ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - President Nechirvan Barzani on Wednesday invited five senior Peshmerga officers to his office. He promoted their ranks to Major General and Brigadier General. President Barzani is also the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. He emphasized during the event unification of Peshmerga forces and reforms when promoting the officers. “I feel honored that the President of the [Kurdistan] Region and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces personally pinned the [new] badges onto our shoulders. This proves how much His Excellency cares about the role of Peshmerga,” Sarbast Ali, an advisor at Peshmerga ministry, told Rudaw’s Bakhtiyar Qadir. “His Excellency Mr. President emphasized on the unification of Peshmerga forces very much which is an ongoing process in the ministry of Peshmerga. Good steps have been taken and more steps need to be taken. He stressed that some countries suffer from various issues but their armies have remained united and strong. He really emphazied on this point,” he added. The promotion of the five senior officers follows a recent decision by the Peshmerga ministry to promote thousands of fighters. The promotions are believed to contribute to reforms in the ministry and the unification of the forces affiliated to ruling parties. “The promotion of officers plays a pivotal role and is seen as a morale booster for officers to continue working and serving Kurds and Kurdistan. Some remain in their places and serve while others could be transferred to elsewhere. The promotions will also contribute to the bringing the 70th and 80th brigades under the control of the ministry,” Mohammed Saeed, Director of Coordination and Relations at Peshmerga ministry, said. President Barzani “urged swift and concerted measures to unite the Peshmerga, deeming it imperative, and expressed his resolute support for this endeavor,” according a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.
