MEPS24: Kurdish leader Barzani stresses key priority of keeping Iraq out of war

Shafaq News/ On Friday, the Kurdish leader and President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Masoud Barzani, affirmed that the stage is now set for a “comprehensive peace process” in the Middle East concerning the Kurdish cause.

Kurdistan Region Elections

Speaking at the Middle East Peace and Security (MEPS24) Forum at the American University in Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Barzani said, "Elections were held in the Region despite doubts they might not happen or face issues…I would like to thank the people of Kurdistan, who demonstrated their awareness and made us proud of this achievement.”

"We hope everyone will respect legitimacy…Once the Independent High Electoral Commission announces the official results, negotiations will begin among all parties to expedite the start of parliamentary work," he added.

The Kurdish leader expressed hope for “support to ensure that in the future, there would be one Region, one parliament, one Peshmerga force, and one government representing all the components of the Region.”

He further pointed out that Iraq will hold legislative elections in less than a year, and “the Kurdistan Region's experience could serve as a reference.”

Population Census

Barzani commented on the national census held on November 20-21, stating, "We received assurances that the census has no political motives and will not affect areas covered by Article 140 of the Constitution."

He emphasized that “dialogue resolves all issues,” highlighting “the current strong relationship and cooperation between the federal and Kurdistan Regional Governments to address outstanding problems.”

Regional Crises

Regarding the regional situation, Barzani said, "The crises in the region and the scenes of war in Lebanon and Gaza are tragic…We hope this war ends and the tragedy stops," stressing that "the key priority is to keep Iraq out of this war."

"We expect the situation to change after the new US president is elected, with signs of a significant policy shift under Trump’s administration, compared to President Biden's,” he continued.