Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani inaugurated the Shekhan–Lalish dual carriageway on Saturday, describing the project as part of ongoing development in the region despite continued crises.

The ceremony, held in Duhok province, was attended by Yazidi spiritual leaders including Prince Hazim Tahsin Beg, Baba Sheikh Ali Sheikh Elias, members of the Yazidi Spiritual Council, and local dignitaries.

Barzani said the opening of the road fulfilled a promise he made last year to the people of the area. He emphasized that the Yazidis are “an integral and original part of Kurdistan” and reaffirmed that no power could divide them from the rest of the region.

“This road will not only ease access to Lalish for pilgrims from around the world but will also benefit residents of surrounding areas,” Barzani said, urging citizens to follow traffic safety guidelines to prevent accidents.

The Prime Minister praised the private sector’s role in completing the project, noting that “despite all the crises, development in Kurdistan has not stopped,” crediting the trust of private companies with the government for enabling progress.

Barzani also addressed the Yazidi community’s suffering since the ISIS assault on Sinjar, recalling President Masoud Barzani’s order to liberate the district in 2014. “We sacrificed hundreds of martyrs, but we never allowed our will to break,” he said.

He criticized delays in the implementation of the Sinjar Agreement with Baghdad, blaming “illegitimate forces” on the ground, and called again on the federal government to ensure the dignified return of displaced Yazidis and other communities.

Turning to relations with Baghdad, Barzani confirmed that discussions over budget entitlements and public salaries are ongoing. He said there are no obstacles from the Kurdistan Region’s side and expressed hope that an “imminent agreement” between oil companies in the region and the federal government would help resolve disputes.

“I hope this agreement is translated into tangible reality in the coming days,” he said, adding that the federal government must uphold its constitutional obligations and ensure that salary disputes no longer dominate daily headlines.