ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - World leaders conveyed warm wishes for President Barzani on his 80th birthday on Sunday, taking the opportunity to honor deep diplomatic ties and acclaim the leader’s legacy and landmark achievements for the Kurdish people and the region.
“Thank you for your decades of partnership, for your strength, for your leadership, for our values, and for fighting for the Kurdish people…fighting for peace and stability in the region,” said Michael Waltz, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
“Thank you for what you continue to do to make the world a better place. What's happened in your region is remarkable under your leadership,” said Mike Pompeo, former US Secretary of State (2018 to 2021) and director of the CIA (2017 to 2018) under President Donald Trump. “I saw this firsthand in the work that we did together. You brought investment. You built their bill into a thriving metropolis,” he said, commending him for having “truly improved the lives for so many people.”
Masoud Barzani served as president of the Kurdistan Region from 2005 to 2017 and has led the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) since 1979.
Several members of the US congress, senate and political leadership conveyed warm wishes and praise.
James Jeffrey, a former American diplomat recounted the close collaboration in “the fight against the Islamic State.”
“The decision of President Bazani to throw the whole weight of the Peshmerga against the Islamic State saved not just Iraq but possibly the Middle East at a time of great difficulty and danger in 2014 - 2015,” he said. “We owe him a great debt of gratitude for that in particular. Thank you. President Bazani, happy birthday.”
“Kurdistan has been an ally through the years and there are tough people in a tough section of the world and they're good to have friends with Kurdistan,” said US Senator, Bill Cassidy.
“I understand that President Barzani is about to celebrate his 80th birthday. I'm grateful for his leadership and partnership over so many years. President Barzani, happy birthday and know that there's many of us here in the United States Congress who think well of you and wish you well in the future,” he said.
“We have worked together as allies, the United States and Iraq and the Kurds and we know how important the work has been. So thank you. Mr. Barzani, take the day off. In fact, go enjoy yourself. I love the Kurdish people,” said US senator Jeanne Shaheen.
“I love the Kurdish people,” said Louisiana Governor John Kennedy, “I don't know a larger group of people in the world who don't have a country and I don't like that,” adding that the “Kurdish people have been good friends of the American people, but more importantly, they've been good friends of the right thing to do.”
As President Barzani celebrates his milestone birthday, leaders from all walks of the American government remember his legacy as one marked by institutional autonomy in Iraq, fierce Peshmerga leadership, and the landmark 2017 independence referendum.
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