president barzani receives iraqi pm to discuss military ... · honar osman the kurdistan region has...
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From the Heart of Kurdistan Region
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The only English paper in Iraq - No: 555 Mon. November 07, 2016
President Barzani Receives Iraqi PM to Discuss
Military Coordination
The Kurdish Globe 2No. 555, Monday, November 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
ReviserHonar Osman
The Kurdistan Region has made the project of forming a Kurdiiish state clear to the Kurdish and Iraqi public opinion in a serious manner. A huge political storm is ahead, pragmatic alterations are presumed, and the map of the Midiidle East is expected to be redrawn amidst the world war against teriirorism. People of Kurdistan are the most to benefit from this according to all humanitarian, political and international measures.
The attitude of the ruling Shia in Baghdad remains important, whether to what extent they can absorb postiISIS reality? It’s estiiimated that Iraq would be run with a system newer than federalism. It does not only involve Kurdistan Region, but also determines the future of the weak and restrained Sunnis. Federalism is the only funciitional system ever implemented in the Middle East to achieve justice and balance of power between naiitions within one state. In practice, the system could not put an end to the humanitarian, geographic, ecoiinomic, military and security probiilems and isn’t able to make out a just and balanced power. While lack of trust and balance of power between Sunnis and Shias ignited sectarian war, it’s not far that the war will be waged in postiISIS era in another form while Iranianiled Shia Popular Mobilization Units is ready to fight. And on the other hand, the Shia militias and armed forces close to Iran are not far to be used against Kurdistan Region for diminishing KRG’s role and its extending authority.
The military capability and legal position of Peshmerga forces are progressing at the national and iniiternational level. The Kurdish leadii
ership will in no way compromise over Peshmerga and would play its significant role in any negotiatitions between Erbil and Baghdad on independence. Peshmerga are a strong factor for the principles of forming a modern state, adding to the experience and adequate comiipetence of these forces to defend the Region against any hostile act.
Turkey and Iran’s role is as imiiportant as unity and understanding within the Kurdish political parties with regard to the Kurdish state project. Turkey is suffering from a range of internal and external isiisues, but still has a kind of assuriiance that a Kurdish state with the current basis will not become a threat on Turkish national security. So a new neighbor state is more suitable than a strong Shiaiconiitrolled Iraq opponent to Turkey. Despite the fact that Iran believes that Kurdistan Region is heading towards the de facto of being a state inside Iraq, but it at the same time intends to divide the Region into two parts; one of them is Baghdad and Shia’s alliance, that during forming any new Kurdish entity could hurdle the stability and unity of the entity from inside, and make sure that Erbil is not out of Iranian Shi’ism politics and its allies and restrict its relations with the West and Sunnis.
The Kurdistan Region is headiiing toward a productive dialogue with Baghdad, Tehran and Ankara. The Kurdistan Region faces many obstacles, but its position is still strong enough to have the opporiitunity to carry out maneuvers and conduct negotiations and take adiivantage of time and the decisive cards in the area.
The Kurdistan Region Prefers a Productive
Dialogue
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By | Gazi Hassan
Peshmerga forces regained over 28 villages since start
of Mosul battle
ARTS EDITORDiyaco Qayoumy +964 750 4036252
Peshmerga forces regained control of several villages from Islamic State (ISIS) militants on Sunday Octoiiber 30, 2016, closing in on the militants’ stronghold of Mosul from the east and north, the General Comiimand of Peshmerga forces announced.
Peshmerga forces, as part of operations to drive ISIS out of Mosul, cleared the villages of Faziliya, Kevrok, Khrab Bet, Kani Shirin, Khadheir and Qebr Esaaq as well as the Mar Oraha Monastery near the town of Batnaya.
Peshmerga forces have secured more than 500 square kilometers from ISIS since the start of the Mosul battle on October
17, Peshmerga General Command said in a stateiiment, adding that more than 28 villages were libiierated in the north and east of Mosul.
“Since the start of the military operation on Ociitober 17, Peshmerga Forciies have cleared more than 500 square kilometers from ISIS, including at least 28 villages in North and East of Mosul,” the statement read.
At least 7,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) fleeing clashes between Peshmerga and ISIS have escaped to the Kurdisiitan Region over the last 15 days, according to the statement.
More than 50 vehiclei
borne improvised exploiisive devices (VBIEDs) have been destroyed by Peshmerga forces, backed by Coalition warplanes. UP to 550 air strikes have been launched by Coaliiition warplanes against ISIS positions.
Kurdish and Iraqi forces began the muchianticipatiied offensive to regain coniitrol of Mosul on October 17 after an official decree by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider aliAbadi.
The Mosul campaign, which aims to crush the Iraqi half of ISIS’ declared caliphate, is expected to be the largest fight in Iraq since the 2003 U.S. invaiision.
Iran detains 38 Kurds in one month
According to a report published by the Iranian Kurdish Hangaw website, a total of 38 Kurdish citiiizens have been arrested by the Iranian intelligence and security forces.
The report states that 19 of the 38 detained people were released with a guariiantee, while the remaining 19 are still under deteniition.
Hangaw reports that 17
of the detainees are from the city of Bokan, 6 from Saqiz and Mariwan, 3 from Kamiaran and the rest from other Kurdish cities in Iran.
The Kurdish Globe No. 555, Monday, November 07, 2016 3
President Barzani Receives Iraqi PM to Discuss Military Coordination
Kurdistan Region Presiiident Masoud Barzani and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider aliAbadi met overiinight Saturday to review the latest developments in the Mosul operation as well as closer coordiiination between Erbil and Baghdad.
Fuad Hussein, Barzani’s chief of staff, revealed that the two leaders reitiierated that Kurdish Peshiimerga forces will not eniiter central Mosul.
Barzani and Abadi also
highlighted the military coordination between Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army, reasserting that they should conclude the Mosul assault and deiifeat Islamic State (IS) miiilitias at the nearest time.
According to Brett MciiGurk, the US special presidential envoy to the global coalition battling IS, Abadi visited the libiierated districts of eastern Mosul prior to his meetiiing with Barzani in Erbil.
Abadi later posted on his
official twitter account, “The operation to liberate Mosul is on plan and on schedule. People of Moiisul we are in the city and on our way to defeating Daesh terrorism,” referiiring to Islamic State by its Arabic Acronym.
“Pleased to meet with Masoud Barzani in Erbil tonight. Good cooperaiition is leading to success on the battlefield. Mosul plan is working,” the Iraqi PM said in another tweet.
The Kurdistan Region Presidency issued a stateiiment today in which it expressed its concern over the arrest of the two coileaders of the Peoples> Democratic Party, HDP by the Turkish authorities. The statement also made reference to how steps of this nature can create obiistacles to the peace proiicess in Turkey.
The Kurdistan Region Presidency called upon the authorities in Turkey to release the detained HDP members and to resort to working for the peace proiicess as that would serve the attempts to resume the peace process in Turkey.
“I strongly condemn the arrest of Salahaddin Demirtash and Figan Yugiisakdagh . Peace and diaiilogue are the only way to resolve differences,” KRG Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, tweeted on Friday.
The Kurdistan Parliaiiment Speaker, Yousif
Mohammed, released a statement saying the deiitention of HDP leaders and lawmakers have left no meaning to democracy in Turkey.
The proiKurdish HDP party in Turkey has deiinounced the arrest of its leaders on Thursday night
as an attempt by the goviiernment to eradicate deiimocracy.
The HDP said the arrests were a dark day for the country, as its supporters took to the streets in proiitest.
The Turkish government says they were detained
for failing to coioperate with a counteriterrorism investigation, which the two leaders vowed to boyiicott in June.
Defending the arrests, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said: «They did not respect the law.»
The MPs are also acii
cused of spreading propaiiganda for the PKK.
The KRP also coniidemned an explosion on Friday that left dozens of people killed or injured in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish province of Amed.
The KRP said in a stateiiment that explosions and violent acts are inapproiipriate and will not address the political issues.
“Meanwhile, [such aciitions] do not serve the Kurdish question, peace and coexistence, but they rather create more issues,” reads the statement.
The KRP conveyed coniidolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident, and wished a speedy recovery of those injured.
The explosion in Amed targeted an auxiliary buildiiing of the police departiiment in the Baglar district of Amed which according to initial reports left doziiens of people, police offiticers and civilians killed or
injured.The U.S. government
said it’s “deeply disturbed” by Turkey’s detention of opposition members of the parliament.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the deiitentions follow Turkey’s recent detention of the editoriinichief of one of its most respected newsiipapers.
EU and French governiiments have both expressed concerns over the arrest of the proiKurdish opposiiition lawmakers in Turkey, calling on Ankara to preiiserve its “parliamentary democracy”.
EU Foreign Policy chief Federica Mogherini on Friday called a meeting of EU national envoys in Ankara in regards to the detention of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) coichairpersons and nine other MPs from the party.
KRP Expresses Concern over the Arrest of HDP Co-leaders in Turkey
A district governor in the Turkish capital was appointed Tuesday as Diyarbakir mayor after the elected mayor of the southeastern province was remanded Sunday as part of a terrorism probe.
Ankara>s Etimesgut district governor Cumali Atilla was appointed as Diyarbakir metropolitan mayor, a source from the Interior Ministry said.
The court that remanded Diyarbakir mayor Gultan Kisanak, also remanded Sunday Firat Anli, city council member, in coniinection with the same teriirorism investigation.
On Oct. 25, Kisanak, a member of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), Anli and another local elected official were taktien into custody by police from the Diyarbakir Secuii
rity Directorate.The Chief Prosecutor>s
Office in Diyarbakir said in a statement that the mayor was arrested for beiiing a member of an armed terrorist group.
«It has been understood that Gultan Kisanak called for autonomy and made remarks that are proiteriirorist organization during Nevruz activities that were organized as directed by
the PKK terrorist group,» the statement said.
It also said Anli assigned municipality vehicles to help build a soicalled cemetery for terrorist PKK members in 2014, after an attack martyred a Turkish soldier.
The PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU – resumed its decadesiold armed campaign in
July last year. Since then, PKK terrorist attacks have martyred more than 700 security personnel and also claimed the lives of many civilians, includiiing women and children, while more than 8,000 PKK terrorists were killed in military operations.
In September, Turkey appointed 28 trustees to oversee local administraiitions following the susii
pension of mayors accused of links to terrorism.
The mayors were susiipended from duty over aliileged ties to the PKK or the Fetullah Terrorist Organiiization (FETO) linked to the July 15 coup attempt. Four of the removed mayiiors are accused of ties to FETO with 24 said to supiiport the PKK.
Turkey appoints new mayor for Diyarbakir
The Kurdish Globe No. 555, Monday, November 07, 2016 4
Thousands of people flee from ISIS daily from Mosul
New UNHCR Hasansham camp receives 3,000 people as thousands of Iraqis continue to flee MosulUNHCR, the UN refuiigee agency, has opened a new camp in Hasansham to house newlyidisplaced Iraqi families fleeing the military offensive in Moiisul. Some 3,000 people were received at the camp today and all families are being allocated a tent and receiving assistance. At present 450 tents – enough to shelter 2,700 people – are available and 500 tents will be erected per day to house additional arrivals. The camp will be able to house 1,800 families, aliimost 11,000 people.
Today’s new arrivals are among an estimated 8,000 people who arrived to Khazer and Hasansham camps in the past three days. Many have come from Gogjali and other areas on the eastern outiiskirts of Mosul, which saw fierce fighting three days ago and is now under the control of the Iraqi Seiicurity Forces.
Frederic Cussigh, UNiiHCR’s Senior Field Coiiordinator, who was in Hasansham Camp as it opened and witnessed the arrivals said: “People ariirived with nothing or next to nothing, exhausted but relieved to find safety and receive help. Everyone who arrived today will be allocated a tent and receive water and a hot meal,” he said.
Sultan Ghassem, a 47 yeariold metalworker from Gogjali, Mosul, said: “We left home three days ago to escape the mortars falliiing all around us. For the last two years we haven’t had even the basics of life, only oppression. There was no money, no work. We sold everything we owned just to eat. The only reason nothing hapiipened to me is because I stayed in my home all the time. When we left Mosul and came here, it felt like passing from the darkness
into the light”.Shmala Hamdi, a houseii
wife (50) and also from Gogjali said: “We spent two days hiding in a coriiner of our house shelteriiing from the bullets and bombs. We left our home
this morning as soon as the fighting was over we fled and came straight to this camp. The last two and a half years have been no kind of life. We weren’t allowed out of the house, and the boredom ate away
at our souls. Now we feel safe, and I’m looking foriiward to sleeping properly for the first time in months. I’m worried about living in a tent during winter, but as soon as it’s safe we will go back home”.
Hasansham is one of 11 camps UNHCR is buildiiing in order to respond to an anticipated largeiscale displacement from Mosul. Five camps are now ready to receive people fleeing the city.
An international human rights organization warned that a Kurdish woman who has been in an Iranian prison after an unfair trial is in imminent danger of going blind and is denied medical treatment.
Amnesty International (AI) reported that “[Zeiniiab] Jalalian, who is serviiing a life sentence imposed after a grossly unfair trial, is at risk of losing her eyeiisight in prison.”
“The authorities have continued to deny her the specialized medical treatment she needs for a worsening eye condition, including urgent surgery,” AI continued.
In a report published in July, “Health taken hosii
tage: Cruel denial of mediiical care in Iran’s prisons,” AI documented that in many cases Iran intentioniially abuses ailing political prisoners and prisoners of conscious.
The report stated Iran denies medical care to deliberately and cruelly “intimidate, punish or huiimiliate political prisoners, or to extract forced ‘coniifessions’ or statements of
‘repentance’ from them.”Moreover, the United
Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) announced in a statement in June that Iran had arbitrarily detained
Kurdish political prisoner Jalalian.
“The Working Group urges the [Iranian] Goviiernment to ensure that Ms. Jalalian is not subjected to further torture or illitreatiiment,” the statement read.
“The Working Group also urges the Government to fully investigate the ciriicumstances surrounding her arbitrary deprivation of liberty, and to take apiipropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of her rights,” the statement continued.
Also in April, Ahmad Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situaiition of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and other experts disii
cussed Iran’s human rights violations.
32iyeariold Jalalian was engaged in social and political activism, in pariiticular assisting Kurdish women by providing eduiication and social services in Iran and Iraq.
She previously visited an Iranian girls’ high school where she delivered a speech about women’s rights.
On or around March 10, 2008, Jalalian was traveling on a bus from Kermanshah to Sanandaj when she was arrested by four armed Iranian inteliiligence security officers at Ghazanchi inspection post near Kamyaran.
Imprisoned Kurdish woman at risk of losing sight: Amnesty
As an effort to promote domestic products and reintroducing the tradiiitional Kurdish cuisine to the young Kurdish geniieration, the Suleimaniya Agricultural Guidelines Directorate launched a weekly traditional market. It also decided to open a Kurdish food market in the near future.
The weekly market was
organized at the Azadi Park and was attended by a number of Kurdish farmers who showcased some of their local prodiiucts and traditional Kurdiiish dishes.
Alan Tofiq, Director of Suleimaniya Agricultural Guidelines Directorate, said “the purpose of this weekly market is reintroiiducing Kurdish cuisine to
the people and also a mesiisage that local farmers and producers can showcase and market their products in such markets, and peoiiple can buy healthy and tasty Kurdish food.”
Tofiq also added that they are hoping to open a specialized market for traiiditional food so consumer can get access to healthy Kurdish food.”
A traditional Kurdish market opens in Suleimaniya
No. 555, Monday, November 07, 2016 5The Kurdish Globe
With internal disputes going on, PUK visited Tehran
A Patriotic Union of Kurdiiistan’s (PUK) delegation set to make a fouriday visiiit to the Iranian capital of Tehran on October 30 to meet with senior Iranian officials. Politburo head Mala Bakhtiyar headed the delegation. It hapiipened while the PUK’s internal disputes are still ongoing and they might make the gap bigger.
The delegation met with hightlevel Iranian officials including Secretary of Iran>s Expediency Couniicil Mohsen Rezaei and Iran’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Head of the PUK delegaiition, Bakhtiyar, said that the situation is very “seniisitive and complicated”.
“The Islamic State, known as ISIS, will be defeated but what is imiiportant is that the region has stability and tranquiliility after ISIS,” Bakhtiyar said.
Bakhtiyar voiced satisii
faction towards the visit to Iran; “over the past thirty years, Iran and PUK have cooperated in the fight against common entiemies like Ba>ath Party and ISIS.”
The Iranian officials stressed on the unity of the PUK, asking the parii
ty’s leaders to keep the PUK united.
During the meeting with Iranian FM, Zarif said that: “The PUK has had an aciitive role on the Kurdistan Region, Iran and even the region in the past. It has to play the same role with the same power now.”
Regarding the war against the most dangeriious terrorists group in the world, ISIS, the Iranian ofiificials said that the parties have to take step forward cautiously in the war.
In another meeting, Rezaei said that: “PUK holds excellent capaciii
ties due to its humane and prominent figures and its ties with Iran have reiimained stable over the past five decades.”
Iran is suspecting that Second Deputy to PUK’s General Secretary, Bariiham Salih, is planning to form a new political party in the Kurdistan region under the influence of turtikey, America, Canada and the Gulf countries. The PUK informed Iranian ofiificials that Salih does not have such a plan.
According to local sources, Iranian top comiimander, Qassim Sulaiiimany, visited the Kurdish province of Sulaimani few days before the visit of the PUK delegation to Tehran and met with Heriiro Ibrahim Ahmed, Jalal Talabani’s wife, and First Deputy to PUK’s Seciiretary, Kosrat Rasul and several other top leaders of the party.
Sulaimany warned the
PUK officials that the party should keep its unity and it cannot eniidure another split, adding that the powerful faction of the party which is led by Herro Ibrahim should not give excuse to Salih and his friends to split the PUK and announce a new political party.
The commander said that forming a parliameniitary faction in Kurdistan and Iraq parliament means that it is the beginning of splitting the PUK and Iran does not want to see this.
Herro Ibrahim in her meeting with Sulaimany refused that Salih should have the position of depuiity to the PUK’s leader. In the USA, Salih refused an Iranian proposal to take a ministerial position in Baghdad in order to be away from the PUK’s iniiternal disputes.
Barham Salih has a plan to announce new political party in Kurdistan Region
Kurdistan Region’s Miniiistry of Natural Resources (MNR) released on Thursiiday, November 3, 2016, an announcement in opposiiition to an NRT report on the data of the oil flow and revenue, calling it “fabriiicated and baseless.”
MNR has said its monthiily reports include accurate figures pertaining to KRG’s oil production, exports and
incomes, rejecting the reiiport claiming that the miniiistry generates “about $1 billion per month”.
MNR also cites a link from the website of Geiinel Energy, one of the oil producers in Kurdistan Reiigion, which shows the oil production figures from its fields. MNR says the figtiures match with those of MNR published monthly
reports and argues that Genel Energy is a Loniidon Stock Exchange listed company and cannot maiinipulate the data.
The announcement came two days following the release of the NRT report, which claimed the Kurdisiitan Regional Government (KRG) could generate revenue higher than the amount required to make
the payment of salaries of government employees.
The MNR said it is ready to provide data and inforiimation to anyone concerniiing generated oil revenue and exported oil to invesiitigate whether details are accurate.
In its announcement the MNR said, it will take legal proceedings against NRT and will file a law suit over
«false information aimed to lead [people] astray.”
In its report on Tuesday, citing information from an anonymous source, NRT said the KRG produces, exports and sells about one million barrels per day (bpd) via pipeline, oil trucks and refineries.
NRT argues that nearly $350 million remains from money the KRG generii
ated through oil revenue in a month, which could be used for projects and activities.
Citing an anonymous source, NRT claimed in a recent report that KRG’s oil production from all fields amounts to 910,000 barrel per day, and it earns nearly $1 billion every month.
KRG Ministry of Natural Resources responds to NRT report on oil revenue
After Gorran (Change Movement) harsh reiisponses to the comments made by PUK Politburo member, Mala Bakhtiar at the 2016 MERI Forum in Erbil, Bakhtiar made aniiother response to Gorran.
Bakhtiar thinks that Gorran>s comments were not based on logic and were very shallow
thoughts. He also revealed that
many members of PUK have regretted from the signing agreement beiitween PUK and Gorran. He thinks PUK should not agree with Gorran but disagree with Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)
Speaking at the 2016 MERI Forum in Erbil, the
head of the PUK Politiiburo, Mala Bakhtiar, said one of the main causes of issues facing the region is related to the August 19, 2015 meeting of parliaiiment when a meeting was held for a vote on amendiiing the presidency law.
“The five major political parties along with repreiisentatives from the U.S.
and the U.N. were in a meeting until the morniiing and they called on the parliament speaker to not hold parliament’s meeting but he did not listen and this is the result,” Bakhtiar said.
Bakhtiar referred to the Kurdistan Parliament meeting to amend the Kurdistan Region’s Presiii
dency law held last Auiigust.
“The political parties have made a big issue but Barzani can tackle the issues of the Kurdistan Region and other parts of [Greater] Kurdistan,” Bakhtiar said.
All the parliamentary blocs including the PUK were “wrong” to try to
hold parliament’s meetiiing, he said
All these comments of Bakhtiar aggravated Goriiran party and made them react very harshly. Goriiran accused Bakhtiar for creating problems for Sleiimani city.
PUK Leader: PUK Shouldn't Agree with Gorran and Disagree with KDP
While Nawshirwan Musiitafa Speaks at Change Movement conference in London, someone speaks badly about peshmerga and the attendees applaud
for him. According to a video
footage published on Facebook social network, someone whose name is Rostam Aziz Sleman,
said «I don>t call, those who are fighting in Mosul, peshmerga. They are not peshmerga but they are fake fighters,»
Sleman claimed to be
independent, asked Goriiran leader to create a spy network to terrorize some people.
«As long as Gorran does not make armed forces,
they need to create a spy network. If they send 10 people like me to anyiiwhere, I will be ready to kill anyone they want,» he said
A lot of people comiiplained about the attendiiees of the conference who applauded for Slemans comments.
Peshmerga Insulted In Front of Gorran Leader
The Kurdish Globe No. 555, Monday, November 07, 2016 6
Tribal Militia Torture Detainees in During Mosul Offensive
Militia fighters from the Sab’awi tribe have unlawfully detained, publicly humiliated and tortured or otherwise illitreated men and boys in villages southieast of Mosul that were recaptured from the armed group calling itself the Islamic State (IS) in recent days, said Amnesty International.
The organization’s researchers on the ground in Iraq interviewed local officials and eyewitnesses including villagers who described how members of the Sab’awi Tribal Mobilization militia (Hashd ali‘Asiihairi) carried out punitive revenge attacks. Residents suspected of having ties to IS were beaten with metal rods and given eleciitric shocks. Some were tied to the bonnets of vehicles and paraded through the streets or placed in cages.
Al-Ameri: We May Fight ISIS Terrorists in Syria
Secretary General of Iraq’s Badr Organizaiition Hadi aliAmeri raised the possibility of deploying the voluntary forces (known as the Popular Mobilization Units or Hashid altShaabi) to Syria to fight the ISIS terrorist group there to make sure the militants will be wiped out.
“We have a mission to liberate the country (Iraq) and seal the borders tightly, and we will go to Syria if necessary, because we beiilieve that if ISIS is not destroyed in Syria, it will pose a real threat to Iraq,” aliMasala news website quoted the commander as saying.
Christian Number in Iraq Reduced to 275,000
Since the invasion of Iraq and toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003, attacks on Chrisiitians living in Iraq have increased to the point where the 1.4 million Christians there in 2003 has fallen to 275,000 in 2016, aciicording to ADF International.
In a supplement to the report, Genocide Against Christians in the Middle East, which was submitted to Secretary of State John Kerry in March, ADF International details the persecution of Christians in Iraq, a perseiicution that the U.S. and British governments, the European Parliament, and the United Naiitions have officially declared is genocide.
Tens of Thousands of Children at Risk in Mosul
Reports that the Islamic State group is usiiing an estimated 20,000 children as human shields around Mosul are horrifying and iliilustrate the mortal danger and impossible choices that families trapped in and around Iraq’s second largest city face.
As the fighting continues to move closer to the city, Save the Children is warning that tens of thousands more children are facing the same threat.
There are around 600,000 children in Moiisul and their families are being forced to choose between staying, and facing a multiiitude of dangers including being used as huiiman shields, or fleeing and running a gaunttilet of fighters, snipers and landmines.
NEWS BAR Battle for Mosul resets ties between Kurds and Baghdad
Residents of the Kurdistan region in northern Iraq have grown accustomed to an unusual sight as the battle for Mosul unfolded in recent weeks: columns of Iraqi armor on their roads.
The sight, to many, was shocking. Kurdish Peshiimerga fighters, after all, spent decades struggling to win selfirule from Baghiidad. Until the joint effort to oust Islamic State from Mosul transformed Iraqi politics, the presence of Iraq>s federal forces in Kurdistan was considered taboo.
«Growing up here, for me, the Iraqi military aliiways meant occupation, repression, the burning viliilages,» said Barham Salih, a leading Kurdish politiiician who was prime minisiiter of the Kurdistan region and deputy prime minister of Iraq before that. «Now for the first time since the inception of the Iraqi state, the Kurdish Peshmerga and the Iraqi army are fighting alongside each other. This is hugely symbolic and imiiportant.»
Indeed, this partnership has surprised many skepiitics, used to endless squabiibling between Baghdad and authorities in the Kurdiiish regional capital Erbil. It also spurred hopes that, if handled right, the liberaiition of Mosul could lead to
a new age of collaboration between Kurdistan and the rest of Iraq, something long desired by the U.S. and othiier Western allies.
«We now have the best relationship we have ever seen. There is coordinaiition and cooperation on the political level and on the military level. This gives us hope that this will be the beginning of big changes for the Iraqi people,» said Iraq>s former oil minister Ibrahim Bahr aliUlloum, a prominent lawmaker from the Shiite bloc that supports Prime Minister Haider aliAbadi.
The smooth interaction is visible on the battleiscarred highway between Erbil and Mosul. Just a year ago, Kurdish Peshiimerga troops here openly mocked Iraqi forces as cowards who would suriirender their weapons to Isiilamic State and flee at the first occasion. These days, these Iraqi forces are rapiiidly advancing on Mosul, their Humvees and Abrams tanks bedecked with Shiite banners and Iraqi flags and roaring through Kurdish checkpoints from staging bases in the rear.
«The Peshmerga have proiivided everything they could for us,» said Lt. Col. Atheer Gasim, the commander of an Iraqi Special Operations Forces unit pushing toward Mosul. «It wasn>t like this before, when it was mostly tension.»
The need to roll back Isiilamic Stateiiwhose brand of Sunni extremism poses a threat to both Baghdad
and Erbiliiis not the only reason for the new honeyiimoon between the central government and the Kurds. The persistent slump in oil prices has wreaked havoc on both economies, making full independence less atiitractive for many Kurds, at least in the short run.
In addition, shared doiimestic political struggles have turned the Iraqi Prime Minister Mr. Abadi and Kurdistan regional Presiiident Masoud Barzani into de facto allies. The link was highlighted by Barzani>s September trip to Baghdad, his first in four years.
Mr. Barzani is grappling with a political crisis in the Kurdistan region, where parliament has been susiipended for more than a year following lawmakers> demands for him to leave office. Mr. Abadi>s positition, meanwhile, is chaliilenged by his main Shiite rival, former Prime Miniiister Nouri aliMaliki. Mr. Maliki delights in attackiiing the Kurds and, in recent days, accused Mr. Barzani of pursuing a U.S.iIsraeli agenda in the Middle East. A success in Mosul would be a major political boon for Mr. Abadi and Mr. Bariizani alike.
«There was a time when both sides found it more popular and more voteiwinning when they antagoiinized each other. But now, both sides need each other and that need has led to this rapprochement,» said Dlawer Ala>Aldeen, presiiident of the Middle East
Research Institute, an Eriibil think tank that recently brought together senior Kurdish and Iraqi politiiicians.
That desire to find comtimon ground shouldn>t be mistaken for readiness to dramatically alter the existiiing arrangements between Erbil and Baghdad, Mr. Ala>Aldeen added. «The two sides want to create a positive atmosphere withiiout actually fundamentally transforming their relationiiship,» he said. «Neither side wants to change the status quo.»
This being the Middle East, there are plenty of opportunities for this rapiiprochement to collapse in coming months over issues such as control over terriiitory retaken from Islamic State, and the limits of Kurdish autonomy. Rivalry between Turkey, an ally of Mr. Barzani, and Iran, which backs the central government in Baghdad and some of Mr. Barzani>s Kurdish political oppoiinents, adds an extra layer of complexity.
Still for now, the mood in both Baghdad and Erbil is one of relief and surprise at how well things have gone so far.
«The iceberg of mistrust between both sides has aliiready melted down,» said Hemin Hawrami, the head of foreign relations at the Kurdistan Democratic Pariity. «The level of coordinaiition is beyond the imaginaiition of both sides, which is excellent.»
The Kurdish Globe No. 555, Monday, November 07, 2016 7
Sports NewsHazard Scored Twice
Eden Hazard scored twice as Chelsea climbed to the top of the Premier League for the first time since August with a stylish victory over Everton.
Hazard put Chelsea ahead with a low, angled shot, before Marcos Alonso added a second when he slotted through Maarten Stekelenburg>s legs.
Diego Costa made it 3i0 just before halfitime, and Hazard scored the pick of the goals after the break.
Pedro put the gloss on the result when he tapped into an empty net.
Everton spent the majority of the game penned in their own half and did not maniiage a shot on target in the entire 90 minutes as Chelsea produced a ruthless and dominant performance.
Bayern Rescue a Point to Hoffenheim
Leaders Bayern Munich came from behind to rescue a point as Hoffenheim continued their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season.Bayern fell behind when Kerem Demirbay>s thundering shot left keeper Manuel Neuer rooted to the spot.It required a slice of fortune for the hosts to equalise, Steven Zuber sending the ball into his own net attempting to clear Douglas Costa>s cutback.RB Leipzig could draw level on points with Bayern on Sunday.Leipzig, promoted to the top tier at the end of last season, have 21 points from nine games.They will join Carlo Ancelotti>s side on 24 if they win at home to Mainz (14:30 GMT).
Enrique Defends Sergio Busquets’ Performances
Luis Enrique has defended Sergio Busquets> performances this season and insists his Barceiilona players are not «machines». Busquets has faced criticism over his performances, though, after some indifferent individual displays.However, Enrique argued that even his outiistanding stars should be forgiven for occasioniial belowipar showings.«I publicly congratulate Sergio Busquets on his attitude and behavior,» he told a news coniiference ahead of Sunday>s trip to Sevilla.«He is a key player and I am very happy with him. My players aren>t machines, they can have ups and downs. We shouldn>t criticize him excessively.»Busquets has played eight times so far in the league this season, but was left on the bench for their last La Liga contest against Granada.
Ronaldo Set to Sign a New Deal The Portuguese star reportedly is set to put pen to paper when his agent, Jorge Mendes, meets with Madrid directors in the coming days.Ronaldo will remain Madrid>s highest paid player as most details are said to have been fitinalized, though the duration could be changed before it is signed — potentially as early as Monday.The 31iyeariold guided Los Blancos to an 11th Champions League crown last season before winning Euro 2016 with Portugal. He has scored seven goals in 11 games in all competiiitions this season.
As the Mosul military camiipaign makes significant progress in defeating Da’esh. Things are looking up for the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, or is it really !
There was a lot of mounting optimism about what’s going to occur after the Mosul miliiitary campaign. With signifiticant advances that the brave Kurdish Peshmarga forces are making in forcing Da’esh to retreat further and further, hopes are going up in making a swift victory.
Economically, Mosul is an important neighbouring governorate to the Kurdistan Region. As the second largest city in Iraq, it creates a good market for the Kurdistan Reiigion. A lot of trading was goiiing on with Mosul prior to Da’esh. The freeing of this
important city will generate a lot of traffic and trading and attract outside interest too.
Politically, Mosul is even more important. The liberaiition of Mosul from the clutchiies of terrorism will probably create stability and bring back many foreign companies and personnel that left two years ago. With the removal of this threat, political stability will facilitate economic growth and foreign investment in the region. However, this will depend on what will happen postiDa’esh. There are outiistanding issues that need to be resolved. The elimination of Da’esh will create a political vaccum and a possible power struggle amongst those with a vested interested in Mosul.
There are certain issues that need to be resolved posti
Da’esh before stability and prosperity become a reality. Lately, Turkey’s foreign and internal policy has become increasingly aggressive with the arrest of leading Kurdiiish parliamentarians from the People’s Democratic Party (HDP). In addition, Turiikey has sent more and more troops to around the Mosul area in blatent violation of Iraq’s sovereignty. These agiigressive Turkish acts may act as a catalyist to destabilize not just the Kurdistan Region but its neighbouring countries as well. This will for sure hiniider economic growth,not just from Turkey’s side but from Iran’s increasing intervention in the affairs of other Middle Eastern nations. Which is similar to what Turkey is doiiing but with even more medii
dling in Iraq’s affairs by viriitue of its close links with the Shia muslims in this country. The only difference being is that Iran has been more subtle and covert in its interventions in Iraq, whereas Turkey has been very overt and overbeariiing.
All in all, there are still a few postiDae’shTurkish and Iranian loose ends that need to be tied before one can say that the Kurdistan Region and Iraqi economy will experience an improvement. Not to meniition the Iraqi government’s actions after the liberation of Mosul will to some extent determine in which direction this important city will be goiiing.
Mosul and Post-Da’esh, an Uncertain Economic Future !
By Swara Kadir
Turkmens Support Referendum in Kurdistan for Independence
A number of Turkmen poiilitical parties and factions released a joint statement to express their concern over the post Islamic State (IS) stage in Mosul, calling on the Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani and Iraqi officials to help ensure the rights of the minorities in the city.
In a statement by 11 Turkiimen political factions in Iraq on Thursday, Turkmens valiiued Peshmerga>s role in the operation of retaking Mosul and they also warned about the sectarian conflicts likely to emerge in postiIS Mosul.
«We call on Kurdistan Reiigion President and all Iraqi officials to play a vital role in protecting the civilians in Mosul, particularly the Turkiimens who were adversely afiifected in Mosul, Tal Afar and the surrounding areas,» the statement reads.
The statement calls for a loii
cal committee to be formed from members of all comiimunities in Mosul to protect the civilians and preserve the stability of the city.
Regarding the future of Turkmen areas in postiIS phase, the Turkmen factions demanded more rights for Turkmens and other minoriiities particularly in Tal Afar to establish their selfiruling administrations.
Mohammed Sa>adaddin, head of Turkmen Developiiment Party, is one of the Turkmen leaders who signed
the statement and declared that his party>s view regardiiing Mosul after ISIS is the same view of Kurdistan Reiigion President, Masoud Bariizani.
Sa>adaddin said Kurdish forces have liberated several places and people have been happy with the treatment of the forces.
«Kurdish forces have treatiied the people of the liberated areas with respect. That is why Turkmens in Tela>afer wanted Peshmerga forces to protect them from enemies.
The Turkmens are afraid of Hash aliShaabi Shiite miliiitias since the sectarian groups only care about their way of thinking,» he said.
«In the past Tela>afer people had a different view about Peshmerga forces, but after the people and leaders lived in Kurdistan Region, they realized how respectful Kurdish people are and how organized their forces are,» he added.
He also said that the Turkiimens realized that Barzani>s view concerning the adminiiistration of the special areas like Tela>afer is the best idea. The Turkmens and Barzani think that the areas with speiicial ethnicities should be run by the people themselves.
He thinks that Kurdistan Region should be indepeniident and he announced that his party will support the reiigion to hold a referendum for independence.
Head of the Christian BetiNehrain Democratic Party, Romeo Hakari, calls for making Nineveh Flat to beiicome an independent Goviiernorate.
He thinks Christian people rights will not be protected unless the Nineveh Flat becomes a separate goveriinorate and he revealed that Kurdistan Region President has already reiterated his support for the idea.
«Barzani has already deiiclared that he supports the idea of Nineveh Flat beiicoming governorate and he thinks people of the area should decide on their future not other people.
In reality, the various forciies currently aligned against ISIS are pursuing conflicttiing and even mutually aniitagonistic goals that threaten to tear Iraq apart. There are reports that advancing Iraqi
government troops have raised Shia banners and flags in areas they have taken, iniicluding the Christian town of Bartilla. “The Iraqi miliiitary is blocking our people from getting inside Bartilla,” Hakari said
Kurdistan Regional Goviiernment (KRG) Prime Miniiister Nechervan Barzani told an interviewer from German daily Bild on Friday that the conclusion of the Mosul
mission would be followed by a renewed push for Kurdiiish independence. After Moiisul’s recapture, he declared, Kurdish officials will meet with “partners in Baghdad and talk about our indepeniidence.” “We are not Arabs, we are our own Kurdish nation. At some point there will be a referendum on the independence of Kurdistan,” he added.
Nineveh Flat Needs to become Governorate
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The Kurdish painter Hussein Abdullah is and experienced and skillful artist. He was born in 1940 in Erbil Province, Southiiern Kurdistan. He completed the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad in 1964. Abdulla owns important set of archive and bibliography of Kurdistan. He’s been one of the artists that’s known for his experience in painting that goes back to the fifties and sixties, estipecially when he was a student in Baghdad and then gained fame in the city of his activities in art. He started working as a teacher in the town of Makhmour in 1964 and taught Kurdish students the world of painting. He moved to the city of Erbil as a teacher in 1965. He participated as a teacher and an artist in founding the Institute of Fine Arts. He has taken part in exhibitions of Kurdiiish artists in Kurdistan, Baghdad and abroad. Many of Abdullah’s students have now become proiifessionals, MPs, ministers, dociitors and welliknown artists. He’s always been obsessed with Kurdii
ish art and painting. Regarding his work and paintings, nature of Kurdistan has been part of his artworks in addition to the moiitif of animals especially horse’s moving body which is not usuii
ally easy to draw. Hussein Abduliilah has drawn many paintings of this topic. Moreover, the Kurdish culture and folklore are part of Abdulla’s paintings too. In his ariichive, Erbil citadel and the social
markets are important aspects of his work. Abdulla’s means is oil and water colors and design. He’s been head of the painting departiiment at the Institute of Fine Arts in Erbil, and as an expert, he’s
always asked for advice. That’s why Hussein Abdulla will remain a leading figure of Kurdish painttiing.
By Ashti Garmiyani
Polish Director Turns Peshmerga’s Bravery and Kurdish Culture into FilmSlawomir Malinovsky, the Polish director and scenarist, visited Kurdiiistan Region along with a polish team for directing a documentaiiry on Kurdistan, Peshiimerga and the Kurdish people. They stayed in Kurdistan for two weeks during which they visited various places in the Region. They’re attempting to write on realilife sceiinario, history, culture, coexistence and even Peshmerga to later produce a documeniitary for Polish official channel TVP1. The Polish team comii
prised the director and scenarist Slawomir Malinovsky and his
assistants with Dr. Farhang Rashkini as a guide and translator of the team. Regarding choosing
the Kurdistan Region for producing his film Slawomir Malinovsky said they chose Kurdiiistan because “there’s freedom here”. He said the film is for the Polish people, because though they know Kurdistan is in war with terroriiism, but have little iniiformation on Kurds. He added that Kurdish and Polish history have much in common. He said Polish people have struggled for hundreds of years for indepeniidence, and they’ve saciirificed much in ww2
before gaining indeiipendence. “Those who once divided you, they restricted your power and ability. Those who came to Kurdistan that time didn’t make their promise, but we’re not like them, we’ve come to produce a film on this war, on modern history of Kurds, traditions, coexistence of nations” said Malinovsky, addiiing that there is a lot to show the Polish people about Kurdistan such as the Shanadar Cave, Erbil Citadel and Peshiimerga of course.
By H.G. Hassan
The Kurdish Painter Hussein Abdullah (1940 - )