barzani meets with papal delegation · east are threatening civilians in the heart of europe, and...
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The only English paper in Iraq - No: 528 Mon. March 07, 2016
From the Heart of Kurdistan Region
GLO
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PHO
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Barzani Meets with Papal Delegation
The Kurdish Globe 2No. 528, Monday, March 07, 2016
EXECUTIVE EDITORGazi Hassan +964 750 7747784
www.kurdishGlobe.net
Address: Erbil, Massif road
Weekly paper printed in Erbil First published in 2005
Senior U.K. EditorBashdar Pusho [email protected]
Zakaria Muhammed [email protected] +964 750 475 3897
Salih Waladbagi [email protected] +964 750 4912996
STAFF WRITERS
ARTS EDITORDiyaco Qayoumy +964 750 4036252
ReviserHonar [email protected]
The current difficulties of the regggion resemble the events of the Middle East 100 years ago—the intense Middle East in which revggolution, destruction, deteriorating economy, backwardness and igggnorance destroyed people and naggtions of the region. Violence and Islamic groups’ terrorism has set the area on fire, and the radical and dictator governments are adding fuel to the blazing fire. Previously, contact among nations and people of the areas even within the same region were difficult, but now due to technology development and international openness, the events are discussed even prior to their occurrence. New and strong counggties used to be built, but now, terggrorist Islamic groups from Middle East are threatening civilians in the heart of Europe, and carry out attacks like those of September 11th in the United States. The fear of Radical Islamists colonizing and occupying Europe is growing. SykesgPicot created a mess by trying to rule nations and compoggnents within the established states, and thus, it’s dissolving.
Demands for a Federal System for Syria has been put forward. In Iraq, dissolving the entity that was built against the will of Kurds a century ago is becoming a reality. A hundred years ago in the blazing Middle East, Kurds were divided, in which even families have been divided, cut between the borders of two states. Kurds were divided into areas, tribes and religious groups. Kurds became victims of ignorance and isolation from the developed world. Yet, Kurds toggday more internationally aware, developing international relations and forming a unified, moderate and secular national discourse.
Kurdistan is the only force fightgging against violence and radical Islamism on the ground. Kurdggistan is now a homeland rather than a tribe or a group. It works to achieve unification and form a modern and institutional entity. The Middle East has terrified the word with the tyranny of radical Islamist groups, while Kurdistan is leading the charge for peace and tolerance.
While there is no political resoluggtion left in Syria, it heads towards federalism. So should Kurds act the same as they did a hundred years ago and be divided into their opponents’ hands? Should PKK and PYD become part of current Syrian Government’s policy, or as part of reactions against Turkey, become Iran’s policy coordinaggtor and executive? Or should they establish a unified policy between the Kurdistan Region and Western Kurdistan? Could they be more open and tolerant internally (the openness that the U.S.A demands and calls on PYD to stay away from PKK)?
The reality is that, the Kurdistan Region stated its support for Fedggeralism in Syria, and will hold a referendum in Iraq for determingging its future. So when the intense Middle East is divided, Kurds should not again put themselves under the curse of another SykesgPicot scenario, which could result again in their division, missing opportunity, local leading tendenggcy and division into regional powggers. Another opportunity will open up and changes will take place. The Middle East will be redrawn. Kurds need unity, a unified deciggsiongmaking leadership with open and modern discourse, harmoniggous with international interests.
The Intensity of the Middle East Needs Unity of Kurds
[email protected] Cell: +964 750 4055888
Kurdistan Region Presiggdency and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) have both extended their support for implementgging a federalist system in Syria, including a Kurdggish Federal Region in the north of the country.
After BasNews reported about a project through which Syrian Kurds are planning to create a fedggeral region in Northern Syria, Kurdistan Region Presidency's office regg
leased a statement on Thursday, reiterating its support for federalism in Syria.
The presidency office insists that such a project may, once again, bring peace and reconciliation to Syria as a whole.
It also encourages the Syrian Kurdish factions to remain united and inggsistent on a federal Syria in order to maintain the rights of Kurds in the country.
Meanwhile, a spokesggperson for the KDP politggburo released a statement, supporting the project and pointing out that federalggism is the best solution to the chaos in the country.
KDP also calls on the Syrian Kurdish political parties to resolve their disputes and maintain the unity of Kurds in the projggect in hopes of constitutgging greater achievements for Kurds in the region.
President Massoud Barggzani received a delegaggtion from the Holy See headed by the apostolic nuncio to Jordan and Iraq, Mr. Alberto Orteggga Martin. The Vatican representative began by conveying the greetings of His Holiness, Pope Francis to President Barggzani and expressed his gratefulness, on behalf of the Vatican state for Kurdistan's treatment of the Christian IDPs who have escaped the bruggtality and cruelty of the terrorists of the Islamic State.
President Barzani spoke of the the current state of war against the terrorists and added that
the end result will most certainly be the defeat of the terrorists and vicggtory for the free world. He also spoke of the refugees and IDPs in the Kurdistan Region whose number is well over 1.5 million persons and how the Kurdistan Region will continue to protect them and provide them with assistance. Durgging the meeting Presiggdent Barzani stated that peaceful coexistence in the Kurdistan Region is an inseparable part of the culture here and cited examples of vilgglages where historically Muslims, Christians and Jews have lived together peacefully.
The President made reference to the liberaggtion of the city of Mosul and how that operation will be the most cruggcial military operation against the terrorists as their presence in Mosul poses a threat to, not only those who live inside the city but also those who are from the surrounding areas, hence the extraorggdinarily large number of IDPs in the Kurdistan Region. The meeting was concluded by Presiggdent Barzani sending his heartfelt greetings to Pope Francis and asking for his prayers for a more peaceful world.
President Barzani Meets with Papal Delegation
By Gazi Hassan
Kurdistan Region Presidency Welcomes ‘Federalism for Syria’
The Kurdish Globe No. 528, Monday, March 07, 2016 3
EU continues to provide support to Kurdistan RegionPresident Masoud Barzani held a meeting with the ambassador of the Euroggpean Union to Iraq, Mr. Patrick Simonnet.
During the meeting, President Barzani and Mr. Simonnet spoke on a numggber of issues facing Iraq in general and the Kurdistan Region in particular, inggcluding the ongoing war against the terrorists of the Islamic State, the ecoggnomic crisis, and the issue of refugees and IDPs in Kurdistan.
President Barzani reiterggated his gratitude for the support that the Kurdistan Region has received from the coalition. He went on to say that the war against the terrorists has further strengthened the bond beggtween the freedomgloving peoples of the world.
Ambassador Simonnet said that the European Union is grateful for the role of the Kurdistan Regggion, both in terms of fighting the terrorists and providing humanitarian assistance to the refugees and IDPs. Furthermore, he claimed that the Euroggpean Union would conggtinue to provide support
to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region as they work to rid the region of the terrorists and resolve the economic crisis.
Barzani meets Czech Consul General to Kurdistan Region
Kurdistan Region Presiggdent Masoud Barzani met
with Czech Consul Genggeral to Kurdistan Region, Ms. Eva Drdakova, in Salahaddin on Feb 28.
The meeting focused on the campaign against ISIS terrorists and the Czech Republic’s military aid to the peshmerga forces. Drdakova reiterated her country’s commitment to continue the provision of military aid, includgg
ing training of peshmerga forces, as part of the globggal coalition against ISIS.
President Barzani thanked the Czech Repubgglic for their contributions to the KRG and the peshggmerga forces.
Barzani Serious to Fight Corruption
As part of his most recent attempts to root out corggruption, Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barggzani met with the Board of Integrity and Kurdish judicial authorities in the Kurdistan Region, reiterggating his full support to bring lawbreakers to jusggtice.
In Thursday’s meeting, Barzani explained the negg
cessity of fighting corrupggtion across the Kurdistan Region, as it may affect not only the welfare of the Kurdish society but also the stability in the region.
He insisted that no corggrupt official, in any posiggtion, might be connived at his or her offences. “Therefore, the judicial authority and Board of Inggtegrity have my full supggport to bring them to jusggtice,” Barzani vowed.
Kurdistan Region Presiggdent has recently introggduced a reform package in Kurdistan Region to fight the acute financial crisis faced by the region.
A period of financial hardship, intensified from the unpaid budgets by the central government in Baghdad and the costly war against the Islamic State (IS), has given the Kurdistan Regional govggernment fresh challenges.
The KRG, however, is now considering every measure to find a solution to the hardship for which comprehensive reform plans and antigcorruption efforts have been put in place.
Prime Minister Nechirggvan Barzani welcomed the first Kingdom of Sauggdi Arabia, KSA, Consul General to Erbil, Dr. AbggdulgMun’im AbdulgRahggman Mahmud.
Consul General Mahmud thanked Prime Minister Barzani and Kurdistan Regional Govggernment, KRG, departggments for their assistance in establishing the conggsulate general, expressgging his hope that it would become an active bridge between the KSA and the KRG.
He praised the role of the Peshmerga forces in the fight against terrorggism, stressing they are worthy of full internaggtional support. He also affirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment to provide assistance to the Iraqi internally displaced perggsons who sought refuge in Kurdistan Region.
He stated that the conggsulate general will give priority to encouraging businessmen from Saudi Arabia to invest in Kurdggistan and strengthen trade relations.
Prime Minister Barzani congratulated Consul General Mahmud on his appointment and opening of the consulate general. He stated that opportuggnities to invest in Kurdggistan are open to Saudi investors, especially in the industry, tourism, and agriculture sectors, and invited them to particiggpate in the building of the Kurdistan Region's ecoggnomic infrastructure.
The BaghdadgErbil relaggtions and the situation in Iraq in general were also discussed in the meeting.
Prime Minister Barzani and KSA Consul General discuss bilateral relations
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is calling on the international community to provide it with a percentage of loans disbursed to the central Iraqi government.
The KRG issued a stateggment to its website on Monday saying Prime Minister Nechirvan Barggzani received a European Union (EU) delegation headed by Ambassador to Iraq Patrick Simonnet to discuss the fight against Islamic State (IS), politiggcal situation and relations with Baghdad.
Barzani said the KRG favors solving issues with the central government through talks, if Iraqi ofggficials are willing to take part in dialogue.
“The KRG completely
believes in finding soluggtions for all the issues through dialogue if Baghggdad is really willing to tackle those issues, parggticularly as both sides are facing an economic crisis,” he said.
“The international comggmunity should allocate to the Kurdistan Region a portion of the loans given to the Iraqi government,” Barzani added.
The prime minister also asked for increased assisggtance from the internationggal community to help the region weather the crisis.
Barzani said on February 25 during a meeting with Kuwaiti ConsulgGeneral Omar Ahmad algKandari that the region was ready for any signal from Baghggdad to resolve the issues
on both sides.“The KRG’s priority is
to tackle the issues with Baghdad by negotiation and with mutual underggstanding,” Barzani added.
Tensions between the KRG and Iraq’s federal government hit a high in 2015 after officials from both sides accused each other of failing to abide by the terms of an oil revenue sharing deal struck by offiggcials in December 2014.
Officials from Baghdad and Erbil signed a revenue sharing deal, under which the KRG would receive 17 percent of the federal budggget in exchange for exportgging 550,000 barrels of oil per day to the Iraqi State Organization for Marketgging Oil (SOMO) at Ceygghan Port in Turkey.
KRG asks for portion of loans given to Iraq
The Kurdish Globe No. 528, Monday, March 07, 2016 4
PM Barzani unsure who sabotaged Erbil-Ceyhan pipeline, not blaming PKK
Kurdistan PM vows thorough probe of fire that killed 13 OFWs
Authorities in Iraq’s Kurdggistan region have assured the Philippine Embassy of a thorough investigation into the February 5 fire at the Capitol Hotel here to make sure that anyone found responsible for the tragedy that claimed the lives of 13 overseas Filipiggno workers would be held accountable.
“We are deeply sorry about what happened,” Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani of the Kurdistan Regional Government told Chargé d’Affaires Elmer G. Cato during a meetgging at the regional capital where he also conveyed his condolences and soliggdarity with the Philippine Government and the Filiggpino people.
“Our hearts go to the victims of this tragedy and their families back in the Philippines,” Prime Mingg
ister Barzani said, addgging that the Embassy can count on the full support and cooperation of the regggional government.
“We are ready to coopgg
erate,” Barzani said in assuring Cato that a thorggough investigation would be conducted and approggpriate action would be taken against those found
responsible for the tragggedy that had initially been blamed on faulty wiring.
Present during the meetgging were Interior and Peshmerga Affairs Mingg
ister Karim Sinjari, Forggeign Minister Fallah Musggtafa Bakr, Erbil Governor Nawzad Hadi, and Govggernment Spokesperson Safeen Dizayee.
For his part, Cato thanked the Prime Minisggter for the support and coggoperation that Kurdish auggthorities have extended to the Embassy to ensure the immediate repatriation of the remains of the 13 Filiggpinas who were among the 19 people who perished in the fire.
“We would not have been able to reunite our departgged kababayans with their loved ones in the Philipggpines in such a short timeggframe without the support of Prime Minister Barzani and the Kurdistan Regggional Government,” Cato said, noting that it took the Embassy only seven days to send the victims home.
He noted that Governor Hadi and Minister Dizayggee went out of their way to accompany the remains to the airport prior to their departure for the Philipggpines on 12 February.
Cato also thanked the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) for making it possible for the Embassy to reach the incident site within hours after the fire by allowing the use of one of their airggcraft.
He personally thanked the Special Representative of the Secretary General Jan Kubis and other UNggAMI officials for the gesggture, which allowed the Embassy to immediately inspect the scene of the fire, coordinate with invesggtigators and identify the remains of the victims.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Miggnority Issues has praised the spirit of tolerance and coexggistence among the people of Kurdistan Region, vowing to secure further interggnational support for Erbil.
In a meeting with the Kurdistan Regional Governggment (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, Rita Izsák commended the role of KRG in creating an atmosphere of cogg
existence and a safe haven for religious and ethnic minoriggties in the region.
Izsák promised to closely work with the international community to gain more humanitarggian support for the Kurdistan Region in Iraq.
PM Barzani briefed the UN rapporteur on the current situaggtion in the Kurdistan Region, asserting that despite the seggvere financial crisis faced by KRG, over
1.8 million refugees and IDPs, regardggless of their ethnic and religious backgggrounds, are taken in by the Kurdistan Region.
Regarding the minorities in Kurdggistan Region, Barggzani explained that their rights are fully maintained within the constitution of the Kurdistan Regggion, and the Kurds have proven their spirit of coexistence throughout the hisggtory.
Kurdistan Region a safe haven for minorities: UN Rapporteur
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani discussed with the head of the Norwegian Parliament’s foreign relations committee Anniken Huitfeldt the criggses plaguing the Kurdish government.
The discussion came durgging a meeting in Erbil where PM Barzani called on the international community to step up aid to the governggment to help overcome the crises.
Barzani talked about
Kurdistan’s battered econggomy and the fight against terrorism.
Huitfeldt praised the role of Peshmerga battling IS and confirmed her counggtry’s support for the Kurdggish people.
Kurdistan Region has been plunged in an ecoggnomic crisis after Baghdad stopped sending its share of the national budget since early 2014 while fighting Islamic State terrorist since August 2014.
Nechirvan Barzani meets with top Norwegian official
The US embassy in Baghdad has warned the risk of the Mosul Dam collapsing is "serious and unprecggedented" and has urged people to be ready to evacuate.
Maintenance work was disrupted after the dam was briefly seized by militants from sogcalled Islamic State in 2014.
If the dam burst, floodwaters could kill 1.47 million Iraqis living along the River Tigris, the embassy said.
Iraq's prime minister has said precautions are being taken, but that such a scenario is "highly ungglikely".
The dam, Iraq's largest has sufggfered from structural flaws since its completion in 1984, with the water constantly eating away at the soluble gypsum base on which it is built.
To counter the erosion, engineers need to drill holes in the gypsum and fill them with a cement grout mixture six days a week.
US warns of Mosul dam collapse
in northern Iraq
Work is under way to strengthen the dam
Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said on Saturday he was not sure who sabotaged ErbilgCeygghan crude oil pipeline. He revealed that it was not blowngup but that it had been tapped into and oil stolen.
Barzani told reporters, "I cannot confirm that the
Kurdistan region oil pipeggline was blown up and I cannot also say that PKK was behind it."
Asked who has been begghind the sabotage, Barzani replied "there are military operations in the area, and we cannot confirm that it is blown up, but it is certainly broken."
"If the question is who has blown up the pipeline, I cannot affirm that PKK has done it."
The Group of Communiggties in Kurdistan (KCK), an affiliate of Turkey’s Kurdisggtan Workers’ Party (PKK) denied claims last week it sabotaged a key oil pipeline from the Kurdistan Region
to Turkey's Ceyhan Port.Demhat Agit, a KCK
spokesperson, told PKK media that the group did not know who was behind the Feb. 16 pipeline bombing.
The export of the Kurdisggtan Region's oil will remain delayed for an additional two weeks due to security threats to the pipeline which
runs through Turkey's Kurdggish southeast where the Turkish state is once again engaged against the Kurdggistan Workers Party (PKK), Reuters reported Saturday.
"The physical repairs of the pipeline will not take a long time. However, the work to fully restore the security of the pipeline will
take more time. We think that it will take two weeks at least," Reuters quoted a Turkish industry source as saying.
A reported $14 million is being lost a day. About 600,000 barrels of oil were sent through that pipeline daily.
No. 528, Monday, March 07, 2016 5The Kurdish Globe
A plane reportedly begglonging to U.S. civilian aircraft carrying four passengers was forced to make an emergency landgging on Saturday (March 5) in Khabat district near the Erbil due to technical issues.
The cause of the accigg
dent is unclear. No pasggsengers were harmed and engineers are inspecting the grounded aircraft for signs of damage.
The plane appeared to have sustained a major impact underneath.
The plane reportedly landed just 37 kilometers
from the center of the city of Erbil where road access is poor.
Reporters said an American team arrived at the site of the landing and transported the pasggsengers and plane staff away from the scene.
U.S. plane makes emergency landing near Erbil
Some 28 Kurdish Peshggmerga officers are curggrently being trained at a German army base by ofggficers of the Bundeswehr in northern Germany.
"What we learn here will not only help us in the battle of Mosul, but it helps our army in general to fight the enemy," said Major Nazar of the Peshggmerga in his local dialect of Sorani which is spoken mainly in Iraqi Kurdistan, as well as the Kurdistan
Province of western Iran.Nazar said that the help
of the international comggmunity had already weakgg
ened the Islamic State (IS), adding that the help from Germany was "withggout comparison."
"We hope for even more support through even more courses. It all helps to fight the enemy."
Special attention is paid to the reconnaissance of enemy units using relaggtively simple means, acggcording to the German army.
"Reconnaissance saves blood," said German army
colonel Norbert Haehngglein.
"If I know a lot about the enemy I can act accordggingly and I have fewer losses. I can lead my opggeration better and be more successful," Haehnlein said.
The Peshmerga learn how to gather information on the enemy without raggdar or drones and to evaluggate it for future military operations, the German army said in a statement
on Tuesday (March 1).After the end of the
twogweek course, the Bundeswehr hopes the Peshmerga will transfer their knowledge to the other fighters in Iraq.
Germany supports the Kurds in the Kurdistan Region with training and weapons.
As of 2014, Peshmerga officers are also trained in Germany, mostly in the Bavarian town of Hamggmelburg.
German army trains Peshmerga in Northern German countryside
Kurdistan Region Presiggdent Massoud Barzani issued a statement, congggratulating and hailing the brave Peshmerga forces for defeating the terrorists west of Mosul and driving them back.
The President thanked the international coaliggtion warplanes for supggporting the Peshmerga forces by aerial coverggage.
“For this great victory, I would like to congratugglate the people of Kurdggistan and courageous Peshmerga forces.”
Barzani also thanked the Peshmerga comggmanders in the frontline battling with ISIS, wishgging fast recovery for the wounded Peshmerga forces. No Peshmarga was martyred in the fighting.
“As we, people of Kurdistan, have such brave and valiant sons, defeat would be always the share of our enemies and opponents.”
More than 100 terrorists of the sogcalled Islamic State (ISIS) were killed in an intense battle with the Kurdish Peshmerga forces west of Mosul.
The ISIS militants cargg
ried out several attacks on different Peshmerga frontlines around Mosul, but the Kurdish forces repelled them immediggately, inflicting the jihadggists with heavy damages and high casualties.
“We killed 100 miliggtants and all their bodies are left under Peshmerga control,” Majid Sindi, commander of the Zeraggvani forces west of the Tigris River told Kurdggish media outlets.
The Peshmerga forces could defeat the offenggsives after a fourghourglong confrontation with the extremists, Peshmerggga commander added.
According to Peshggmerga commander Zaim
Ali, more than 400 miliggtants launched an attack on several Peshmerga defense posts in the regggion that led to an inggtense confrontation lastgging several hours.
A Peshmerga comgg
mander revealed that the jihadists found the foggy weather suitable to atggtack Peshmerga forces; “but they were surprised by Peshmerga’s immediggate reaction.”
President Barzani congratulates Peshmerga for defeating ISIS attack west of Mosul
The Kurdish Globe No. 528, Monday, March 07, 2016 6
Italy to Send Helicopters to Erbil
Italy officially decided on Wednesday to send infantry troops to Iraq and base 8 planes in Erbil, according to a statement from the Italian Defense Ministry.
Roberta Pinotti, the Italian defense minister, announced in a statement that her country is planning to send four Ag129 Mangusta helicopters and four NH90 military helicopters in the comgging days.
Pinotti revealed that the helicopters are going to be based in the Kurdistan region capital, Erbil and will conduct combat as well as search and rescue opggerations.
The chief of staff of the KRG's Peshggmerga ministry, Jabar Yawar, said "The Peshmerga ministry welcomes the Italggian Defense Ministry decree to send troops to Iraq, we were already aware that Italy was going to base its helicopggters here in Erbil."
Pinotti has also mentioned that 130 Italian infantry troops will be sent to Iraq to confront the Islamic State (ISIS) and protect Italian military personnel, investors and the staff of an Italian comggpany currently working on repairing the Mosul Dam.
Yawar also said that the helicopters will "protect an Italian military force which is expected to be stationed at the Mosul Dam.
Krikuk Governor Satisfied with KRG DealIraq’s selfggoverning Kurds are cementgging control over oil produced in the north of the country by agreeing to sell crude pumped in the contested province of Kirkuk, a year after they started sellgging all their own oil independently on global markets.
The accord covers oil produced in Kirkuk, which Kurdish forces controlled after federal troops fled the area ahead of advancing Islamic State militants in midg2014, Kirkuk Governor Najmuddin Omar Karim said. The Kurds, who are exporting Kirkuk crude with their own oil through a pipeline to Turkey, agreed to deposit $10 million a month into a dedicated bank account for Kirkuk, Karim said
Karim said that he likes the oil of his province to be sold by Kurdistan Regggional Government.
U.S. Delta Force Capture ISIS Militant
U.S. commandos have captured a susggpected ISIS militant in northern Iraq, deggfense officials confirmed to NBC News early Wednesday.
The "ranking" ISIS member was capggtured by Delta Force, the Army's top coggvert combat unit, according to the offiggcials. It was not clear how long the U.S. will interrogate the alleged ISIS memggber before turning the operative over to Iraqi or Kurdish authorities.
One senior defense official said the man captured as a "key operator" in terggrorist operations though not a "signifiggcant leader.
NEWS BAR Powerful Iraqi Shi'ite cleric calls for 'government of corruption' to be toppled
Powerful Iraqi Shi'ite Musgglim cleric Moqtada algSadr called for the "government of corruption” to be overggthrown on Friday in the biggggest show of opposition yet to Prime Minister Haider algAbadi's authority.
Around 200,000 people rallied at the entrance to the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad, demandgging reform, better services and an end to corruption in response to a call by Sadr.
Abadi promised political and economic reforms last summer after mass street protests, but quickly ran into legal challenges and systemggic resistance to change.
Last month he vowed to appoint technocrats to reggplace ministers appointed on the basis of political afggfiliations but that pledge too remains unfulfilled and frusggtration with the government has increased.
“A chance should be givggen to efficient independent people, and those who took Iraq to the abyss should step aside,” said Sadr, whose AlgAhrar bloc holds 34 seats in parliament and three cabinet posts
Sadr's speech was broadggcast on huge screens set up in the street and protesters waved Iraqi flags outside the entrance to the Green Zone,
which was guarded by riot police standing behind razor wire.
Sadr, whose opinion holds sway over tens of thouggsands, including fighters who fought U.S. troops in 2006g07, threatened to break into the Green Zone unless Abadi took action.
The Green Zone houses government buildings and foreign embassies including that of the United States and has also become a symbol of the isolation of Iraq's rulers from its citizens.
Baghdadgbased political
analyst Ahmed Younis said failure to root out corrupggtion, and economic presggsures due to slumping oil prices compounded by the battle against Islamic State had "pushed Abadi with the country to the edge of a cliff".
"Everybody is watching Abadi drag his feet in carrygging out real reforms Moqtaggda algSadr is now trying to take the imitative and be the winner in the reform race”.
After a 100,000gstrong protest held by Sadr last week, Abadi said it was his
critics that stood in the way: “The political blocs are still holding on to their ministers and by doing so we cannot reform the country,” Abadi added.
Muhanad algGharrawi, an aide to Sadr and leader of the protests said: “Today we are here to call for major reform. We want a technocratic govggernment that serves Iraq’s interests. We won’t accept a solution to be like morphine used only to tranquilize the anger of people."
The latest IOM Iraq Disggplacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) has identified more than 3.1 million Iraqis disggplaced by conflict since the beginning of 2014. This number includes over 250,000 individuals disggplaced from Ramadi, the capital of Anbar governorggate, since April 2015.
The DTM has identified 3,112,914 persons displaced by conflict in Iraq. The maggjority, 67 per cent, are shelggtered in private settings that include rented housing, host families and hotels. A smallgger but significant number, 20 per cent, are identified as living in critical shelter arggrangements, which include unfinished buildings, religggious buildings, informal settlements and schools. Eight per cent of those curggrently displaced in Iraq are living in camp settings.
In alignment with the most recent data and DTM methggodology, the UN Humaniggtarian Country Team will maintain its humanitarian response planning figure at 3.1 million displaced.
The latest IOM Iraq Emergg
gency Tracking data has identified more than 75,000 individuals displaced from the Fallujah area since 8 July, as Iraqi Security Forces intensify their efforts to regggain control of the city from armed groups.
In response to the overggwhelming and continued displacement, IOM has distributed nongfood aid to more than 138,000 families across Iraq. Since 1 July, IOM has distributed approxggimately 3,950 nongfood item (NFI) kits, including cool
boxes, rechargeable fans, mattresses, summer blanggkets, tarps, hygiene kits and other items.
Of these, 1,250 kits were distributed to people recentggly displaced in Salah al Din governorate. Continuing IOM services for affected communities in Iraq counggtrygwide include nongfood item aid, shelter provision, psychosocial assistance, health service provision, livelihoods training and supggport, and transportation serggvices.
IOM Iraq Chief of Mission Thomas Lothar Weiss said: “As displacement continues from conflict areas, IOM continues to work with the UN Humanitarian Country Team, especially through its Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM), the Government of Iraq and other humanitarian partners to provide assisggtance to the most vulnerable. With temperatures in Iraq soaring, prompt and effecggtive aid delivery is saving lives.”
Iraq Displacement Passes 3.1 Million
The Kurdish Globe No. 528, Monday, March 07, 2016 7
Sports NewsKurdish Car Enthusiasts
Off-roading
Two offgroad teams have emerged in Kurdggistan Region to head out on adventures in natural terrains in Kurdistan.
Fariq Sadiq, the Head of Sulaymaniyah OffgRoad team said that the team has been formed a few years ago and they have 15 offgroad vehicles, they have performed adggventurous off road shows in most of the mountainous areas in the Kurdistan Region.
Liverpool chases Barcelona teenager
Liverpool wants to sign Barcelona teenager Sergio Gomez. The Reds are prepared to make a substantial offer to the leftgfooted forward when he turns 16.
Conte to meet with Falcao over Chelsea future
Chelsea has been spotted for the second time in recent weeks keeping tabs on Juventus star Paul Pogba, this time in the Old Lady's Coppa Italia clash with Inter.
Real makes Aguero priority signing
Real Madrid has prioritized the signing of Sergio Aguero this summer, while PSG is also monitoring the Manchester City strikgger.
Juventus ready to bid for Benatia
Carlo Ancelotti is not conviced by Medhi Benatia and wants to sell him. Juventus has already shown interest in signing Bayern's center back and is ready to offer almost the same fee that Bayern payed for him.
Barcelona set new unbeaten record
Luis Enrique's men have now gone 35 matches without defeat across all competiggtions, bettering the streak Los Blancos manggaged under Leo Beenhakker in the 1988g89 season.
Barcelona has now gone 35 matches unggbeaten in all competitions after claiming victory over Rayo Vallecano on Thursday evening, setting a new Spanish record in the process.
Neuer not going to Manchester City
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has dismissed the prospect of goalkeeper Mangguel Neuer joining him at Manchester City next season.
"Neuer will be the Bayern Munich goalggkeeper for the next five, six, seven, eight or nine years if he wants," Guardiola told reggporters. "I hope he will end his career here." Guardiola said
Is the rise of crude oil prices going to bring back the glory days of the Kurdish economy? Is it going to bring the much needed money to satisfy the disgruntled unpaid Kurdish population? Has Saudi Arabia finally learned its lesson to curb crude oil production?
In the face of dropping crude oil prices, OPEC (Organisaggtion of the Petroleum Exportgging Countries) has tried sevggeral times to come together and bring about a consenggsus. An agreement was not reached to limit or lower the production of crude oil. Why? Because the big player Saudi Arabia was not convinced and wouldn't listen to the requests of the other OPEC countries.
Now things have changed
for Saudi Arabia. As a result of the lower crude oil prices, its foreign reserves have run dry, no more spare cash. Furggthermore its starting to borrow money, something it hasn't done for a long time, which shows how serious is the situggation is with the Saudi econggomy. Government subsidies for fuel and other products are being reduced too in order to cut spending. Only this interggnal pressure could bring about the change needed in Saudi oil policy.
These financial losses have brought Saudi Arabia to the OPEC negotiations table. Now it's agreed to control crude oil production in line with OPEC policies. This is something that Saudi Arabia
has resisted doing for a long time. It's explicit reasons begging to drive out competition from smaller crude oil producggers. There is also the implicit reason that Saudi Arabia is being pressured by the United States to keep pumping oil at low prices to keep the United States happy.
What's in it for the Kurdisggtan economy ? The Kurdistan economy is highly dependent on crude oil revenues and the current recession is mainly the result of the big drop in crude oil prices from around $100 per barrel to $30 a few months ago. As of the time of writgging this article, price is rising to $40 per barrel of the light Brent crude oil type. If it rises ten or twenty more dollars
then the increase in oil reveggnue would be enough to cover regional expenditure costs. Most of these costs comprise of the unpaid wages of over a million Kurdish citizens who are dependent on government wages.
This glimmer of hope in the form of rising crude oil prices, if it continues, should bring about some positive economic changes in a very dire situaggtion that the Kurdistan Region hasn't seen for over a decade. Will it signal a return to the golden times of a few years ago? One cannot tell unless the political situation improves alongside the economic one.
Oil; a glimmer of hope ! By Swara Kadir
PKK Planning to Establish Raparrin Canton Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), in cooperation with Gorran (Change Moveggment), is allegedly planning to establish a separate canggton in Raparrin area of Sleggmani province.
A source, speaking on conggdition of anonymity, claimed to BasNews that PKK is atggtempting to exploit the curggrent financial crisis in the Kurdistan Region to gain people’s support for estabgglishing a separate canton in Raniya and Qaladize areas.
The party has allegedly deployed more than 500
guerrillas to the area and held meetings with locals, ensuring them that PKK will militarily support an uprising against the Kurdggistan Regional Government (KRG) in Raparrin area.
BasNews previously reggported that Qadir Haji Ali, a senior Gorran official, had visited Qandil and sought PKK’s support for bringing Slemani province under the full control of Gorran; but the request was not respondgged immediately.
According to the source, the Patriotic Union of Kurdgg
istan (PUK) has warned both PKK and Gorran. “It has also deployed military forces to the area to standby for any eventuality.”
Member of Kurdistan Regggion Parliament Maryam Samad told BasNews that KRG must meet demands of the people and find a sogglution to the acute financial crisis in the region; “but it does not mean an uprising or standing against KRG can improve the situation,” MP Samad asserted.
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) official in Rapgg
arrin area, Najat Hasan, begglieves that PKK has no right to interfere in KRG’s interggnal affairs, and it must focus on the Turkish Kurdistan instead.
Hasan confirmed that PKK has recently held meetings with locals in Raparrin area, encouraging them to support PKK’s plan for establishing a canton outside the authorggity of KRG.
However, Babakr Drayi, a Gorran official, rejected the allegations and stated that there is no such agreement between Gorran and PKK.
A statue of prominent Kurdggish leader Mustafa Barzani has been unveiled in India March 1, 2016.
The unveiling took place during a ceremony today which marks that at the Ovro hotel in Mumbai where the Indian Interior Minister, some British MPs and Kurdggish residents of India will be gathering.
Tuesday March 1, marked the 37th anniversary over Mustafa Barzani’s death.
The statue, made of wax by Kurdish artist Jalal Ahmed, shows the Kurdish leader in Kurdish outfit holding a
BRNO rifle.The artwork will later be
transferred to Mumbai Muggseum next to the sculpture of the Indian Leader Mahatma
Gandhi and the former South African president Nelson Mandela.
Mustafa Barzani is considggered the most prominent and
influential political leader in modern Kurdish politics who fought most of his life for the Kurdish cause.
Mustafa Barzani statue unveiled in India
Iraqi authorities have deployed Special Forces around Baghggdad following a “rare” attack by ISIS terrorists in the Iraqi capital, a senior Iraqi officer told Anadolu Agency.
BrigadiergGeneral Sabah algWaeli said antigterror special forces have been deployed in the vicinity of Baghdad Interggnational Airport and the westggern part of the Iraqi capital.
“Snipers and mobile checkggpoints have also been deployed to check on the identity of the passersgby,” algWaeli said.
The deployments came shortly after ISIS launched a brazen attack in the city of Abu Ghraib, west of Baghggdad, which left 12 Iraqi troops dead.
On Sunday, ISIS also claimed twin bombings in Baghdad’s
Shia district of Sadr City, which killed at least 65 people and injured dozens.
In another development, four proggovernment tribesmen were killed in clashes with ISIS terrorists in the western province of Anbar.
Army officer Walid algDugglaimi told Anadolu Agency that ISIS terrorists attacked a factory used as a base for Iraqi
army forces and allied tribesggmen in eastern Ramadi.
“Four tribesmen were killed and six others injured in ensugging clashes between tribesmen and ISIS terrorists,” he said.
According to algDulaimi, 16 ISIS terrorists were also killed in the clashes.
Iraq Deploys Special Forces after ISIS attack
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ERBIL FORECAST
Kurdish Sculptor Kamaran DartashThe Kurdish artist and sculptor Kamaran Dartash was born in 1968 in Kirkuk Province, Southern Kurdistan. Deggveloping an early schoolgage love for handcrafts, he has narrowed his viggsual art focused to the use of wood, stone, and iron. During the 1980’s,
which is often referred to as the golden era of Iraqi and Kurdish art, Kamaggran plunged himself deep into the world of Kurdish artistry.
In 1984 and 1985, he took part in the first and second art exhibitions in Kirkuk. Long after, folgglowing the liberation of
Iraq, he was still practicgging his craft, particularly focusing on the excavaggtion of stone and usage of wood. In recent years, his works have awarded him great fame regionally.
His sculptures have been used by Kirkuk muggnicipality, which has sevggeral contemporary pieces
of his in parks and avggenues across the city. Kaggmaran’s art is noteworthy particularly since very few artists can use natuggral elements such as mud, stone, plaster, or wood in their work. He’s manggaged to use these difficult techniques to capture the lost human sufferings of
the people of Kurdistan, particularly through deggpictions of the Halabja bombardment. Kamaran is passionate about art in public areas of cities as it gives life and preserves history. He has done this through his many sculpggtures of the missing Anfal victims.
Perhaps Kamaran Dartash’s favorite tool is the timeless material of stone because with it one can capture dreams that may be realized and enggjoyed by the next generaggtion of audiences.
By Ashti Garmiyani
The film “(1g7)”, writggten by Dr. Farhad Pirbal and directed by Hassan Ali, will take part in an international film festival in Bogota, Columbia this May.
“I’m proud that I was
able to produce the film amidst the financial crisis and that it will take part in an international film festival,” Pribal stated.
“I’ve received an offiggcial invitation from Cogglumbia, but I’m not sure
whether I can make it to the country or not due to financial crisis,” Pribal added.
Apart from this film, Farhal Pirbal is working on producing a movie on the Peshmerge, for which
he has found significant sponsorship.
“Everything is ready, the only thing left is choosing a director for the new film,” Pirbal said.
Pirbal’s film takes part in International Festival
Erbil to Hold Cinema Forum for WomenFor International Women Day on March 8th, a cineggma forum for women is to be held in Erbil in which famous actresses and feggmale filmmakers will take part.
“Cinema in Women’s Perspective” is what the forum will be called. Kurdish, Foreign, Iraqi and Arabic films consistgging of 14 short films (inggcluding 11 directed by women) will be included in the event, with the othgger 3 films centered around women’s issues.
Pshtiwan Abdullah, chairman of the forum, stated that the majority of Kurdish films are proggduced by the Directorggate of Erbil Cinema Art. Actresses from Baghdad, Kirkuk, and Suleimani have been invited, includgging Miss Iraq, Shayma
Qasim who is originally from Kirkuk. The total number of actresses invited to the forum is 12, according to Abdullah. Apart from showing films, live music concerts and exhiggbitions for female students of the Institute of Fine Arts will
be conducted.Layla Majidi, one of the
directors taking part in the forum with her film “Ballet” says that it’s her first experiggence in the field.
The event will take place with 8 Kurdish films, 2 Iraqi
films, one Moroccan, two forggeign and a Palestinian film. There are two different showgging times of 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
In addition, 8 active women in cultural, cinema and media domains will be awarded durgg