PM Masrour Barzani Marks 35 Years Since UN Resolution 688, Honors International Support for Kurdistan
Thirty-five years after the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masrour Barzani, has reaffirmed the Kurdish people's enduring gratitude for the international support that helped protect them during one of the most difficult periods in their history.
In a message posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Barzani reflected on the events that followed the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 in 1991. The resolution came at a time when the Kurdish population in northern Iraq faced severe repression, mass displacement, and the threat of further atrocities.
Thirty-five years after UNSC Resolution 688, the people of Kurdistan still remember the international support that came at a time when genocide, displacement, and oppression threatened our survival. That support helped save lives, open the way for humanitarian relief, and lay the… pic.twitter.com/bsQtyczxyr
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) April 5, 2026
Barzani stated that the international intervention and humanitarian assistance that followed the resolution played a crucial role in saving lives and providing relief to hundreds of thousands of displaced Kurds. According to the prime minister, the global response not only helped prevent further tragedy but also paved the way for the establishment and development of the Kurdistan Region.
“Thirty-five years after UNSC Resolution 688, the people of Kurdistan still remember the international support that came at a time when genocide, displacement, and oppression threatened our survival,” Barzani wrote.
He emphasized that the Kurdish people continue to remember both the sacrifices made during that difficult period and the solidarity shown by the international community.
Adopted in April 1991 following the Kurdish uprising and humanitarian crisis in northern Iraq, Resolution 688 called on the Iraqi government to end repression against its civilian population and opened the door for international humanitarian operations that eventually led to the creation of a protected area for Kurds in northern Iraq.
Barzani concluded by expressing lasting appreciation for the countries and organizations that stood with the Kurdish people during their time of need, noting that their support helped lay the foundations for the Kurdistan Region as it exists today.
