ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Thursday congratulated the Kurdish nation and people on the occasion of Newroz, the Kurdish New Year, urging unity among them to safeguard Kurdish rights and elevate the Kurdish cause on the global stage.
“I extend my sincere congratulations to the Kurdish nation and all Kurds worldwide, as well as to the people of Kurdistan and all its communities… and to the families of the martyrs, the brave Peshmergas, and the security forces,” said President Barzani in a statement.
Newroz marks the first day of spring and is celebrated with great enthusiasm by Kurds who hold colorful and extravagant festivities, lighting large fires and performing the traditional Kurdish folk dance, Halparke, where large crowds of people, young and old, hold hands and dance together.
President Barzani described Newroz as a “symbol of freedom, renewal, and resilience” and “a festival that represents hope, determination, revival, and resistance, with a vision for a brighter future.”
He pointed out that this year’s Newroz celebrations come at “a time of heightened sensitivity, both in the region and globally.”
In the past two years, the Middle East region has seen a surge in conflicts, including the Israel-Hamas war, sparked by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel that triggered a devastating Israeli military response in the Gaza Strip. The situation was further complicated by tensions on Israel’s northern border, where conflict erupted between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In Syria, after a swift offensive in December, a coalition of opposition groups overthrew the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. The country’s transition is facing significant challenges, including the need for inclusive governance, the integration of armed groups into a unified national military, and the economic reconstruction of a war-torn nation.
Simultaneously, diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war continue, with US President Donald Trump engaging in direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to broker a ceasefire.
In the Middle East, efforts to resume negotiations between the US and Iran are ongoing, alongside efforts to resolve the longstanding conflict between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
President Barzani noted the “growing trend of peace in international politics,” emphasizing that it is “in the best interest of the people of Kurdistan to align themselves with this movement.” He urged all Kurds to “deepen their commitment to peaceful principles and actions” to thus “elevate the Kurdish cause on the global stage.”
He asserted that “the Kurdistan Region will remain dedicated to being a source of peace and stability in the region, extending our hand in friendship and cooperation to all communities within Iraq, neighboring countries, and the global community.”
On domestic matters, President Barzani said that “to safeguard our constitutional rights, achievements, federal status, and political identity” and “effectively address the challenges we face, it is crucial to engage in cooperative efforts and constructive dialogue among the political parties and communities within the Kurdistan Region and with Baghdad.”
Key issues that remain unresolved between Erbil and Baghdad include the ongoing unpaid salaries crisis for Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) employees and the continued suspension of Kurdish oil exports.
The Kurdistan Region President stated, “In our interactions with the Federal Government of Iraq, we reaffirm our commitment to the Constitution as the basis for resolving disputes through dialogue and mutual understanding,” stressing that “Iraq's stability, prosperity, and progress depend on respecting the constitutional rights of all its communities and authentically implementing the federal system.”
“We remain deeply aware of the challenges faced by the people of Kurdistan. Improving their living conditions remains a top priority for all institutions in the Kurdistan Region,” he concluded.
