President Barzani's message on the occasion of the seventy-fourth anniversary of the establishment of the Kurdistan Democratic Party
In the name of of Allah the Merciful
On the occasion of August 16, and the seventy-fourth anniversary of the establishment of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, I extend my warmest congratulations and blessings to the families of the honorable martyrs, the brave Peshmerga, the whole members, supporters and cadres of the party, and the people of Kurdistan.
The establishment of the Kurdistan Democratic Party was an important turning point in the history of the Kurdish liberation movement, so it became a national school for Kurdish strugglers and fighters. The aim of its establishment in those difficult circumstances was to keep the Kurdish political spirit alive, and to enhance the Kurdish individual's self-confidence. In all stages, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) was a major party and symbol for defending the legitimate rights of the people of Kurdistan, and this has proven in word and deed. And it has always been a place of hope for the people of Kurdistan, and at the same time it was a sign and a target for the plots and plans of enemies and haters against the people of Kurdistan.
This year, as we remember the sixteenth of August, our people face great challenges and obstacles, and Kurdistan faces economic and health problems and various plots of haters. These obstacles, challenges, and conspiracies make the duties of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, its leadership, cadres, members and supporters more difficult than ever. In order to overcome these difficult situations, it is necessary for the officials and cadres of our party to be at the level expected of them among the people, and to become agents to address the problems of the people, and it is necessary for all those who belong to the party to remember that they bear the main responsibility in preserving the Kurdistan Region and its prosperity, and to strive their efforts are more than others for the sake of a stronger Kurdistan.
On this occasion, we emphasize the message of coexistence and peaceful pluralism among the Kurds, because one of the main duties of the Kurdistan Democratic Party is to maintain coexistence between the religious and national components in Kurdistan and to maintain social and political peace between the Kurds.
Regarding the relations between Erbil and Baghdad, we confirm that the Kurdistan Democratic Party, throughout its history of struggle and politics, did not refuse to negotiate, and wanted to address the problems through understanding and peaceful means. At the present time, we affirm the continuation of the same approach, and that the struggle of the Kurdistan Democratic Party will be with the Kurdish patriots in order to establish the constitutional rights of the people of Kurdistan, and in order to confront the ideology and mentality that wants to marginalize the struggle and sacrifices of the people of Kurdistan and their partnership within the state of Iraq. Or who wants to empty the entity of the Kurdistan Region, which is the fruit of a hundred years of the blood of hundreds of thousands of martyrs and the tears of hundreds of thousands of mothers of martyrs, of its true meaning. We are well aware that what is present is not commensurate with the massive sacrifices and liberation aspirations of our people. Nevertheless, we believe that with Mr. Mustafa Al-Kazemi, the current Prime Minister of Iraq, who has an understanding of the issue of the people of Kurdistan, the opportunity still exists to address the problems between Erbil and Baghdad within the framework of the constitution and the two sides have reached satisfactory results. That constitution, which had been implemented as it is, many problems would not exist now between Erbil and Baghdad.
On the seventy-fourth anniversary of the establishment of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, we bring back to the minds of dear Kurdistans that the Kurdistan Democratic Party is a product of the unity of the struggle will of the Kurds, and was not born as a result of a split, so it is a symbol and center of unity and the unity of the will of the people of Kurdistan. From this standpoint, and because it believes that all the victories and gains achieved for the people of Kurdistan; they were achieved when harmony and brotherhood existed between the Kurdish parties, it is always ready for brotherhood, peace and unity.
I also call on the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Kurdish political parties to work together in a spirit of brotherhood, and to assume responsibility in order to overcome the challenges and problems that threaten the Kurdistan Region. I want to emphasize the fact that salaries are important in the lives of citizens, and the need for everyone to cooperate in the cause of general reform in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, address problems and try to improve the living conditions of citizens. However, there are other serious basic problems that cannot be ignored or accepted such as the principle of partnership and implementation of the constitution and Article 140, the peshmerga, the policy of cleansing, and the demographic change, all of which have a special priority and importance, and the problems of the people of Kurdistan cannot be summed up in salaries only.
The process of Arabization in the Kurdish regions that began in the twentieth century, unfortunately, is still continuing in various ways. This treacherous process must be stopped as soon as possible and the cleansing, Arabization and demographic change that was implemented against the Kurds in the Kurdish regions that are outside the region’s administration must be addressed. I also think it is necessary for me to call on the Kurdish forces in the other parts to take into account the conditions of the Kurdistan Region, and not to turn into factors that harm the Kurdistan Region, because the people of Kurdistan can no longer bear more losses, bombing and other problems. I also call on the neighboring countries and the Kurdish forces to respect the sovereignty of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, and not to turn the Kurdistan Region into an arena for conflict between them.
In conclusion, I extend my congratulations once again to all members, supporters and cadres of the party and the honorable people of Kurdistan, and remind them of the immortal words of Hazrat Barzani, that they do not become arrogant during victories and that they do not become despondent during setbacks. I also call on all members, supporters and cadres of the party to have strong aspirations and wills, because they are the will and hope of all the people of Kurdistan.
I wish all dear citizens of Kurdistan safety and happiness
Massoud Barzani
16 / Aug / 2020
Translated
