Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Sunday presided over a ceremony in Erbil marking the 22nd anniversary of the February 1, 2004, terrorist attacks, which killed more than 100 people and wounded hundreds others.

The commemoration was held at Sami Abdulrahman Park’s Martyrs’ Memorial and was attended by families of the victims, senior Kurdish political figures, and representatives of foreign diplomatic missions.

In his address, Barzani emphasized unity, resilience, and perseverance, stating that honoring the martyrs is a reminder of the responsibility to defend the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people and to remain steadfast in pursuing the Kurdistan Region’s long-term goals.

Turning to regional developments, the prime minister highlighted the role of Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani in facilitating initial negotiations between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). He said the talks are aimed at easing tensions and restoring peace and stability in Kurdish-populated areas of Syria.

Barzani expressed optimism about progress toward legal and constitutional guarantees for all Syrians, particularly Kurds, and stressed the importance of achieving lasting peace through dialogue.

On domestic Iraqi politics, the prime minister said no agreement has yet been reached regarding the Iraqi presidential post, adding that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is closely monitoring ongoing discussions. He reaffirmed that the KRG will act in the best interests of its people while respecting the independence of Kurdish and Iraqi electoral processes.

Barzani also underscored that the results of the 2025 Kurdistan parliamentary elections must be respected, describing them as a key foundation for forming the next regional cabinet.

He concluded by calling for continued cooperation among Kurdish political parties and broader Iraqi leadership to ensure stability within the Kurdistan Region, advance national governance, and support regional peace efforts.