Statement from Nechirvan Barzani about a Terror-Free Türkiye

Speaking at the forum organized by the Middle East Research Institute (MERI) in Erbil, Iraq, Barzani made evaluations about the Terrorism-Free Türkiye project and the developments in the region.

Barzani stated that two years ago he had doubts about whether the Terror-Free Türkiye project was "serious", but after his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, he became convinced that it was a serious process.

Stating that President Erdoğan is serious about the process and that they are pleased with it, Barzani said, "The Terror-free Turkey project is a serious process, but there may be complaints that it is progressing slowly. I think this is very natural and cannot be solved overnight. The steps may not be at the speed we want, but it is moving in the right direction." he said.

Reiterating that, as Erbil, they support the process and are ready to do their part, Barzani made the following assessment:

"The process is for the benefit of everyone. Both us and Türkiye. This process will take Turkey to a much more important point. Not only the Kurds. Turkey will also come to a very different point from this point and in this way it will be able to play its natural role in the region. The solution of this problem is a big event and if it is solved, the person who solves it is worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. I think the first person at this point is President Erdoğan."

"PRESIDENT SHARA WANTS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS IN SYRIA"

Emphasizing that the current stage in Syria is not easy and that President Ahmed Shara is not anti-Kurdish, Barzani said, "I did not see anti-Kurdism in my meeting with President Shara during my visit to Syria. We talked a lot about this issue. We see that the process regarding the integration of the security forces is progressing well. There is also progress in Kurdish education, which is very important for the Kurds. My opinion about Syria is that President Shara wants to solve the problems." he said.

Recalling what the Kurds experienced during the Baath regime under Assad, Barzani said:

"The Kurds were not given an identity card in Syria. The Kurds did not have an identity that could be called Syrian. They lived in such a Syria. Now 13 thousand people are in the Syrian army, 17 thousand people are in the security institutions, taking steps to provide education in Kurdish is progress. The protocol that Shara followed in hosting us included the message that he had no problems with the Kurds. When we landed at Damascus Airport, we were greeted with Shara's welcome message in Kurdish. Iraqi and KRG flags were carried in the protocol. "They are symbolic things. Even the food menu was written in Kurdish. All these indicate that he has no problems with the Kurds."

Barzani said, "Syria has its own problems. They do not rule in an easy Syria. There is a difficult and devastated Syria in terms of social, construction and infrastructure. It will take a long time to get it back on its feet." he said.