ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Striking an optimistic tone in his Newroz message, KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said he is hopeful the Kurdistan Region will rise again, even after historic losses.
The spirit of Newroz, the Kurdish new year, has always been the starting point for "revival, resistance, and rebirth, even after the most difficult losses," Barzani said.
The Kurdistan Region lost control to Baghdad of the majority of the disputed areas, including Kirkuk, in October last year following the widely-opposed referendum on independence.
"The movement of the Kurdistan struggle and the Kurdistan authority has reached such a level of [sufficiency] that cannot be exterminated," Barzani said, adding that the Kurdish experience has come to existence following a long struggle by the Peshmerga and its people.
Kurdish forefathers have always fought for their rights with a "Newroz spirit, even when sometimes they may have faced defeat because of lack of power balance," the premier said.
The Kurdistan Region is facing an ongoing financial crisis, mainly caused by Iraq cutting the budget since 2014, a move Barzani called the most damaging to Erbil.
He said that he understands the people are suffering economically under multiple burdens, but endeavoured to reassure people that the road ahead is promising, especially through "healthy dialogue" with the Iraqi government and others.
"I would like to reassure you that the economic situation will go back to normal and with your support and patience, all things will go back to normal," Barzani said.
The Iraqi government has sent an installment to pay the salaries of the KRG's public employees, but the amount meets just one-third of the total payroll.
Relations between Erbil and Baghdad plummeted after the Kirkuk events, but the two sides have taken measures to improve ties, including ending the Iraqi-imposed ban on international flights to and from the Kurdistan Region and agreeing on the salary payments.
The ties between the Kurdish and Iraqi people will remain strong, independent of the relationship between the two governments, Barzani declared.
"I tell the Iraqi nation that we will stay as brothers," he said, adding that Iraq has vast natural and human resources that can help build a prosperous country.
The Kurdistan Region also suffered strained relations with its neighbours, namely Turkey and Iran, following the referendum.
"I greet all neighbour nations of Kurdistan and I repeat that the struggle of Kurdistan in Iraq has never been and will never be a threat to any country. On the contrary, the success of Kurdistan in Iraq will bring joy and prosperity to these countries," Barzani said, sending a reassuring message to Ankara and Tehran.
At the start of a new year, the Kurdistan Region remembers all those who made sacrifices for their nation, Barzani continued, saying that his heart is with the Yezidi people who suffered tremendously under ISIS.
The Kurdistan Region extends Newroz greetings to all its peoples, including displaced Iraqis who fled war and destruction in the rest of the country, Barzani stated, vowing to keep a culture of "coexistence" in Kurdistan.
The spirit of Newroz, the Kurdish new year, has always been the starting point for "revival, resistance, and rebirth, even after the most difficult losses," Barzani said.
The Kurdistan Region lost control to Baghdad of the majority of the disputed areas, including Kirkuk, in October last year following the widely-opposed referendum on independence.
"The movement of the Kurdistan struggle and the Kurdistan authority has reached such a level of [sufficiency] that cannot be exterminated," Barzani said, adding that the Kurdish experience has come to existence following a long struggle by the Peshmerga and its people.
Kurdish forefathers have always fought for their rights with a "Newroz spirit, even when sometimes they may have faced defeat because of lack of power balance," the premier said.
The Kurdistan Region is facing an ongoing financial crisis, mainly caused by Iraq cutting the budget since 2014, a move Barzani called the most damaging to Erbil.
He said that he understands the people are suffering economically under multiple burdens, but endeavoured to reassure people that the road ahead is promising, especially through "healthy dialogue" with the Iraqi government and others.
"I would like to reassure you that the economic situation will go back to normal and with your support and patience, all things will go back to normal," Barzani said.
The Iraqi government has sent an installment to pay the salaries of the KRG's public employees, but the amount meets just one-third of the total payroll.
Relations between Erbil and Baghdad plummeted after the Kirkuk events, but the two sides have taken measures to improve ties, including ending the Iraqi-imposed ban on international flights to and from the Kurdistan Region and agreeing on the salary payments.
The ties between the Kurdish and Iraqi people will remain strong, independent of the relationship between the two governments, Barzani declared.
"I tell the Iraqi nation that we will stay as brothers," he said, adding that Iraq has vast natural and human resources that can help build a prosperous country.
The Kurdistan Region also suffered strained relations with its neighbours, namely Turkey and Iran, following the referendum.
"I greet all neighbour nations of Kurdistan and I repeat that the struggle of Kurdistan in Iraq has never been and will never be a threat to any country. On the contrary, the success of Kurdistan in Iraq will bring joy and prosperity to these countries," Barzani said, sending a reassuring message to Ankara and Tehran.
At the start of a new year, the Kurdistan Region remembers all those who made sacrifices for their nation, Barzani continued, saying that his heart is with the Yezidi people who suffered tremendously under ISIS.
The Kurdistan Region extends Newroz greetings to all its peoples, including displaced Iraqis who fled war and destruction in the rest of the country, Barzani stated, vowing to keep a culture of "coexistence" in Kurdistan.
The full text of PM Barzani's Newroz message:
I extend my congratulations and greetings to the beloved people of Kurdistan. I give my best wishes to every Kurd in any corner of the world. Happy New Kurdistan Year and Newroz.
The fire of Newroz has historically been a gesture of liberty, the sign of long life for our ancestors and every Kurd. Thus, on the evening of Newroz day and its brightening fire, despite being the sign of freedom, it is a sign of rising up again after a fall and renewing decisions and pledges for maintaining the struggle, a struggle in which many young lives have been sacrificed and tears shed. We, as generations who have followed them, have seen ourselves facing only one option; to carry on towards success.
In Newroz, the spirit of rising and resilience and resuming continued struggle by Kurds after the toughest setbacks again revives. Newroz is the beginning of strength every year for any Kurdish individual and nation and renewing the will of victory, as our ancestors were the symbols of endurance and bravery. If they sometimes faced defeat, it is with a Newroz spirit and the self-confidence to succeed that they once again resumed the struggle during Newroz. With confidence, I would like to say the history of Kurdistan, today more than ever, is suffering the pain of a new birth and that the peaceful Kurdish movement and authorities of Kurdistan have reached a level of [sufficiency] that cannot be exterminated, as it is the fruit of the struggle of the Peshmerga and the resilience of the people of Kurdistan.
Dears…
Kurdistan is not on the verge of catastrophe as some believe. Rather, we can make Kurdistan reach a brighter future with a healthy internal dialogue.
The Kurdistan Region, due to the fight against ISIS, internal political stalemate, political issues with Baghdad, and the global economic crisis, suffered many hardships, the most unpleasant among them was the budget cuts of the Kurdistan Region by Baghdad in the beginning of 2014.
Certainly, the biggest challenge was the economic crisis, but I would like to assure you that the economic situation will return to normalcy with the help and resilience of all of you. I wholeheartedly feel sad for your plights and grievances. This economic crisis will undoubtedly pass.
On this day, Newroz, our heart beats in memory of those brave people who sacrificed their lives in defense of Kurdistan. Salutes to their pure lives, salute to their widow, kids, and parents. They will always be with us and in our heart. I send warm greetings to our Yezidi sisters and brothers who paid the biggest sacrifice and endured much pain in the fight against ISIS. Shingal, together with Halabja, became the crown of the history of our nation, which is full of sacrifices. It is true that the wounds, plights and grievances of Shingal were very deep. But these wounds and plights are definitely the turning point of a bright future of Yezidis and the whole Kurdistan nation.
A warm greeting and happy Newroz to the IDPs of Kirkuk, Shingal, Makhmour, Khanaqin and residents of the disputed areas. Best wishes to all the Kurdish Kakays, Failis and Shabak, in which today their national consciousness is higher than any other day with the Newroz flames. Best wishes to all Kurdish refugees living in the Kurdistan Region. I hope they will be able to honorably in the near future return to their homes.
Greetings to the Turkmen and Christians of Kurdistan. Their co-existence and contribution to the defense and resilience of Kurdistan is much appreciated. Greetings to our Arab brothers living in the Kurdistan Region. On this day, we are telling all the religious and ethnic groups, as usual, we are dedicated to our equal peaceful co-existence in the Kurdistan Region.
On this day, we salute the brave Peshmerga of Kurdistan who risked their lives to defend the sacred land of Kurdistan. Salutes to the police, Asayesh, traffic police, and all the interior forces and security agencies of Kurdistan, who are very successfully protecting the security of Kurdistan.
I also take this opportunity to send my greetings to the brother nation of Iraq. I tell them that, no matter the political situation of the country, or relations between the governments, we will always stay as brothers. Iraq possesses rich natural and human assets. By resolving the basic political impasses and by improving the conditions of the country and administration, Iraq will move toward a brighter period, which will meet the expectations of the Iraqi nation.
I greet all the neighboring nations of Kurdistan. On this occasion, I repeat that the Kurdistan struggle has not been and will not be a threat to any country. On the contrary, the success of the Kurdistan nation in Iraq will bring them only joy. We are spreading the message of peace and calm to all nations of the region, showing them we are a source of stability in the region.
Ultimately, I say happy Newroz on the eve of the new Kurdish year on all sides. I call on people in their picnics, keep the environment clean and protect the nature of Kurdistan, and also abide by traffic regulations for their security and those around them. Again, I wish you a happy holiday.
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