During the Fifth Middle East Peace and Security Forum, President Masoud Barzani underlined that the Middle East needs peace and stability more than ever amid the ongoing conflict in Lebanon and Gaza.
"The whole region needs peace and security. The experience of all nations and countries has shown that war does not achieve any results, but peace, understanding and respect for each other, this is the right way to solve all problems.”
— MEPS Forum (@MEPSForum) November 22, 2024
H.E. President Masoud Barzani. #MEPS24 pic.twitter.com/8M5JUFuWQX
Peace
“The whole region needs peace and security. The experience of all nations and countries has shown that war does not achieve any results, but peace, understanding and respect for each other, this is the right way to solve all problems,” he underlined.
“History has shown that no nation or country achieves success through war, but rather through peace, understanding, and mutual respect.”
“The ongoing conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza deeply sadden us, and we pray for peace and an end to the suffering. Above all, it is crucial to ensure that Iraq remains distant from these conflicts and their repercussions,” he said.
Trump election
President Barzani also commented on the U.S. presidential election. Donald Trump won a significant victory on November 5, with his inauguration as president scheduled for January.
“The world is moving in a new direction. Everyone predicts that the administration of President-elect Trump will bring significant changes compared to President Biden’s administration. We hope that whatever changes occur, they bring benefits to the region and the world, as well as to us.”
Sykes-Picot
President Barzani also touched upon the division of the Kurds by the Sykes-Picot Agreement.
“We all know that after World War I, the partition of this region led to the denial of Kurdish identity for 100 years. Over the past century, the Kurds have resisted this injustice. Neither the denial of the Kurds’ existence nor their resistance has changed the reality. This history shows us that a peaceful, brotherly, and respectful solution must be sought. Mutual recognition and respect are the path to resolving this issue,” he said.
“Naturally, we cannot expect a solution for one area to be applied identically everywhere. Each region has its unique characteristics. The situation in Iraqi Kurdistan differs from other areas.”
Peace in Turkiye
Additionally, President Barzani also expressed support for the possibility for a new peace process in Turkiye.
This comes amid discussions in Turkiye over a new peace process, after Turkish far-right Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahceli in October called on Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan, to come to the Turkish parliament and announce the end of the PKK.
Between 2009-2015 there was a peace process between Turkiye and the PKK, which was also supported by the Kurdish leadership in the Kurdistan Region.
On November 16, 2013, President Barzani lent his full support to the Turkish government’s peace bid during a joint rally with the then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an event attended by thousands of people in Diyarbakir, calling on Kurds and Turks to support peace.
“However, we are pleased to see discussions about a renewed peace process in Turkiye. We fully support any initiative for peace and stability and will stand with those efforts,” President Barzani said.
“It is also crucial for us as Kurds everywhere not to associate ourselves with or support terrorism,” he also added. “Doing so would be a betrayal of Kurdistan and the Kurdish nation. Terrorism does not serve our cause; instead, it undermines it. We must extend our hands in peace and friendship, advocate for reconciliation, and seek solutions that benefit all sides.”
Later after his speech, President Barzani also discussed the possibilities of a new peace process and regional developments with Ahmet Davutoglu, the former Turkish Prime Minister, in a separate meeting.
President Barzani also “urged everyone to respect diversity, whether religious or cultural. In Kurdistan and across Iraq, we are proud of our religious coexistence. This inclusivity should be embraced and upheld.”
