Alla Shally
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani shared his insights on a range of key topics, including the United States president’s calls for peace, regional developments in Syria and the situation of its Kurdish community, the peace efforts between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), as well as the formation of the upcoming Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

In an interview with Rudaw on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany, President Barzani emphasized that discussions with global leaders focused on regional issues, particularly Syria.

“Syria was the first and primary focus of our meetings,” he stated, underscoring the importance of including “all the constituents” in the new Syria. President Barzani urged the Kurds in Syria to “go to Damascus united,” as “homeowners, not guests” and “carry the new Syrian flag as soon as possible.” He additionally vowed support to the new Syrian leadership in its push to address the country’s challenges.

The Kurdistan Region’s President welcomed the US President Donald Trump’s call to achieve peace all over the world. Barzani noted that “this message deserves much respect and appreciation” since the US is “the world's greatest superpower” and “can truly play its role” in fostering peace.

President Barzani additionally praised the renewed peace efforts between Turkey and the PKK. He noted that “a serious process has begun in Turkey” and that it “holds benefits for Turkish, Kurdish and all constituents in Turkey.” The Kurdistan Region President noted that a message from PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan, will be delivered soon, and urged PKK members to uphold Ocalan’s demands, adding that any laying down of arms on the PKK’s behalf is not “surrendering.”

In the domestic dossier, President Barzani stated that the Kurdistan Region’s two ruling parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), are engaged in “serious talks” about the formation of the new Kurdistan Regional Government. He highlighted ongoing discussions about how the relationship and partnership between the KDP and PUK should be structured to best serve the interests of the Kurdistan Region and its people.

The following is a full transcript of the interview…

Rudaw: Mr. President, thank you so much for this opportunity and welcome. Here in Munich, you held very important meetings. I want to know if international support for the Kurdistan Region will increase from here?

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani: The Munich conference is an opportunity for us to meet many people up close, without protocol requirements, and discuss the situation in the region, talk about the Kurdistan Region, and about Iraq. This is an opportunity that is repeated annually for us, and it's an important opportunity to discuss matters of interest to all sides and to us as the Kurdistan Region with our friends abroad.

Is there now ground for strengthening Kurdistan Region's relations with countries of the world?

I believe so, yes, there is. The countries of the world view the Kurdistan Region with great importance and significance. A Kurdistan Region within the framework of Iraq is seen as important, and they [international community] truly want the Kurdistan Region to be strong so that it can help both itself and Iraq, and play a prominent role in the region. I believe this opportunity exists for the Kurdistan Region, and if we look at the meetings we've held [in Munich], we can see that the Kurdistan Region is given notable significance, as the Kurdistan Region within the framework of Iraq.

American and European officials, as they told me, were very interested and it was very important for them to hear your views about the situation in the Middle East. What were your meetings or discussions mainly about?

This year, we held many discussions about Syria. We presented our views on [regional] developments and the situation in Syria for discussion with the relevant parties - with [officials from] European countries, the United States, and Middle Eastern countries. Syria was the first and primary focus of our meetings on regional matters.

All the countries of the world want to understand Syria's new politics or leadership now, so the Kurdish opinion is important to them. In discussions with countries, what did you mainly talk about?

First, the Syrian people deserve a better life than what they have experienced until now. The Syrian people have seen much hardship and misfortune in these past few years. We hope an opportunity is now open for this country to both establish peace and be a catalyst to maintaining calm and stability in the region. We urge this. If you look at the background of these forces currently in Syria, I think you see despair, but when you look at their statements and the things they focus on, there is also great hope for Syria's future.

We believe that in Syria, all constituents need to participate in the new Syria. Within this framework, our message for the Kurdish community [in Syria] is also that they must go to Damascus united. They must feel that they are homeowners and not guests. Our message to them from day one has been that they need to carry the new Syrian flag as soon as possible. You should go to Damascus as soon as possible and learn from our experience [in the Kurdistan Region]. In 2003, when we went to Baghdad united and together, we were able to attain notable gains. Maybe not everything we wanted was fulfilled, but for the first time, Iraq's constitution was written, and for the first time many things - following the [establishment of the Kurdistan Region per the] March 13, 1970 Agreement - became very official achievements. What was achieved was a result of our unity and togetherness as Kurdish forces. We expressed this to our Kurdish brothers in Syria. We said you must go [to Damascus], exert your efforts and participate in the new Syria. Act as homeowners and not as guests.

You met with Syria's Foreign Minister here. Following that meeting, are you optimistic about the future of Western Kurdistan and Kurds in Syria? What will be the role of the Kurdistan Region in this regard?

Our role will be supportive. During my meeting with Syria's Foreign Minister, we emphasized that the new Syria must be a civil Syria and must be a Syria where everyone can see themselves in the future of that country; all constituents including Kurds, Arabs, Christians, Alawites, and Druze. Syria is a country that cannot be governed by one particular ideology. Syria is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, and culturally diverse country. Syria needs everyone in it to consider themselves Syrian citizens, meaning Syria should be governed this way. Syria can never be governed in a way where one ideology imposes itself. I believe and what we see in the views of Syria's president, Syria’s interim president, the respected Mr. Ahmad al-Sharaa, we see that he truly and seriously wants to resolve Syria's problems. If this is truly their [the new leadership in Damascus] policy, to focus on Syria and solve the country's problems, I can say he deserves support, not just standing and watching. We must be supportive because I believe this is a great opportunity for Syrians, and if it is lost, it is unclear what will replace it.

I've heard that you had played an important role in preventing the fire from spreading further in Syria and Western Kurdistan.

It is natural for us in the Kurdistan Region. What happened in Syria truly shocked us and I don't believe it was just shocking for us. I think even for them, Mr. Ahmad al-Sharaa and his party, what happened and how quickly it happened was shocking. Our priority in that regard was to find ways to protect the Kurds from any fire. We were in constant contact, especially with Turkey, the United States, and European countries. Our focus was primarily set on how we could protect the Kurds and I believe we were successful in playing a [positive] role, in reducing the impact of any fire on them [Kurds], and we've seen our role [in limiting the repercussions] within that framework.

The second phase now is, as I mentioned, how can they participate in the new Syria and go to Damascus and become part of the process of forming the new government in Syria.

As you see, the Imrali delegation [facilitating peace efforts between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)] is now in Erbil. They are set to meet with you. You also met with Turkey's Foreign Minister here [in Munich]. Do you believe these efforts will bring peace this time?

A serious process has begun in Turkey. We have had several meetings in Ankara about this issue in the past period, and in our opinion, this process is a serious one that has benefits for Turkish, Kurdish and all constituents in Turkey. The matter is now dependent on what happens next. We are waiting for [PKK leader] Mr. Abdullah Ocalan to deliver a message and, I believe that after his message, the forces, especially the PKK, should welcome it, because I believe that welcoming Mr. Ocalan's message holds benefits for the Kurds.

The process is clear. The PKK needs to lay down arms, and laying down arms does not mean this is [the PKK] surrendering.” No, it is not surrendering. It means that, at this time, the issue of armed forces and military forces won't solve any Kurdish problems in Turkey. If there are Kurdish issues, any issue, it should be resolved through dialogue within Turkey. We support the PKK’s welcoming Mr. Ocalan's message, and whatever is on us, whatever we can do to play a [positive] role so that this process moves forward smoothly, whatever is needed [of us] and whatever role is assigned to us in the Kurdistan Region, we are ready to play for the sake of peace.

Now all countries want to know what the administration of [the United States President Trump] wants to do. You met with the US Secretary of State [Marco Rubio], did he tell you what the new US administration's policy toward Kurds and the Kurdistan Region will be like?

We didn't go into those details because the Secretary of State himself has not been in his position for very long. But what we see in Mr. Trump's policy as US President, he wants peace to be established everywhere. This, in my opinion, just this message in itself, that he wants to establish peace, which he has announced several times, his desire to end wars, I believe just this message itself deserves much appreciation and respect, that the US president and policy will move in that direction, because the US is the world's greatest superpower and it truly can play its role [effectively]. When the US president says our policy aims to establish peace in all countries, we must all welcome this initiative, and serious efforts should be made so that peace is established everywhere just as he says and per the goal he has set for himself to end wars.

President of the Kurdistan Region, here I met Bafel Jalal Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan [PUK]. Did you meet him?

Yes, we met each other, talked, and he invited us for dinner. We had a meeting together and discussed forming the future [Kurdistan Regional] Government (KRG) and how we can work together. We had a very positive and good meeting with Mr. Bafel.

How are your relations now?

Relations are good now. We are engaging in a very serious dialogue with the PUK regarding the formation of the tenth cabinet of the KRG. Before anything else, we are working on drafting a document about how the relationship and partnership between us [in the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)] and the PUK will look like, the principles that are important both for them and for us, as well as for Kurds in general. We are having serious dialogue about these principles. If this [document] is prepared and then signed by both sides, we will move toward forming the tenth cabinet of the regional government.

Our relationship in general is not at all concerning. As two different parties we have differences, certainly we do, but as two parties whose purpose is the [best interest of the] Kurdistan Region - I believe their aim is to uphold the Kurdistan Region's position and interests, and the same goes for us - there is an opportunity to work together. We have always been successful in unity, not in division. We couldn't do anything in disunity and neither could they. Therefore, ultimately we need to accept each other, understand each other, and work for a better future for the Kurdistan Region.

Here you held several meetings and discussions that echoed in Kurdistan, but what echoed very much was your new style.

I think [Rudaw’s reporter] Shaho made a big deal about it – Shaho Amin.

All the media outlets talked about it, that it was admirable. You walked past us, I didn’t even recognize you Mr. President [because of your style], I only recognized you because of your height.

It wasn't anything like that. I don't know why it became a thing and why it got so much attention. But certainly, I saw those comments and remarks, I thank everyone very much. Certainly many people gave their opinion, and it was mostly positive and good, I thank them.

It really suited you.

Thank you very much for having us.

You're welcome, thank you very much.

Thank you very much.[1]