Kurdish leader's solidarity call
Massoud Barzani

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Dear citizens in Iraq, peace and God's mercy and blessings be upon you. My warm congratulations to the Iraqi people on their liberation from the dictatorship and its injustices.

Many thanks to the coalition forces for the support they have offered the Iraqi people.

My warm congratulations to the people of Kurdistan on the liberation of the areas which were subjected to Arabisation.

The future

We look forward to this liberation becoming the beginning of a profound change in Iraq and the Middle East for the sake of building a democratic, parliamentary and federal system, the prevalence of freedom and a democratic solution to the just Kurdish cause on the basis of federalism.

The KDP has remained committed to the decisions and the pledges made with the Kurdistani national parties for the sake of safeguarding the gains of liberation and freedom.

It has also remained committed to the agreements and pledges [made] with the Iraqi democratic opposition forces and parties, those which are part of the Coordination and Follow-up Committee and others which are not, to work together to establish a free and independent Iraq and improve the living conditions of the Iraqi people at all levels.

Undoubtedly, Iraq requires fundamental political, economic and social reforms after this change. That may be achieved in cooperation with the international coalition and the various circles in the international community.

More than ever before, the Iraqi people will be in need of international solidarity for the sake of construction, development and progress.

We hope that the regional countries in the Middle East, particularly the neighbouring countries, will respect the unity, sovereignty and freedom of Iraq, so that we can coexist without interference in each other's affairs.

As always, we reject any regional interference in Iraq's internal affairs.

'Complete satisfaction' but...

While expressing our complete satisfaction with the liberation of the Iraqi people, we believe it is necessary to note our observations regarding some negative and shameful incidents and phenomena, such as the looting and pillaging throughout the country - from Basra to Baghdad, Kirkuk, Mosul and other [cities and towns].

From the outset we were concerned about the threat of the security and administrative vacuum that occurs during the liberation of towns. We warned against this at the time.

Now, we condemn the looting and pillaging, wish for a speedy return of stability and security in all the towns, for the coalition forces and the national forces and parties to play a role in this respect, and for the return of normal life in all parts of the country.

At the beginning of the Iraq liberation operation, we issued clear and specific instructions to our peshmerga forces and the members and masses of the KDP to endeavour to protect lives and public and private property.

The behaviour of forces was good, and this is proven by conditions in the towns they had entered. They safeguarded the citizens' property and security, as was the case in Shekhan Administrative District and the districts around the city of Mosul.

The same applies to Makhmur Administrative District and Dibs and Altun Kopri; namely, Pirde [Kurdish name for Altun Kopri] Administrative Districts.

Our forces also endeavoured to prevent the looted property being moved on the Kirkuk-Arbil road. Our forces made every effort in the areas around Mosul.

We were committed to the agreements and pledges we had made with any side, and we coordinated with the coalition forces to avoid any tension, because what concerns us mainly is the liberation of the people.

We did not allow ourselves to forsake the main issue in exchange for narrow and temporary partisan gains in order to prevent the possibility of any regional interference.

Now, our main issue is to protect the liberation gain and provide impetus to the Kurdish issue and the issue of Iraqi democracy.

'Beloved' Kirkuk

Regarding the beloved city of Kirkuk, despite what took place in breach of the agreements signed, we still believe that there is a pressing need for cooperation, understanding and coordination by the coalition forces with the Kurdish sides to set up a joint administration of Kurds, Arabs, Turkomans, Christians and all the residents of the city, after the evacuation of the armed units of all the sides from the city.

On this occasion, we call upon the members, friends and masses of our KDP and Kurdish citizens in general to establish firm fraternal relations with the Arabs, Turkoman, Assyrians and Chaldeans in the city, based on the spirit of fraternity, coexistence and forgiveness.

The party masses should maintain the best relations of coexistence with the Turkomans and the rest of the residents. The members and friends of the party should avoid any fanaticism and extremism, and to always endeavour to resolve the problems of citizens, whether Kurds, Arabs, Turkmens or Christians, on an equal basis.

Kirkuk, the heart of Kurdistan, must remain a city of fraternity, and ethnic, religious and cultural pluralism.

Again, the warmest congratulations on this liberation, which is a victory for every sincere Iraqi citizen.

Peace and God's mercy and blessings be upon you.

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)
Nordic Representation
P.O BOX 7127
SE-170 07 SOLNA

Phone: +46 8 442 05 05
Fax: +46 8 442 09 05
E-mail: krg.nordic@telia.com
Web: www.krg.org