On 16 August 2018 in Erbil, President Masoud Barzani took part in a ceremony commemorating the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the Kurdistan Democratic Party.

At the beginning of the ceremony at Rotana Hotel in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, which was attended by a large number of political party figures, including presidents, secretaries, and members of political Bureaus as well as Consul Generals, representatives of States, civil society organizations, and administrative officials in the Kurdistan Region. Hoshyar Zebari, a member of the Political Bureau, delivered the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s welcoming message, in Arabic and English. Later, President Barzani delivered a speech welcoming the guests and saluted the founder and the companions of the Immortal Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Leader Mustafa Barzani. He also thanked the members, supporters, cadres and fans of the party for their continued support for the Kurdistan Democratic Party and said that KDP, since it was founded in 1946 until the launch of September Revolution, was the safe haven for freedom fighters in Kurdistan and did not allow the Kurdish people to lose their hope. In his speech, President Barzani also referred to the importance of the September Revolution, asserting that it was a national political revolution of the whole of Kurdistan and that it did not resort to practices similar to the practices of our enemies and it has never harmed people. Those practices prevented differences with the regimes from becoming differences between nations. President Barzani also praised the bravery and steadfastness of the Kurdistan people, the Peshmerga and their commanders in the war against ISIS and during the events of Oct. 16, stressing that now is the time for all parties to undertake self-revision, and the Kurdistan Democratic Party extends a hand of brotherhood, cooperation and friendship to all. He also said, the gain have been realized and protected, only at times when we have been together. His Excellency called on the political parties to hold a dialogue together with Baghdad, instead of trying to destroy each other. In another aspect of his speech, President Barzani stressed the need for all parties to reflect on holding fair elections rather than on postponing them, in order to form a strong government that could address the problems of the people and carry out the necessary reforms. In closing, President Barzani recalled the exemplary epic of Khwarquark, and expressed his appreciation for the valiant Peshmerga who had confronted the enemy.