President Nechirvan Barzani’s New Year message

I extend my best wishes to all the people of Kurdistan on the New Year and I wish people all over world a year of prosperity and success. I offer special and warmest greetings to the esteemed families of our noble martyrs and to our brave Peshmarga. With grace and gratitude, we remember the fallen heroes who gave their lives for Kurdistan and freedom. I hope for stability for Iraq and the resolution of its difficulties and an end to the crises and turbulence in the country, and wish for peace and stability for all the people of Kurdistan, the region and the world.

My fellow citizens,

Iraq and the region are passing through a turbulent time and these events inevitably impact the Kurdistan Region as well. With unity, we have the strength to face whatever challenges that may arise and work together to ensure stability. For this vital task, we remain committed to working together with all sides and all communities in Kurdistan as we look to a brighter future with hope and optimism.

In Iraq, as always, we will cooperate and assist our fellow Iraqis. We urge all Iraqi groups to realize their common duties and responsibilities towards the country and to resolve all the difficulties through dialogue and understanding on the basis of the constitution. We also ask the international colation to remain supportive and to cooperate with the Kurdistan Region and Iraq in confronting terrorism.

We reassure our fellow Kurdistanis, all the ethnic and religious components that Kurdistan will remain the land of rights and freedoms for all, and it will continue to be the cradle of harmony, stability, co-existence, acceptance, pluralism and solidarity. We will work together on these objectives and protect and defend our fine principles, culture and way of life.

A happy new year to the refugees and displaced communities in the Kurdistan Region. I wish everyone joy and prosperity.

Nechirvan Barzani

Kurdistan Region President

December 31, 2019