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My dear President and Members of the Kurdistan
National Assembly
Ladies and gentlemen Greetings.
I warmly welcome you on this occasion and thank you
for attending and participating in this event.
It is indeed an honor and a privilege for me as a
peshmerga to be nominated for this duty and
responsibility by my fellow citizens through their
elected parliament. I consider this call from the
people of Kurdistan as a gift and a tribute to all
the peshmergas and freedom fighters of our people.
Forty three years ago when I took up arms as a
peshmerga until today I have experienced many trials
and tribulations and achievements of the Kurdistan
revolution and witnessed many tragedies and the
hardships of my people. But never had I any doubt
about our eventual victory.
I'm pleased to be with you here today to witness for
myself the fruit of this lifelong endeavor. But what
saddens me the most and hurts my soul is not to see
here many dear ones and fellow peshmergas who shared
the struggle and strife during our proud march and
made the ultimate sacrifice.
To my grief, they are not here to witness this
achievement. While physically they are no longer
among us, their spirits are hovering over us and
sharing our joy. I am confident the spirits of our
eternal leaders are also celebrating this moment
with us.
On this occasion, I extend my warmest greetings and
deep respect to the families of our martyrs. I bow
in reverence to the sacrifice of their loved ones
and to the tears of their mothers. I consider myself
a responsible member of the families of each and
every one of them. To me, the families of the
martyrs of the Kurdistan Liberation Movement, no
matter what political party or affiliation they
adhered to, are all very dear to me and they are my
sons and daughters.
The Kurdistan National Assembly, our regional
parliament, is an institution to which we owe
respect and which enjoys our confidence. It
manifests the will and aspirations of our people.
The parliament as a legal institution was created by
the votes of our people and carries their diverse
colors. It is the fruit of the blood of the martyrs,
the struggles of the peshmerga, the victims of the
Anfal and chemical weapons. It is also the fruit of
the unity and unanimous stand of our people,
especially the efforts of both the PUK and KDP.
I would like here to extend my greetings to all the
people of Kurdistan both here and abroad,
particularly to all the peshmergas of all political
parties who faced the harshest conditions in
defending the honor and dignity of our people.
I also extend my greetings to members and affiliates
of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the Kurdistan
Democratic Party, and to all other political
parties. All of you have contributed to this
achievement, and all of us should develop it further
and defend it. You are all dear brothers to me.
On this occasion it is time to acknowledge and
review the past, but to look deliberately toward the
future and open a new chapter of fraternity, peace,
and unity. What has gone before cannot be undone.
But let us strive to heal the wounds we carry in our
hearts and overcome their hurtful impact, and
proceed. From today onwards we leave the
shortcomings of the past behind us and climb with
vigor to the peak of victory and walk into a
brighter future.
Henceforth we should take steps toward enhancing our
national thinking and developing the spirit of
democracy in Kurdistan’s society. We should discard
the constraints of factional interests, spurn closed
mindedness, and avoid behavior that reopens the
wounds of our people.
I would like to state here that we as Kurds are
proud that our struggle never halted for a moment
and all the tragedies never daunted us. Our goal
since the outbreak of the September Revolution was
always clear: democracy for Iraq and autonomy for
Kurdistan. This mission is evidence of the wisdom,
farsightedness, and realistic judgment of the
leadership of the Kurdish Revolution.
Today, this mission has changed to that of a federal
democratic Iraq. The source of this mission is the
same thinking and realistic assessment because the
issues of democracy and rights of the Kurdish
peoples are intertwined and inseparable.
Successive Iraqi regimes tried hard through wars
imposed on Kurds, and our resistance to them, to
portray our conflict as a one between Arabs and
Kurds. Because those regimes had ill and ugly
intentions, their efforts came to nought. On the
contrary, many Arab freedom fighters joined us in
our struggle for democracy, fought alongside us, and
sacrificed their lives.
Here we are today continuing with those colleagues
and freedom fighters on the march to freedom.
Before, we were in the same trench together fighting
dictatorship. Now, we are together in the same
struggle to build democracy and a federal system of
government. In the future, no conspiracy will be
able to create division between our two oppressed
nations. Our fraternity, which we protected by hard
work and assiduousness, will be a solid foundation
for a brighter future for all of us.
We clearly see today the results of the barbarity
and disasters of the Baathist regime and those
earlier regimes in the mass graves that hold the
remains of Iraqis. This is an opportunity to benefit
from the mistakes of past regimes and their futile
efforts, and to work together for the creation of a
better future founded on equality and fraternity as
a basis to rebuild our country without distraction.
All Iraqis, regardless of their ethnicity or
religious persuasion, were the targets of a war of
annihilation and genocide. It is time now to start
healing the wounds and to rebuild our country in a
manner which protects and respects human rights.
We as Kurds are proud that throughout our long
revolution in Iraqi Kurdistan we never resorted to
terrorism, nor even gave it a thought. Iraqi
regimes, however, from the beginning of the
September Revolution applied terrorism against us in
the worst forms. Their terrorism reached its peak in
the cruelest atrocities of the Anfal Campaign of
1988, and the Anfal of the Faili and Barzani Kurds,
attacking us with chemical weapons culminating in
the infamously ugly crime of Halabja.
It is time now to rebuild a new Iraq on the basis of
federalism, democracy, pluralism, in which the rule
of law is supreme. The new Iraq should be based on
voluntary coexistence between the two main
nationalities, Kurds and Arabs. All Iraqi citizens,
whatever their ethnicity and religious persuasion,
should feel this country is their own in which their
rights and responsibilities are clearly stated.
We sacrificed dearly to reach this day and we will
continue to struggle to the end. Security and
stability must prevail in Iraq. The safety, dignity,
and property of all Iraqis must be protected. Iraq
should occupy its proper place in the international
community. We fully support all efforts conducive to
this end, and stand by any government committed to
these goals.
After a few days a new government will be formed in
the Kurdistan region and will receive a vote of
confidence from the regional parliament. This new
government will be a broad based, united government
with many difficult tasks to perform. We should all
cooperate in the success of this government in its
work.
Kurdistan's infrastructure which was totally
destroyed by Iraqi regimes should be rebuilt. Road
communications should be built in a modern way along
with new communication systems including post and
telecommunications.
As for water and electricity, these services should
reach every part of Kurdistan and shortages and
deficiencies should quickly be dealt with. There
also should be schools and healthcare facilities in
all villages in nearby and remote areas, and
healthcare in Kurdistan should be improved to
international standards.
Reforms must be applied to the education system and
curricula should be cleansed of Baathism. Education
is the source of our future. Baathism tried hard to
destroy the cultural basis of our society and our
spirit. We should quickly remove its corrupt and
inhuman effects.
We should pay greater attention to our institutions
of higher education. Universities in Kurdistan
should be no less than those of the greater region.
The universities should become beacons of
civilization and democracy and they should play a
major role in Kurdistan’s society. They should also
establish broader relations and interaction with
universities and scientific institutions throughout
the world.
All institutions should undergo reform and all kinds
of corruption should be uprooted. The needs of the
people should be met in a just, fair, equal, and
expeditious manner.
A full and comprehensive program for revitalizing
Kurdistan’s economy should be developed. Job
opportunities should be created to minimize
unemployment in our rich country. A happy and
prosperous nation can build a bright future for
itself.
Our people should be producers and not consumers and
parasites. Kurds are active and hardworking, they
must provide for themselves according to their
physical and mental capabilities. To this end,
production units should dot the landscape of
Kurdistan, with special care given to industrial
production. Special care should also be given to
agriculture and tourism so that they become two
vital aspects of our economy and contribute to the
growth of the country.
Kurdistan’s economy should be based on free market
principles and the furthering of private and joint
ventures. The government should offer all forms of
assistance in this regard including facilitation and
other support.
Freedoms in Kurdistan, individual and collective,
are to be respected. All freedoms are to be secured
according to laws and regulations. Peoples’ opinions
should be respected. Religious belief is a
fundamental freedom.
I also hope we succeed in developing mutual
confidence between the people and the Kurdistan
Regional Government. This mutual trust and
confidence guarantees the advancement of both.
Attention should be directed to students and all
youth. Projects of interest to them should be
developed and implemented. Their needs and desires
are to be respected, and worthy and proper work
opportunities should be provided.
Women must play worthy and dignified roles in all
aspects of society, and there must be no legal
discrimination in this regard. Women should struggle
to change their own status in society and we shall
provide all needed support.
The Holy religion of Islam and national traditions
must be respected along with social and religious
personalities who aspire from their position to
serve Kurdistan’s society and the new environment,
and to play their role accordingly.
I would like here to reiterate respect for the
activities of all political organizations in
Kurdistan. Their views and suggestions are to be
given due consideration. In Kurdistan, the media in
all forms are free without censorship.
In the Kurdistan region there is no discrimination
of its citizens, no matter what their ethnic or
racial origins may be. They are all equal in both
rights and responsibilities. Turkomen and
ChaldoAssyrians are our respected brothers and
sisters, and we will do whatever is within our
capability and authority for the sake of their
well-being. We all live together on this land. Our
destiny, our joys and sorrows, are common. We
consider ourselves their advocates and defenders of
their rights.
All our various religions and sects should be
respected. In Kurdistan, all religions are fully
free and are viewed equally.
Our Yezidi brothers are original Kurds who
participated in their nation’s struggle. They enjoy
a special place in our hearts and are highly
respected and esteemed by all Kurds.
Our Faili brothers in the long struggle of their
people were afflicted with the heaviest blows from
the Baathist regime and they uniquely suffered. They
should be compensated in the best way and play their
proper role in society. Now that the struggle of
their people is bearing fruit, they should enjoy
their full rights with confidence.
Families of Anfal victims in Garmiyan, Qaradakh,
Badinan, and Dashti Koya, also the families of
Barzanis, Failis, those who suffered chemical
attacks at Halabja and other locations, those
deported and relocated, all are to be respected and
esteemed. The effects of these tragedies must be
erased from their lives and they should be assisted.
Our people who were dislocated due to hostilities
and repression of the regime sacrificed uniquely and
have suffered great losses. Those who fled to
neighboring countries or were displaced internally
are to be highly respected and esteemed. Those who
have not yet been able to return to their original
homes should be facilitated and assisted.
A comprehensive plan should be developed to
reconstruct the villages of Kurdistan, provide
essential services, and help rehabilitate their
economies. The Iraqi regime, aiming to direct a
crushing blow to our revolution and to Kurdistan’s
economy, razed thousands of villages and deported
their inhabitants because they were sanctuaries and
bases for the peshmerga and our revolution.
The peshmerga of Kurdistan are our dearest. They
were the ones who struggled in the most difficult
days of hardship and uncertainty. I am a peshmerga
just like you and proud to be among you. Your place
is at the peak and in the hearts and minds of the
people, and among the families of the martyrs.
Kurdish people are still protected by your high
morals and resolve. You were formed according to the
decision of your own people, and a result of the
sufferings and tears of the mothers of the martyrs.
So long as the people of Kurdistan exist, you too
will also exist.
There were days when you defended the existence of
the Kurdish people and wrote history with the blood
of your sacrifices. Now you are the same fellow sons
of our nation. Your names, your positions, and your
fame shall remain the same, only your duties and
tasks have changed. In the past, you struggled to
overthrow the dictatorial regime and to achieve
federalism and democracy. Today, you struggle to
protect what has been accomplished, and to provide
security to Iraq and to Kurdistan.
Today, terrorism is the main threat to democracy and
progress. We will never give up in confronting
terrorism; we will always be vigilant. Terrorists
have no future in this country. We should confront
and uproot them. But this cannot be done by one or
another institution. Citizens and political parties
should support security organizations in this
mission.
As for the question of Kirkuk, a genuine solution
has been stipulated in the Transitional
Administrative Law (TAL). We will not agree to any
other solution. This is an agreement, signed into
law by all of us. It must be applied without further
delay. Article-58 of the TAL is a serious issue and
we will not accept retreat in this regard.
Similarly, all other detached areas should be
returned because they are integral parts of
Kurdistan.
What is stipulated in the TAL are the minimum rights
of the Kurdish people. We will not accept less than
what is stated in that law. These rights as they
are, therefore, should be enshrined in the permanent
constitution of Iraq.
Writing the new constitution is an important step,
and all Iraqi constituencies should participate in
its drafting. The constitution should also be
founded on agreement and consensus to reflect the
federal democratic identity of Iraq.
We respect all neighboring countries and extend a
hand of friendship to them. We will also work to
establish best relations based on mutual respect and
friendship. This is a good opportunity to request
them to cooperate with Iraq and the Kurdistan
region. We do not interfere in their internal
affairs, and likewise we hope they will not
interfere in our internal affairs.
We thank those countries that hosted our people
during times of tragedy and hardship.
Regarding the Kurdish nation divided among
neighboring countries, we assure our brothers that
our hearts and minds are with them and we feel their
suffering. Since there is no place for violence in
the world today, we hope they resort to civilized
and modern methods for advocating their rights
because violence brings only death and destruction
to the Kurds. Similarly, we hope these countries
listen to the demands of our brothers and dialog
with them.
I hope that the confidence and trust bestowed on me
will become a factor that unifies our peoples. To
tell you the truth, for me, being a peshmerga is
more important and sacred than any other position.
But we today are building Kurdistan’s institutions
and the presidency of the region is among them. It
would be a great privilege and honor for me to play
a humble role in serving you.
There is no doubt that we should work seriously in
building legal and constitutional institutions as
our priorities. But that task should take social and
revolutionary commitments into consideration on one
hand, and on the other hand the need to establish a
modern, legal, and constitutional administration.
I grew up in the school of life that taught me that
struggle is the only way of life. Whenever I see a
chain I remember those chains that bound the hands
and legs of the freedom fighters. When I see a rope
I remember the gallows that hung another hero. And
whenever I see a river I remember the Aras River
crossed by the peshmerga from Kurdistan.
When I joined the peshmergas and carried my weapon
and walked behind the late Mustafa Barzani, I was
greatly honored. And today as I assume this position
I accept it with the aim of serving you as a
continuation of being a peshmerga. I do not have any
purpose but to serve you.
In these days we will start to form the Kurdistan
Regional Government. Sometimes, due to exchanges of
views and additional time in reaching understanding,
agreements or works are delayed. This is the nature
of democratic culture. Enemies are dreaming and they
think that when reaching an agreement is delayed
there is division. I assure them such dreams will
not come true again. For us, what is most important
is the confidence and trust of our own people.
Rest assured that I will do everything in
consultation and exchange of views with my respected
brother Mam Jalal. He may be in Baghdad and I here,
but that does not mean we do not communicate and we
are unaware of each other. On the contrary, neither
will take a unilateral step. The leaderships of both
our parties should also come closer, and there
should be coordination with the other parties. We
must not offer any chance to be exploited by those
with evil intentions to meddle and destroy the
Kurdish house.
On behalf of the Kurdish people I wish to thank the
American President George W. Bush, the American
administration, the American people and their
military who helped in overthrowing the cruelest
dictatorship and to liberate us. We will never
forget this brave decision, and we reassure them
that we will be together in confronting terrorism
and in building a federal democratic Iraq. I would
also like to thank British Prime Minister Tony Blair
and the British people, their military, and all
members of the coalition and multi-national forces.
I would like also to thank the dedicated people of
Erbil, this ancient city that defeated
dictatorships. Erbil continues to sacrifice and
endure hardship. I realize that tight security
measures including road blocks add to their
inconveniences. I hope they accept my thanks and
apologies.
Finally, I salute the spirits of all the martyrs who
fought to liberate Iraq and Kurdistan.
Thank you.
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