop our economy; we
would like to have good relp
lations with our neighbors
and friends and develop
our region. I hope we, you
and the whole international
community, are able to
commit to our responsibilitp
ties towards the harsh situap
ations of the refugees and
IDPs in Kurdistan Region,”
concluded PM Barzani.
No. 478, Monday, February 16, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
5
In an interview with NBC’s Nightly News, the Head of the Kurdistan Region Security Council Masrour Barzani
In an interview with
NBC’s Nightly News, the
Head of the Kurdistan
Region Security Council
Masrour Barzani spoke
about the need for more
weapons to end the war
with the Islamic State as
quickly as possible.
“Right now it looks as if
this is going to be a long
war,” he said.
Asked by the intervp
viewer, Richard Engel, if
Obama’s praise helped,
Barzani replied, “Praising
is good, we see ourselves
as trusted allies of the
United States and the free
world, but fighting needs
more than just praising, it
needs guns, and it needs
weapons.”
He went on to explain
that Obama’s policy to
"degrade and destroy IS"
is yet to be put in place,
from what can be seen on
the ground, “We need that
strategy to be translated
into action. So far we have
not seen any serious action
that can quickly defeat the
IS.”
Asked by Engel whether
it could work over the longp
ger term, Barzani stressed
the cost of drawn-out confp
flict.
“It can, it can. But once
again – we are sacrificip
ing more lives and putting
many innocent lives at risk
by allowing ISIS to survp
vive for a longer period.”
In Washington, US Secrp
retary of State John Kerry
responded to the call for a
more rapid response.
“The key word there
was not 'quickly' but 'over
time'. It can work and we
have said consistently that
this is going to take a certp
tain amount of time. Why?
Is it because we want it to
take an amount of time?
No."
“The fact is that the Iraqi
army itself needs to be
retrained and stand up on
its feet. There have to be
ground troops involved
in order to win this victp
tory and it’s clear they’re
not going to be American,
PRESS PHOTO
“We Need More from U.S. to Fight ISIS.”
they’re not going to be
British, and they’re not
going to be French [or]
European. They are going
to be Iraqi and that’s the
way the Iraqis want it.”
“But they’re not ready to
move yet and it would be
a great mistake for them
strategically to move befp
fore they are ready. I undp
derstand Barzani’s impatp
tience, I fully understand
it.”
Kerry explained that
the US is providing a
wide range of aid to the
Kurdistan Region and the
Peshmerga. He praised
the Kurdish forces, “The
Peshmerga have been partp
ticularly brave and couragp
geous. We have supplied
them with an enormous
amount of ammunition,
weapons, and other things.
As we’ve said from the
beginning, people need to
be recognizing the importp
tance of putting in place a
strategy that can win.”
The Peshmerga forces
have arrived in the outsp
skirts of the city of Mosul,
in northern Iraq, which is
under the Islamic State’s
(IS) control, amid preparp
rations for storming the
city with the support of
the U.S.-led international
coalition, local sources
from Mosul reported on
Thursday.
In the meantime, the
so-called Popular Mobilp
lization Forces -- armed
Shiite factions and voluntp
teers -- arrived in the city
of Dohuk in the Kurdistan
Region to be trained in a
camp there and then join
the fight against the IS
militants.
Kurdish military officials
said that this ground attp
tack will be widespread to
target the IS strongholds,
particularly those located
between Syria’s al-Bukamp
mal and Iraq’s al-Qaem
areas, pointing out that
several military units from
Jordan, Kuwait, UAE and
Saudi Arabia will take part
in the operations.
Iranian and Kurdish specp
cial units will support the
Iraqi army in the invasion
of the IS-held provinces of
Anbar and Nineva.
PRESS PHOTO / Azad Lashkri
Joint forces to storm Mosul in months...
Kurds are backup force
On the other hand, the IS
group in Mosul is studyip
ing a plan for the upcomip
ing battle, taking into
consideration the need for
more military capabilities
and economic resources to
stand against the attack.
“Thus the radical group
is thinking of an efficp
cient strategy to repel this
ground attack on their
strongholds in Mosul,” a
military source said under
condition of anonymity.
Iraqi activists published
what they described as
“leaks” about proposals
and notes received by the
IS commanders in Mosul,
including: “Preparation of
militants trained on specp
cial operations, and their
deployment on the battlefp
fronts as quick as possp
sible.”
Additionally, IS will
deploy a network in the
battlefield in an attempt
to secure the jihadists’
communication. Also, the
group seeks to appoint
flexible moving positions
of command to lead the
units on the fighting fronts
as well as taking strategic
decisions on time, accordip
ing to the leaks.
The leaks included a varp
riety of backup plans that
cope separately with the
nature of each fighting
front, as appointing leadep
ers of high ranks for the
decision-making process.
The group has reportedly
started digging trenches
across Mosul to be ready
for confrontation and deter
the attacks, local sources
said.
According to the leaks,
the group will “respond
fiercely” to what they desp
scribed the “hostile forces
centres” in an attempt to
prevent them from appp
proaching Mosul.
In an earlier statement,
civil rights activist Ali Abbp
boud said in Mosul that the
Peshmerga forces pounded
the city with rockets end
of January, when more
than 18 grad rockets hit IS
headquarters in areas like
Qadisiyah, Muthanna and
Rasheed.
Mosul was controlled by
the IS radical group last
June. The Sunni tribes
– who had been alienated
by the former Iraqi Prime
Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s
policy– facilitated the radip
ical group’s control over
the city.
No. 478, Monday, February 16, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
6
Kurdish PM attends 2015 Dubai Government
Summit and meets with top officials
The KRG delegation,
which included Deputy
Prime Minister, Qubad Talp
labani, Minister of Natural
Resources, Ashti Hawrami,
Minister of Planning, Ali
Sindi, Minister of Finance
and Economy, Rebaz Mohp
hammad and KRG spokespp
person, Minister Safeen
Dizayee, also held a numbp
ber of meetings with senior
UAE officials during the
visit.
The summit was also attp
tended by the United Natp
tions Secretary General,
Ban Ki-moon, Sheikh Mohp
hammed bin Rashid AlMaktoum, Vice President
and Prime Minister of the
United Arab Emirates and
Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh
Mohamed bin Zayed AlNahyan, Crown Prince of
Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supp
preme Commander of the
UAE Armed Forces as well
as representatives of 93
countries which included
heads of states and senior
leaders of international orgp
ganizations.
The Dubai Government
Summit is considered the
second largest summit in
the world, involving over
four thousand people reprp
resenting 93 countries. The
summit offered a number of
lectures, seminars, dialogue
sessions aimed at improvip
ing the way governments
work in the future, includip
ing the development of egovernance, planning and
forecasting for future govep
ernment as well as a numbp
ber of other topics related
to improving governance.
As part of its official visit
to the United Arab Emirap
ates, the KRG delegation
separately met the Crown
Prince of Abu Dhabi,
Deputy Supreme Commp
mander of the UAE Armed
Forces, Sheikh Muhammad
Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and
the United Arab Emirates
Foreign Minister, Sheikh
Abdullah bin Zayed bin
Sultan Al Nahyan.
Sheikh Muhammad Bin
Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed
PM Barzani at the Al-Bahr
Palace in Abu Dhabi and
expressed his pleasure for
Prime Minister’s visit and
thanked the Kurdistan Regp
gional Government for attp
tending Dubai Government
Summit.
The two sides discussed
the relations between Iraq
and the UAE in general,
and between the Kurdistp
tan Region and the UAE
in particular. They stressed
the necessity to develop
these relations in various
domains, including the econp
nomic sector.
The Prime Minister expp
pressed his gratitude for
the humanitarian aid and
PRESS PHOTO
The Kurdistan Regional Government
was officially invited by the United
Arab Emirates to attend the 2015
Dubai Government Summit.
assistance that the UAE
and UAE Red Crescent is
providing to the Iraqi internp
nally displaced persons and
Syrian refugees, who are
now sheltered in the Kurdip
istan Region. He praised the
efforts, work and assistance
undertaken by the officials
and team of the UAE Red
Crescent in the Kurdistan
Region.
Later during the day, the
Kurdish delegation visited
the UAE Foreign Minister
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed
bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The
two sides discussed the relp
lations between the Kurdip
istan Region, Iraq and the
UAE.
Prime Minister Barzani
praised the role played by
the UAE General Consulap
ate in Erbil and in particular
the UAE General Consul
himself, who exert great effp
forts to strengthen bilateral
relations between Kurdistp
tan and the UAE. The UAE
Foreign Minister described
the Consulate in Erbil as a
post that the ministry consp
siders highly significant.
They also discussed the
situation in the Middle East
including the latest develop
opments in the war against
the Islamic State terrorist
organization. The two sides
stressed that confronting
terrorism cannot be undertp
taken solely through militp
tary operations, but also
through challenging the
ideologies and to confront
the concepts of violence
that exist in the region.
In another occasion the
UAE Deputy Prime Minip
ister and Minister of Presidp
dential Affairs, Sheikh
Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahp
hyan also received Kurdistp
tan Regional Government
Deputy Prime Minister,
Qubad Talabani.
The two sides discussed
bilateral relations between
the Kurdistan Region and
the UAE, stressing both
sides’ intention to develop
relations in various fields.
Deputy Prime Minister
Talabani expressed the
gratitude of the people and
Government of the Kurdistp
tan Region to the people and
government of the UAE for
the humanitarian assistance
that they have been providip
ing to the displaced people
and refugees in Kurdistan.
He said that he hopes the
Kurdistan Regional Govep
ernment’s participation in
Dubai Government Summp
mit would help to build
bridges between the Kurdip
istan Region and United
Arab Emirates.
Latest political and militp
tary developments in the
region, particularly the
war against ISIS, were
highlighted in the meeting.
Deputy Prime Minister Talp
labani hoped that the currp
rent deterioration of securp
rity situation in the Middle
East will not slow down the
relations between the Kurdip
istan Region and United
Arab Emirates.
The meeting was also attp
tended by KRG Minister of
Planning, Ali Sindi, KRG
Minister of Finance and
Economy, Rebaz Mohammp
mad and KRG spokespp
person, Minister Safeen
Dizayee.
On the second day of
delegation’s visit, they
were received by Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid AlMaktoum, Vice-President
and Prime Minister of the
UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The two sides discussed
bilateral relations between
the Kurdistan Region and
the UAE. They reaffirmed
their willingness to develop
these relations, particularly
in the political and econp
nomic domains.
The latest developments
in the region and the war
against the Islamic State
terrorist organization were
discussed in the meeting.
The two sides stressed the
importance of the role of
the international coalition
in the war against terrorip
ism.
Dohuk First to See International Five-Star Hotel
By J. Watt
While construction of internp
national hotels is progressip
ing across Erbil, its neighbor
to the west—Dohuk—will
be the first to see an internatp
tional five-star hotel when
the Sheraton opens later
this spring.
“We believe 100% in
Kurdistan development and
we are convinced this is
a key location to be,” said
Antoine Joignant, Sheraton
General Manager and Area
Manager for Central Asia,
Pakistan, and Iraq. “We
are happy to pioneer into a
new area. Sheraton is often
the first international chain
to be in a new location, but
this was close to our heart
because we have been here
before so we wanted to be
back.”
The Sheraton Dohuk,
which offers stunning mountp
tain and city views from its
position on Shandouka Hill,
features 202 guest rooms,
five swimming pools, a
state-of-the-art health club
and spa, two ballrooms, and
a large business center with
an auditorium.
“Safety and security is
really key for us,” Joignant
continued. “You’re expectep
ed to have good service,
especially when you open
a Sheraton, but what’s even
more expected, particularly
in this part of the world, is
that guests feel safe and secp
cure.”
There were some delays
in opening because the
property, which was originp
nally constructed as a diffp
ferent hotel, did not meet
the international safety
and luxury standards of
the Sheraton brand. For insp
stance, the ceilings had to
be completely rebuilt to insp
stall a fire sprinkler system
in order to reach American
safety requirements.
While the comfort and
amenities of the hotel will,
no doubt, appeal to internp
national travelers, Joignant
hopes the local community
will enthusiastically welcp
come the hotel, particularly
through its food and beverap
age offerings, including an
Italian trattoria, a seasonal
outdoor Lebanese restaurp
rant, a rooftop bar, a sports
pub, and an all-day restaurp
rant serving international
cuisine with Kurdish inspirp
ration.
“We care very much that
the local community feels
that this is their home,” he
explained. “We hope the
community comes here for
important life events, like
birthdays and weddings.
This hotel will be a landmp
mark for the city.”
It’s clear many hotel
chains believe in the devp
velopment of the region,
as evidenced by the buildip
ing of the Marriott, Hilton,
and Doubletree hotels in
the capital. Yet, Starwood
Hotels, Sheraton’s parent
company, is leading the
way with the opening of the
Sheraton Dohuk along with
plans for four additional
hotels in Erbil, including
another Sheraton. However,
Sheraton is the only chain
with plans for entering
Dohuk.
“We hope to put Dohuk
on the map and we hope
to help the city grow,” said
Joignant. “The growth of
the city is obvious and we
hope to participate in this.”
No. 478, Monday, February 16, 2015
The Kurdish Globe
Halbja, the Fifth Kurdish Province
Three days ago, the
Kurdistan Parliament
accepted the draft law
of the Administration
of Halabja, the city of
five thousand martyrs.
At the moment, Halabja
is the 5th Governorate
of Southern Kurdistan.
Providing public servicep
es for the city makes the
people satisfied as much
as making Halabja into a
governorate. The people
admit that their city has
had services but not suffp
ficient. This year, in the
Region’s budget, a part
of it is assigned for recp
construction of the city.
Mr. Nechirvan Barzp
zani, on March 16th,
2014, as the PM of the
Government of Kurdip
istan Region signed the
draft to make Halabja
a governorate. On Septp
tember 30th, 2014, the
Kurdistan Parliament
with majority of votes
made Halbja the capital
city of peace. On Decp
cember 12th of the same
year, Mr. Massoud Barzp
zani, the President of
the Kurdistan Region,
approved of the Parliamp
ment’s decision.
Sitar Jutiar, a citizen
of Halbja, said that now
that his city is a Governp
norate and capital city of
peace delight its people,
but it is as very importp
tant the city is rebuild.
On February 5th, the
Parliament had a subnp
normal meeting in Halap
abja Monument and
with the majority of
votes accepted the admp
ministration of the city.
The decision made the
citizens happy and they
gave out sweets and
wore Kurdish clothes as
a celebration symbol.
Serkawt Erfan, anothep
er citizen, said that the
decision of the Kurdish
Parliament made them
really happy and they
thank them for respectip
ing the martyrs of the
city. He also said that all
citizens of the city ask
for an increase in publp
lic services. This year,
in the whole budget of
Iraq, 2 billion IDs have
been assigned for the
reconstruction of Halbja
and have been accepted
as the fifth Governorap
ate of the Kurdistan
Region. Besides the recp
construction, they have
assigned 440 billion dinp
nars for the investment
and construction of the
new Province. On Febrp
ruary 5th, along the procp
cedure of ratifying the
draft of the making the
city into a Governorate,
Mr. Nechirvan Barzani
announced, in a speech,
that Halbja deserves
much more service.
Shilan Sheikh Jaafer, a
Member of Parliament
on KDP list in Xebat,
said that in terms of
their sacrifice, Halabja
city has not been served
sufficiently. What has
been done for the city
was all after 2003 and
the city’s borders need
to be defined as well.
She said that turning
Halbja into a governorap
ate made all sides satisfp
fied but it is also importp
tant to provide services.
She also mentioned that
bringing back the Genep
eral Directories for this
city is needed so that
the citizens do not go to
Sulaymaniah for their
paperwork and this too
reduces the pressure on
Sulaymaniah itself.
Ms. Shilan reiterated
that the Government
this year after getting the
budget from Baghdad
should start undertakip
ing the projects that the
citizens have asked for.
She said that whatever
projects are finished yet
it is not enough.
The Halabja city is
situated 84 killometers
northeast of Sulaymanp
niah. The Provincial
Council consists of 25
seats and up to now it is
not entirely clear whethep
er the Governorate will
include sub-districts of
Xurmal, Sirwan, Biyp
yara together with Sayid
Sadiq, Sharazur, and
Penjwen too. Halbja’s
population
including
Sirwan, Xurmal and Biyp
yara districts reach 117,
000 people.
By: N. M. Mohammad
have completely cut off
ISIS from these areas.”
“Our forces are now
very close to Mosul. In
some cases we are no
further than 10–15 kilomp
meters [6.2–9.3 miles]
from the city and are in
control of all the main
bridges in the surroundip
ing Eski and Al-Kasak
area, which is the main
link between Mosul and
Tal Afar,” he added.
Kurdish
Peshmerga
forces have been graduap
ally advancing on Iraq’s
second city, which has
been under ISIS control
since June 2014. Baghdp
dad has also moved forwp
ward with controversial
plans to form a National
Guard to assist in the ongp
going fight against ISIS,
with Kurdish Peshmergp
ga forces also entering
a new phase of training
after receiving renewed
pledges of foreign militp
tary assistance.
Italy’s top defence officp
cial Luigi Benelli Manetp
telli on Tuesday pledged
that his country would
provide arms, ammunp
nition and advanced
weaponry to Peshmerga
forces, while more than
50 Italian military expp
perts are already providip
ing Kurdish forces with
training in the semi-autp
tonomous region. Canp
nadian and US experts
have already trained as
many as 4,000 Kurdish
policemen, a local officp
cial said. The new Iraqi
and Kurdish forces will
not only assist in the
fight against ISIS, but
seek to ensure that any
liberated territory does
not fall back into ISIS
hands.
Peshmerga Col. Kamrp
ran Hawrami said: “We
are in control of the final
point of the Eski and AlKasak areas. Our next
move will be towards
Mosul, and we are just
waiting for orders to be
issued.”
“ISIS positions within
Mosul are now within
range of our guns and
missiles, and we are
continuously targeting
them,” he added.
Yezidi mass grave found in Zumar following ISIS withdrawal
A mass grave containing
the remains of nearly 16
people of the Yezidi minp
nority was found near
the Shingal area (where
Kurdish Yezidis constitp
tute a majority), local
sources in the Zumar area
in northern Iraq reported
on Saturday.
S. Hisso, a Yezidi residp
dent, said that locals
found the bodies of 16
Yezidis in a mass grave,
“their bodies were open
and scattered in an open
pit of more than 15 metp
ters long”.
Hisso pointed out that
the victims were appp
parently murdered and
thrown down the hole
without being buried.
“There are more Yezidi
mass graves left by extp
tremists of the Islamic
State after their withdp
drawal, but we have not
found them yet. Those
mass graves are most
likely scattered in the subdistricts of Qayyarah, alHadar, Sinjar, and Baaj,”
he said.
The source pointed out
that among the bodies
there were small skulls
belonging to six children
and the bodies of two
women identified by the
remnants of their dresses.
Also, several identity
cards that were found in
the grave verified that
they were followers of
the Yezidi religion.
“According to experts,
all the victims found were
killed in the first days of
the Islamic State’s (IS/
ISIS) offensive against
the area last August,”
Hisso said.
Noteworthy, the Kurdish
Peshmerga forces were
able to regain control of
Zumar area, northeast of
Mount Sinjar, northern
Iraq, following battles
with the IS militants.
IS commit horrible crimes in Mosul
Living under IS rules
has become almost impp
possible as the terrorists
has started killing their
members and looting factp
tories.
Head of Kurdistan
Democratic Party (KDP)
Headquarters in Mosul,
Esmat Rajab, disclosed
that the Islamic State
terrorists beheaded six
members of the Group in
Telkef District last Tuesdp
day without revealing the
reasons. In the same day,
the terrorists cut the hands
of three people in front of
a crowd using saws.
According to Rajab, 40
armed men among the
terrorists have run away
from Telket toward Mosp
sul frightened by the behp
heading scenes. A Mosul
Governorate employee
was shot dead in the same
day.
Living under IS rules
has become almost impp
possible as the terrorists
have started looting the
industrial factories and
oil refineries of equipmp
ment, tools, machines
and taking them to Syria.
“The terrorists started
looting whatever they
can in the factories. They
blow up whatever they
cannot move. They know
soon they will get kicked
out of the city,” said Medp
dia Head of Kurdistan
Democratic Party (KDP)
Headquarters in Mosul,
Saeed Mamuzini
Mamuzini said people
are living in a very bad
situation and things, espp
pecially foods, are getting
expensive day by day.
This Week
in History
February 12, 2009
- Manouchehr Mottaki, the
Iranian minister of foreign
affairs, visited Sulaimaniyp
ya city and was received
by Kurdistan Region Vice
President, Kosrat Rasul Ali
on February 12, 2009.
February 13, 2002
-On February 13, 2002, a
committee headed by Tom
Clark, was formed at the
British Parliament for suppp
porting Kurdish questions.
February 14, 1959
- On February 14, 1959,
the Kurdish Language Depp
partment was established
in College of Arts at the
Baghdad University.
February 15, 1999
Kurdish Peshmerga surround Mosul from three sides
Kurdish
Peshmerga
forces have surrounded
Mosul from three sides
ahead of a planned opep
eration to liberate the
city from Islamic State
of Iraq and Syria contp
trol, a senior Peshmerga
official said.
Peshmerga Chief of
Staff Lt. Gen. Jamal
Mohamed said: “Over
the past few months,
Peshmerga forces have
been able to make signp
nificant advances east,
west and north of Mosul
and our operations there
7
Last week the US aircp
crafts bombarded the IS
terrorists in Jarbo village
near Mosul as a result
two Hammers were burnt.
Due to a bomb explosion,
five terrorists were killed.
They wanted to use the
bomb to destroy some
houses when it exploded
in their own faces.
- The Kurdish leader and
one of founding members
of the militant organizatp
tion, the Kurdistan Workep
ers' Party (PKK), Abdullah
Ocalan was arrested in Febrp
ruary 15, 1999 by Turkish
security forces in Nairobi.
He was taken to Turkey,
where he was sentenced
to death under Article 125
of the Turkish Penal Code,
which concerns the formatp
tion of armed gangs.
February 17, 2011
On February 17, 2011, a
series of demonstrations
started in Sulaimaniya city.
The 2011 Kurdish protests
were a series of demonstratp
tions and riots against the
Kurdistan Regional Govep
ernment. The Iraqi Kurdip
istan experienced protests
distinct from protests elsewp
where in Iraq, which took
place concurrent with the
Kurdish protests. These
Kurdish protests were also
related to the Kurdish protp
tests in Turkey and protests
in Iran, as well as a general
uprising in Syria joined
and supported by Syrian
Kurds.
February 18, 1953
The Kurdistan Students’
Union was founded in
Baghdad in February 18,
1953.
February 19, 2008
On February 19, 2008,
Toshiba announces its formp
mal recall of its HD DVD
video formatting, ending
the format war between it
and Sony's Blu-Ray Disc.
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN
ERBIL
14
15
14
11
12
12
WEATHER 123
4
6
4
1
0
1
FORECAST
The
The Kurdish painter Umer Malva
Kurdish
poet
Mardin
Ibrahim
Mardin Ibrahim was born
in the village of Kanakawa
in Kurdistan. He was born in
an era of cynicism and unep
ease, a period which seemed
destined for fatalism. It was a
time of war and this seemed
to greatly affect Ibrahim's
usually lengthy writing style
and themes which took on a
more depressed and sombre
atmosphere as most literary
works did during that age.
Ibrahim is currently residing
in the UK where he is taking
courses and studying.
Ibrahim's more popular
works, a poem about his
home, "Kanakawa", showcp
cases the entire pointlessnp
ness of war, in which soldp
diers fight for a home that no
longer remembers them due
to its desolation over time
and fighting.
"Your aged rocks were
my only toys; Your narrow
roads were my only cradle;
I was your shabby clothed
orphan, your faithful knight;
Protecting you from devastp
tating winds; Fighting for
you insanely with my woodep
en sword; When I left you
your dusty vineyards, your
deserted cemeteries, your
poisonous rivers, sleepy
frogs in tobacco fields were
weeping on my shoulders;
Am I still not your barefoot
child?"
Almost like an ode to brokp
ken childhood dreams and
memories, Ibrahim delves
into the complexities that
are effects of war. Overall,
his works consist of a varp
riety of different topics but
have the same tone most of
the time. Ibrahim is an inspirp
ration to all who truly study
his works.
H.G. Hassan
“A Kurdish man from muddy villp
lages to the world of nature of beautp
tiful plains, mountains covered with
olive trees, a moment of lying under
the shadow of the olive trees of Efrin”.
This is what I said in 1992 while I was
in Efrin and people were talking about
this Kurdish artist who would pay visip
its to the villages and plains to paint the
pictures of mountains, sun and flowers
to which his interest never ends.
The Kurdish painter, Umer Malva
was born in 1951 in Tel Ezafir villp
lage in Rojawa, a small village made
of mud in Syria. Malva’s school of art
was originated from a special world of
painting which is a colorful realism.
Malva’s canvases are faces of nature
in Syrian Kurdistan which are always
showcased in art galleries and exhibitp
tions and he’s the most popular artist
across Syria. He’s always known as
Malva.
Using the water, oil and acrylic colop
ors are the tools by which the artist has
produced great works and still going
on. The mountains, the flowers such
as jasmine, carnation, daisies and othep
ers have special artistic taste to Malva.
He’s taken a special interest in them.
He is much influenced by the works of
world’s artists, especially expressive
landscapes. Malva also has painted
many realistic and expressionistic
works and has been able to fill the art
galleries with them, but most importp
tantly, he says, “I’m an originally Kurd
from Kurdistan Rojava.”
By Ashti Garmiyani
One of the drawings of Efrin’s nature in Kurdistan of Syria
Kurdish film review:
“Klamek ji bo Beko”
"Klamek ji bo Beko", or "A Song
for Beko" in English, is a Kurdish
film released in 1992, was writtp
ten and produced by Nizamettin
Ariç, who, interestingly enough,
also plays the main character
in the film- Beko. "A Song for
Beko" revolves around a young
Kurdish male named Beko who
lives in a Kurdish region in Turkp
key.
Beko is forced to join the army
when he refuses to reveal where
his brother, Cemal, is. Cemal had
deserted the Turkish army. In an
extraordinary bout of luck, Bekos
transportation vehicle is attacked,
allowing Beko to slip away and
cross over the Iraqi border. After
a short period of time, he runs
into some Peshmerga who take
him to their camp where he intp
teracts with the women and childp
dren forced to stay there to insure
their safety.
Amazon user, Pejvak, commp
ments on the film, saying it is "a
very amazing movie on Kurdish
struggle from a Kurdish perspectp
tive. The images we receive in the
West mostly come from regimes
that control Kurdish regions, but
this movie tells the story from a
Kurdish point. I was fascinated
by the hard work and patience
these people hold."
The only complaint that could
be made about this film is probap
ably the poor translation. Even
that can't stand in the way of the
film's truly expressive scenes that
manage to delve into and study
the human mind and essence in
times of struggle for freedom.
H.G. Hassan