the only english paper in iraq - no: 512 mon. november 02 ...isis. ms leyen expressed the readiness...
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The only English paper in Iraq - No: 512 Mon. November 02, 2015
From the Heart of Kurdistan Region
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P 3German Defence Minister
“Peshmerga lead us in fight against ISIS”
The Kurdish Globe 2No. 512, Monday, November 02, 2015
EXECUTIVE EDITORGazi Hassan +964 750 7747784
www.kurdishGlobe.net
Address: Erbil, Massif road
Weekly paper printed in Erbil First published in 2005
Senior U.K. EditorBashdar Pusho [email protected]
Zakaria Muhammed [email protected] +964 750 475 3897
Salih Waladbagi [email protected] +964 750 4912996
STAFF WRITERS
ARTS EDITORDiyaco Qayoumy +964 750 4036252
ReviserHonar [email protected]
A Peshmerge delegate to Brussels recently held meetings with NATO, the EU, and some other European officials. NATO prepared a new decisssion regarding providing support, training, and heavy weaponry directly to the Peshmerge. The Peshmerge have arisen as a major force in the Middle East.
In his meeting with Kurdistan Region Presissdent Mr. Masoud Barzani last week, Gen. Lloyd Austin, commander of US Central Command, expressed that the US is grateful for the sacrificsses the Peshmerge have made in the fight against terrorism. Specifically referring to the hostage rescue operation in Hawija, he pointed out that the collaboration between US and Peshmerge special forces is an indicator of the high level of trust between both forces.
The German Minister of Defense Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen also commented on her nation’s increase of trust because of the Peshmerge. She said: “Working with Peshmerge has enhanced the mutual trust and friendship [between] Germany and Kurdistan Region. We are to be more determined on coordination and common work”.
In addition, US media outlets have also highsslighted the joint coordination between the Peshssmerge and US forces. The Hawija operation is now mentioned as a shining example and proud step forward for the military coordination besstween Peshmerge and US forces.
Contrary to the well equipped Iraqi army, the Peshmerga are fighting terror hand in hand with trust and confidence—liberating territories of Kurdistan in Article 140 areas and save hossstages in joint military operation like last weeks. Meanwhile the Peshmerge’s budget hasn’t been provided by Baghdad for many years, while they remain a legal part of the Iraqi defense system. On the other side of the coin, the Iraqi army, who far too often reflect sectarian realities in Baghdad have handed thousands of weapons, tanks and ammunition, along with thousands kilometers of territories to ISIS terrorists in Nissnevah, Salahadin and Anbar provinces. Yet the Iraqi government continues to provide salaries to the Shiite Hashd AlsShaabi, which will be a catastrophic force for Iraq in future and for now.
Some key factors contributing to Peshmerge battlefield successes:
s President Bargain moved his office to the front lines in Shingal. Other key leaders are also carrying out their tasks from the front lines.
s Solid coordination, understanding and unity between President Barzani as the Comssmander of Armed Forces, the leaders of Peshssmerge, and members of Peshmerge.
s The Peshmerge have a stalwart cause
for which it fights. They defend the future of the people in Kurdistan— its coexistence and freessdom. They stand against ethnic, religious and sectarian discrimination, representing religious and ethnic coexistence, stability and security wherever they go.
s The Peshmerge have a centuryslong history of struggle against oppressive forces in Iraq and has abundant experience in mountain and urban warfare.
The Peshmerge are a crucial force that dessserves to be supported even moreso by the US and Europe. The Peshmerga, who protect milsslions of warsdisplaced people, are ready to turn into a unified, modern army that maintains freessdom and coexistence in Kurdistan, which (evensstually) helps maintain the security and stability of Europe and US as well.
Germany continues assistance to Kurdistan Region
Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani last week received Germany’s Defense, Minister Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen, and her accompanying military and political delegation.
In the meeting, attended also by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, Ms Leyen said the Peshmerga forces’ capability has improved since her last visit. She said the progress and discipline Peshmerga forces have demonstrated in the training courses are satisfactory and have been effectively applied to defeat the myth of ISIS.
Ms Leyen expressed the readiness of Germany to extend its assistance to the Kurdistan Region in other fields, particularly with assistance to the refugees and internally displaced people, who have fled terrorism and sought refuge in the Ressgion.
She said the Kurdistan Region’s internal issues are best resolved through dialogue and negotiasstions, but the priority now remains eradicating the terrorist threat.
Prime Minister Barzani welcomed Ms Leyen’s visit, noting that Germany has been assisting Kurdistan Region since the very beginning of the ISIS threat. He highlighted the training of Peshmerga forces and praised the level of coopsseration with Germany’s military forces.
Regarding the Kurdistan Region’s internal issssues, Prime Minister Barzani emphasized they had no effect on the morale of the Peshmerga forces on the frontline.
He said that Kurdistan Region welcomes all humanitarian assistance as it provides security and other basic assistance to an extraordinary number of refuge seekers while facing severe financial constraints.
The situation in neighboring countries and resscent developments in the Middle East were also discussed.
Peshmerge Crucial in the Middle East
[email protected] Cell: +964 750 4055888
By Gazi Hassan
US continue to support peshmerga in fight against ISIS
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Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani met with US Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL Ambassador Brett McGurk and US Ambassador to Iraq Stussart Jones, to discuss the progress of the fight against ISIS terrorists and challenges facing the KRG.
The President and the US ofssficials lauded the strong partssnership between the peshmerga forces and the US military, essspecially in light of the recent successful operation by joint Special Forces that led to the ressscuing of 69 hostages from ISIS in the town of Hawija, south of Kirkuk.
Ambassador McGurk described this successful operation as yet another indication of the strong relationship between the peshssmerga forces and the US forces, and commended the leadership role of President Barzani. He added that the US would continssue to offer support to the peshssmerga forces in the fight against ISIS.
President Barzani thanked the United States for its steadfast support to Kurdistan and to the peshmerga forces.
President Barzani and the visssiting US officials also discussed preparations for the liberation of Mosul from ISIS and political and security developments in the country.
Barzani met commander of the United States Central Command
Three days after meeting with McGurk, on October 30, Barzani met with the commander of the United States Central Command General Lloyd Austin on Thursssday in Erbil.
The President and the US genss
eral discussed the military camsspaign against the ISIS terrorists and preparations for liberating the city of Mosul. They also discussed the requirements and needs for the peshmerga forces. Both hailed the close cooperation between the US military and the peshmerga forces, after the resscent successful joint operation to free 69 hostages from the hands of ISIS in the town of Hawija.
Barzani and Paris mayor talk ISIS, environment
A delegation of French officials led by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalssgo met on Thrusday in Erbil with President Masoud Barzani and Erbil’s Mayor Nawzad Hadi to discuss France’s environmental and construction support to the region as well as the ongoing fight against the Islamic State, the office of the presidency of the Kurdistan Regional Governssment (KRG) reported.
Hidalgo assured the officials of continued support for projects to further develop the capital of of the Kurdistan Region, and both sides agreed bilateral relations between Erbil and Paris would be developed.
Hidalgo and Barzani stressed the need for mutual efforts to battle the Islamic State, which was described as a common enssemy to France and the KRG, acsscording to a KRG statement, .
In conclusion of the event, Barsszani thanked the Parisian delegasstion for their visit and praised France’s historic relationship with the Kurds.
The Kurdish Globe No. 512, Monday, November 02, 2015 3
“Peshmerga lead us in fight against ISIS” __ German Defence Minister
Kurdistan president and prime minister thanked Germany for military and
humanitarian assistance.
German Defence Minissster Ursula Von Der Leyen welcomed by the senior officials in the autonossmous Kurdistan Region, where she promised furssther support to the Kurdssish Peshmerga fighters in the fight against soscalled Islamic State.
During her visit to Kurdssistan, President of Kurdissstan Region Massoud Barsszani and Prime Minster Nechirvan Barzani and his Deputy Qubad Talabani in Erbil received German Minister and accompanied military and political delssegation.
Ms Leyen stated that she was very impressed by the progress the Kurdish forcsses achieved since her first visit to the Region almost eight months ago.
Ms Leyen emphasized on the significant role of Peshmerga forces in comssbatting ISIS, saying that “Peshmerga are leading us in the fight against ISIS.”
She also added that the training they have taken by the German military advisssors have been applied to defeat myth of ISIS.
"We have, in the meansstime, delivered 1,800 tons of equipment. We have trained 4,700 Peshmerga, a battalion of Yazidis, some Kakais also. This is absosslutely necessary, because good equipment and good training ensures survival in the fight against IS, and that is our common goal," Reuters quoted the defense minister.
The German Minister expressed the readiness of her country to expand contributing more helps to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), in particular with helping the refugees and interssnally displaced people, who have fled terrorism and sought shelter in the Kurdistan Region.
President Barzani warmssly welcomed the German
delegation, stressing that the mutual relations besstween the two sides has been further strengthened due to Germany’s comssmitment to eradicating the threat of terrorism.
“Support for the Kurdissstan Region will continue and the ultimate aim of the
free world is the complete eradication of the terrorists of the Islamic State,” Ms Leyen said in the meeting with President Barzani.
Premier Barzani in the meeting with Ms Leyen noted that Germany has been assisting Kurdistan since the very beginning
of the ISIS threat. Regarding the internal
political disputes between the Kurdish parties and its effect on the morale of the Peshmerga forces, PM Barzani highlighted that they has “no effect” on the morale of Peshmerga forces in the frontlines.
The KRG and the Kurdssish leadership welcomes all humanitarian assissstance, PM Barzani said, as it provides security and other basic help to an extraordinary number of refuge seekers while facssing severe financial conssstraints.
Kurdish fighters are hiring lobbyists in Washington to convince the U.S. governssment to send them arms directly rather than routing them through Baghdad, in an effort to expedite and strengthen the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq. Forms filed in 2015 under the Foreign Agents Registration Act show the Kurdistan Ressgional Government has spent $291,000 on three different firms.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has for months pressured Baghdad to expedite the shipment of arms to Iraqi Kurdistan, but so far, the fighters claim, progress has been slow. Earlier this year Sen. Joni Ernst, a Resspublican from Iowa and a member of the Senate Armed Services Commitsstee, tried to pass a bill that would have allowed the U.S. to ship weapons to the Kurds directly.
“ISIS is deadly and desstermined, and Iraqi Kurdss
ish Peshmerga forces, our critical partner in the fight against ISIS, need U.S. weapons as quickly as possible," Ernst said in May. "We simply canssnot afford to have future delays at this critical mossment in the battle."
At the time of the introssduction of the bill, Denise Natali, an expert on Iraqi Kurdistan at the National Defense University in Washington, told Interssnational Business Times that the bill was not going
to pass because it would require an amendment to a law that allows the govssernment to send weapons to internationally recogssnized sovereign governssments but does not include autonomous regions. The bill failed to pass, as Nasstali expected, but that failssure spurred a movement among advocates in Washssington to enlist lobbyists to take the fight directly to the hill.
The Kurds aren't the only group of fighters in
Iraq that claim Baghdad is hoarding weapons in the capital. The Sunni militias in the country's western Anbar province have also complained.
“The U.S. government has not provided us with the weapons directly. The Iraqi military has them,” Muhand Murshad Drueesh Alwany, a Sunni militiaman in Ramadi who also fought alongside U.S. troops in Anbar in 2007, told IBT in February. The lack of direct weapon
shipments, the tribesmen said, prevented them from defeating the Islamic State group in major battles such as Tikrit and Ramadi.
U.S. policy in Iraq is to send arms directly to Baghdad and allow the Iraqi military to distribute them to different fighters across the country accordssingly. But tensions remain between the central govssernment and various relissgious and ethnic factions, including the Kurds and the Sunni tribes. Distribusstion has been slow as the Iraqi government works to recruit and train fighters before arming them. The U.S. has also been helping to train fighters with the aid of military advisers.
The first U.S. troops to enter the fight against ISIS militants arrived in November. President Barack Obama sent 1,400 of them to Anbar to help the Iraqi military plan the fight against the extremist group, which had already taken over more than 80
percent of the province. Hundreds of U.S. troops, stationed at Al Asad Airssbase, have been training Iraqi soldiers over the past year. At the same time, U.S. troops are trying to build up a Sunnisdomissnated national guard made of tribesmen; several hunssdred Sunni tribesmen have been trained alongside U.S. military advisers, and thousands of others by the Iraqi military.
Given the established relationship between the U.S. and Iraqi military in training fighters in Anbar, Kurdish lobbyists in Washssington face a difficult task. The U.S. is committed to maintaining its relationssship with Baghdad and overseeing the strengthenssing of the central governssment, especially after the downfall of Prime Minissster Nouri alsMaliki; any move to bypass Baghdad to assist the KRG would risk a deterioration of the U.S.sBaghdad relationssship.
Kurds turn to Washington lobbyists to convince Obama Administration to arm them directly, bypass Baghdad
The Kurdish Globe No. 512, Monday, November 02, 2015 4
Raid in Hawija aimed to free their fighters, Kurds say
U.S. and Kurdish Spesscial Forces who raided a compound in northern Iraq were acting on intelssligence that Kurdish fightssers were being imprisoned there by Islamic State, a source in the Kurdistan Region Security Council said on Friday.
Kurdish countersterrorssism forces planned and led the raid which rescued 69 people early on Thursday, supported by U.S. forces, Iraqi Kurdistan's U.S. repssresentative said. One U.S. commando was killed— the first American to die in ground combat with Issslamic State militants. Four Kurds were wounded.
Such rescue attempts are rare. The joint operation highlighted the status of Kurdish peshmerga fightssers as key allies of the U.S.sled coalition against the militants, also known as ISIL, who control large swathes of Iraq and neighssboring Syria.
"The intention was to rescue peshmerga taken hostage by ISIL," said the source in the Security Council of Kurdistan, a semisautonomous region of northern Iraq.
"We had solid intelssligence that peshmerga were being held in that compound," the source told Reuters.
The raid was led by forces from the DirectorssatesGeneral for Counterssterrorism of the Kurdistan
Region Security Council, said Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, Kurdistan's dipsslomatic representative in Washington D.C.
U.S. Special Forces commandos participated in the raid, Rahman said, and U.S. airstrikes and hesslicopter operations were launched as part of the opsseration.
"We share in American's grief for its fallen soldier, Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler," Rahman said.
According to Kurdish media, the raided facilssity was an estate or comsspound formerly owned by an Iraqi government judge.
U.S. Defense Secresstary Ash Carter said in a
news briefing on Friday that U.S. troops had not planned to enter the comsspound, and were there only to advise and assist the Kurdish fighters.
None of the captives freed by the raiders were peshmerga, suggesting that Kurdish prisoners may have been moved by militants to another losscation, a Kurdish source added.
The freed detainees were Arabs and included around 20 members of the Iraqi security forces. The others were local residents and Islamic State fighters that the group had accused of spying or treason, said U.S. and Kurdish offisscials.
The prisoners were about to be executed and dumped into four mass graves, the official said.
Islamic State militants attacked Kurdish positions on the frontline in Gwer, south of the region's capisstal, overnight on Friday, after the raid.
An Islamic State statessment circulated online by the group's supporters said "dozens" of peshmerga had been killed in the atsstack carried out by a suisscide bomber. But Qader Hassan, a peshmerga on the frontline, said only two people had been killed, and they belonged to an Iraqi army unit based there.
MISSING FIGHTERS
U.S. forces accompanied the peshmerga as advisssers in the Thursday's missssion but were drawn in to fighting as the Kurds began to incur casualties, said Colonel Steve Warssren, spokesman for the U.S.sled coalition, which has been bombing Islamic State militants for more than a year.
Some 62 peshmerga have gone missing in battle with the militants and several have been beheaded in Islamic State propaganda videos.
Islamic State holds hossstages in detention centers across the sprawling lands it controls. It also regularly
executes people it accuses of spying for the Iraqi state or foreign powers.
Iraqi government forces, Shi'ite militias and the Kurds are all fighting Issslamic State but coordinasstion can be difficult in a country deeply divided along sectarian and ethnic lines.
Iraq's Defence Ministry said earlier on Friday it was not informed about the raid, which took place just north of the Islamic Statescontrolled town of Hawija.
"We just heard this from the media, we didn't know about it," ministry spokesssman General Tahsin Ibrasshim Sadiq told Reuters. "It was just the peshmerga and the Americans, and the Ministry of Defence didn't have any idea about that."
The mission was the most significant raid against Issslamic State in months, and Warren said it had been ressquested by the Kurdistan Regional Government.
The Pentagon said it did not mark a change in U.S. tactics, and a CIA spokesssman declined to comment on the suggestion that the rescued hostages had conssnections to the U.S. govssernment.
U.S. officials denied the rescued hostages had any connection to the United States.
Kurdish Peshmerga comssmanders addressed a meeting of the European Union’s parliament in Strasbourg, France on Wednesday, and urged Europeans to provide Peshmerga with needed ammunition and weapons to fight the Islamic State.
“We are fighting [ISIS] on behalf of the internasstional community and civilization. We do not unssderstand why we are not getting enough ammunisstion,” Sirwan Barzani, the Peshmerga commander of the GwersMakhmur front, told the members of the European parliament.
The Peshmerga comssmanders told the EU MPs that ISIS’ use of chemical weapons presented a mass
jor challenge that required assistance. Despite ISIS’ threat of using chemical weapons, the Peshmerga have received only 1,000 gas masks, Barzani said.
“Many times Islamic State fighters have used chemical weapons against Peshmerga. We do not have anything for protecsstion for the Peshmerga," said General Sheikh Jaafar Mustafa, the commander of the Peshmerga’s 70th Brigade.
"ISIS fighters are smart about making weapons. Most of the Peshmerga killed died by roadside bombs and suicide atsstacks. We need antistank weapons to destroy suisscide attackers," Sheikh Jaafar added.
Khatun Ali, the comssmander of female Yezidi Peshmerga forces, also spoke during the meetssing. She asked for more ammunition and military
support to rescue Yezidi women in ISIS captivity.
Delawar Azhgayi, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) representative to the EU,
said on Tuesday that the Wednesday visit “comes within the framework of previous visits to Belssgium.”
“The European parliass
ment called on Peshmerga commanders on the batsstlefields to visit the parssliament of Europe so to hear their requirements,” he said.
Peshmerga commanders address EU parliament
The Kurdish Globe No. 512, Monday, November 02, 2015 5
Germany continues assistance to Kurdistan RegionPrime Minister Nechirvan Barzani last week received Germany’s Defense, Minssister Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen, and her acsscompanying military and political delegation.
In the meeting, attended also by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, Ms Leyen said the Peshssmerga forces’ capability has improved since her last visit. She said the progress and discipline Peshmerga forces have demonstrated in the trainssing courses are satisfacsstory, and have been efssfectively applied to defeat the myth of ISIS.
Ms Leyen expressed the
readiness of Germany to extend its assistance to the Kurdistan Region in other fields, particularly with assistance to the refugees and internally displaced people, who have fled terssrorism and sought refuge in the Region.
She said the Kurdistan Region’s internal issues are best resolved through dialogue and negotiations, but the priority now ressmains eradicating the terssrorist threat.
Prime Minister Barzani welcomed Ms Leyen’s visit, noting that Gerssmany has been assisting Kurdistan Region since the very beginning of the
ISIS threat. He highlightssed the training of Peshss
merga forces and praised the level of cooperation
with Germany’s military forces.
Regarding the Kurdistan Region’s internal issues, Prime Minister Barzani emphasized they had no effect on the morale of the Peshmerga forces on the frontline.
He said that Kurdistan Region welcomes all hussmanitarian assistance as it provides security and other basic assistance to an extraordinary number of refuge seekers while facing severe financial constraints.
The situation in neighssboring countries and resscent developments in the Middle East were also discussed.
Prime Minister Nechirssvan Barzani on Wednesssday received Mr. Brent McGurk, the new United States Special Presidensstial Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and his acsscompanying military and diplomatic delegation.
The battlefront situasstion and effectiveness of Peshmerga forces were discussed. Praising last week’s successful joint operation by Peshmerga and US forces in ISISscontrolled Hawija that liberated 69 prisoners, Mr. McGurk affirmed the United States continuing
military support. He notssed the operation showed Peshmerga forces prosstecting all Iraqi citizens without discrimination.
Mr. McGurk expressed his hope that political issssues, both within the Ressgion and with Baghdad, will be resolved through dialogue and negotiasstion.
Prime Minster Barzani congratulated Mr. McssGurk on his new position and expressed his appressciation for his visit, and for the United States’ assistance to Peshmerga forces. He offered his and the people of Kurdssistan Region’s condoss
lences for the American soldier who died in the Hawija operation.
Regarding internal posslitical difficulties and those with Baghdad, Prime Minister Barzani offered assurance the Kurdistan Regional Govssernment will do everyssthing to resolve issues through dialogue and nessgotiation.
Recent developments in Iraq in general and the Kurdistan Region in particular were also dissscussed along with ways to further strengthen bisslateral relations between the United States and the Kurdistan Region.
PM Barzani meets President Obama’s new Special Envoy for Global
Coalition to Counter ISIL
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barsszani received Germany’s new Consul General to Kurdistan Region, Marc Eichhorn on Sunday, Ocsstober 25th, 2015.
Mr. Eichhorn discussed the relations between Germany and Kurdistan Region, stressing that his country is committed to assist Kurdistan Region in all the fields, particusslarly in the war against the Islamic State terrorist organization, ISIS, where Peshmerga forces have been able to achieve sigssnificant victories against the terrorist organization, and protect the world from the terrorist threat.
This was the reason, he said, behind the rare desscision taken by German Government to send milss
itary assistance outside the country.
Regarding the economic field, Mr. Eichhorn consssidered that the Kurdissstan Region could become an appropriate place for investment in a near fussture. He stressed that the Consulate will inform German companies about Kurdistan Region investssment opportunities and encourage them to invest in the Region.
Prime Minister Barzani expressed his appreciasstion for Mr. Eichhorn’s visit, wishing him sucsscess in his new position.
Prime Minister Barsszani stressed on further strengthening of relations between Kurdistan Ressgion and Germany. He expressed his gratitude to the German Government
for its courageous decisssion of sending military assistance to Kurdistan Region, particularly some weapons that have shown great effectiveness in the fight against ISIS, that have shifted the balance of the war in favour of Peshmerga forces.
The situation in Kurdissstan Region and the relasstions between Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, and the Federal Government of Iraq were also discussed in the meeting.
In this regard, Prime Minister Barzani exsspressed his government's readiness to send a delssegation to Baghdad and discuss the possibilities of resolving the outstandssing issues.
Prime Minister Barzani receives Germany’s new Consul General
Salim Jumma Shabak, the representative of Shabak Kurds at the Iraqi National Assembly, said that the Shabak Kurds are leaving southern parts of Iraq due to mistreatment by Arab citizens and a lack of pubsslic services.
"The mistreatment and lack of services has urged us decide to leave and ressturn to our origin place,
which is Kurdistan Ressgion," said Shabak.
When asked why the Shassbak Kurds are mistreated, Shabak answered, "No wrong actions have been taken against Arab citizens in the areas. But the Arabs continue mistreating our people just because we are Kurds and speak in Kurdish language.”
According to Shabak,
over 8,000 Shabak Kurds returned to the Kurdistan Region but there are still 2,000 others living in the southern parts of Iraq. He said those living in the southern cities are looking for opportunities to return to Kurdistan region.
Shabak appreciated the Kurdistan Regional Govssernment (KRG) for hosting a large number of Shabak
refugees and providing them with necessary serssvices. It’s noteworthy that those returning to the Kurdistan region carry with them their furniture and household items, indicating they do not plan to return to southern areas of Iraq.
Shavbak further noted that 655 young men from the Shabak community have already joined the Peshss
merga and are now fighting Islamic State (ISIS) alongssside Kurdish forces on the Khazr frontline.
He also said that he has discussed the enlistment of 2,000 more Shabak volunssteers with Kurdistan Ressgional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.
“We need to organize the Shabak volunteer Peshmerss
ga within a special brigade as the number is growing fast,” the MP added.
Shabak minorities live mostly in the northern Iraqi province of Nineveh, overssrun by IS militants in mids2014. More than 75% of Shabaks are Shi’ite Mussslims and the rest are Sunssnis.
Shabak Kurds Increasingly Moving Towards Kurdistan
The Kurdish Globe No. 512, Monday, November 02, 2015 6
Two tribe heads burned by ISIS in Mosul
A security source told the Kurdish Globe that the Islamic State (ISIS) terssrorists killed two tribe heads in Musol. They were put inside a cage and burnt alive. The killed persons were accused they cooperated the security agencies.
Six other policemen were also killed by ISIS for the same accusation. Killssing people in brutal ways is increasssing by ISIS. Sometimes ISIS kill own members due to violating their rules
ISIS kills 30 people including officers and
women in Mosul A local source in Nineveh revealed
on Wednesday, that the ISIS has bessheaded 30 people, including officers and women, in central Mosul.
The source said in an interview IraqiNews.com, “ISIS beheaded, this evening, 30 people, including army officers and seven women,” adding that “the execution took place in alsGhabat area in downtown Mosul.”
Nineveh judge issued a sentence against them on charges of treason and assisting the government with inssformation.
Iraqi MPs seek to withdraw support
for AbadiMore than 60 members of Iraq's rulss
ing coalition will seek to withdraw parliamentary support for Prime Minssister Haider alsAbadi's reforms if he does not respond within 72 hours to their demands for wider consultation, parliamentarians said.
Growing political tensions could unssdermine efforts to tackle an economic crisis and form a united front in the war against Islamic State militants, who pose the biggest security threat to Iraq since the U.S.sled invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.
Members of the State of Law cossalition delivered a letter to Abadi on Tuesday urging him to consult more widely before ordering reforms.
Khurmatu Mayor: Shiite Militia must leave the city
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has deployed 5,000 Peshmerssga near Khurmatu, but the Shi’ite misslitias remain in charge inside the city.The Mayor of Khurmatu has warned about abuses committed by Shiite militias of Hashid alsShaabi in their area.Shalal Abdul Ahmed said the Shi’ite militias kidnap Sunni Arab residents of the town in northern Salahaddin province and later execute them."If the Shiite militias refuse to get out of the city, Peshmerga will use force to kick them out. They must leave the city." He warned
NEWS BAR
By J. Watt
America Standing By Kurdistan
What does the Kurdish economy need for a big turn around?
It is overly simple to deal with the symptoms of the ailments that the Kurdish economy is suffering from, but what is the root cause that needs to be addressed? To anssswer this question one must go delve into the heart of the matter.
I believe the lack of a proper educational system has prossduced a weak and nonspross
ductive economy. This has directly affected the Kurdish human resources pool availssable. Coupled with this is a weak working culture and work ethic in Kurdistan—the results of said incomplete edssucation system that lacks emssphasis in work productivity.
For example, look at the exssamples of South Korea and other Asian Tiger economies. These economies reached roaring success in a short pessriod of time by turning their
national focus towards imssproving its most important resource—people.
South Koreans are obsessed with providing the best edusscation possible for their children. This is because it's primarily through educasstion that they can have high living standards and earn a solid income regardless of their background. This strong study and work culture has propelled South Korea to the forefront of the global marss
ket. This economic miracle was produced by focusing on the roots rather than the symptoms.
A big change is needed in Kurdistan in order for its economy to grow. We need to improve the quality of edusscation that is provided to the future generation so that tossday's students might become tomorrow's productive labour force.
What will make the Kurdish economy grow
By Swara Kadir
I just moved from a rather homogenous Kurdish area in Kurdistan to a rather ethnicalssly mixed area of a large city. I was told several times by losscal friends that I wouldn’t like being around such a variety of ethnic groups who supposedly couldn’t be trusted, yet I have found such joy and learned so much from interacting with people from various backssgrounds, religions, and parts of the region.
From a political and ecossnomic standpoint, diversity is incredibly important in the growth of a nation. As an American, it’s in our DNA to treasure diversity; our nation
is built on it. Most Amerisscans have mixed blood from ancestors who came from all over to start a new life. This diversity of thought, customs, and cultures have been intessgral in developing the United States into an innovative and creative nation that promotes equal rights (though we have a long way to go). At the same time, economists agree that immigration and asylum seekssers help boost local economies by providing work forces that fill gaps.
In an emotional way, diversssity is also good for the soul. Today I interacted with Kurds from Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Yess
zidis, and Christians. It’s so helpful for me to get out of my narrowsminded, littlesthinkssing and to see other people who see the world differently than me and often even have better perspectives or ways of doing things. I can’t tell you the number of times I haven’t had a clue how to figure out a household problem and needssed a soscalled uneducated worker to bail me out and fix my issue in a way better than I ever could have.
Further, (whatever your faith) embracing and celebratssing ethnic diversity is imporsstant if we seek to truly know and understand God and his
plan for the world. Living in a land of various languages has been so insightful as a spiritual person who is used to a linguistically anemic life in smallstown America where we speak one language and act similar to one another. Whatever one’s religion, we learn so much about the Cressator who made languages and cultures.
Press into the advantages of the diversity that have come to Kurdistan in this season. Trust people and get to know them. It will make for a richer cultural, economic, and spirisstual experience for us all.
In today’s world, advisors and consultation play an imporsstant role in achieving plans. Unfortunately, some authorissties in our country provide misguided deliberations that consequently do not only lead to the plan’s failure, but result in instability that is no favor to the people and the country.
For example, Gorran and its consultants, made the misssguided and the farsfromsrealssity discourse in which they expressed wishes instead of fact and had led their officials to believe:
First, the KDP is in an apsspalling situation and it’s a good opportunity to overssthrow it, and:
a. KDP is to blame on the financial crisis and salary payssment delays.
b. KDP’s relation is deteriossrated with Baghdad.
c. KDP’s relation is deteriossrated with Iran.
d. KDP’s relation in deterioss
rated with PKK.e. KDP’s relation is detess
riorated with PUK , Islamic Union and Islamic Group.
f. Turkey is a deteriorating situation and is obsessed with internal crisis and would not step in to help KDP
g. KDP has two different opinions that are even longer than wings…
These and many others were the consultants’ wishes inssstead of reality.
Second: They misinterpretssed the four parties’ meeting, which was about a certain issue, and thought that they could lead the other three parssties, without taking into acsscount where the other parties were at in their analysis of the situation.
They misled their leaders on what other parties would do, assuming the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan would approve whatever Gorran intended to do— forgetting that the PUK
has considerable experience with the KDP thanks to Mr. Jalal Talabani. They didn’t bet on the PUK behaving resssponsibly not to get involved in a game one loses from the beginning.
These consultants and dissscussions put the future of KRG and the unity of Kurdssish people – while waging war against ISISs under threat.
Third: Some of the consulsstants gambled and tried evokssing the feeling of Suleimani’s people by saying that there was a chance for the city to become the capital of Kurdissstan Region but that the KDP’s hate of Suleiman stopped it from happening.
The people of Suleiman, Bitwen, Pishtdar, Garmiyan, Sharazoor, and Sharbazher should hold these advisors acsscountable for defamation and considering people ignorant.
On February 17th2011, some were killed and injured but
they weren’t told anything. They thought no one would ever say anything and they could ride their horse forward as they wanted. They’ve forssgotten that people of that city see through the situation and laugh at the consultants who have made Soslof’s of themssselves.
A university instructor from the city told me: “I promise if KDP reverses its decision about Gorran, I will write the worst of my words on KDP, because Gorran hasn’t allowed space for stability for the peossple of Suleimani with the turssmoil they threw the city into.” Be sure, teacher, that KDP’s decision was for reducing the noise and pressure of Gorran, was for the people’s benefit in general, and especially in the Suleimani Province. Soslof’s future wasn’t so bright thanks to those consultants who made so many consultations for him.
By Mahmud Muhammad
Misguided Consultation!
The Kurdish Globe No. 512, Monday, November 02, 2015 7
Sports NewsChicharito scores in fourth
consecutive match
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez continued his run of good form on Saturday, as he scored for a fourth consecutive match in Bayer Leverkusen's 2s1 loss at Wolfsburg. Leverkusen was down 1s0 in the 40th minssute when Christoph Kramer got past two men on the right side and lifted an inviting cross, which Hernandez stooped down to head home from six yards out. Hernandez has now scored six goals in his last four games for Leverkusen, with eight total on the season in 12 appearances. The Mexisscan striker will look to keep his run going on Wednesday in the Champions League against Roma.
Mourinho refuses to talk Chelsea future
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho refused to discuss his future after the defending chamsspion slumped to its sixth Premier League defeat of the season, going down 3s1 to Livsserpool.
The Portuguese came into the match unssder pressure after a poor start to the season but saw his side take the lead at Stamford Bridge after Ramires opened the scoring.
"I have nothing to say. Nothing to say. Nothing to say," he told BT Sport after being asked his views on the match. "I'm so sorry I have nothing to say."
Barcelona remain atop Luis Suarez and Neymar each scored to help Barcelona remain atop the table in La Liga after dispatching Getafe 2s0 at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Saturday.Suarez fired the Catalans in front eight minssutes before the break, collecting a fine Serssgio Roberto backsheeled pass before slotting into onrushing Getafe goalkeeper Vicente Guaita's near post.Neymar spectacularly made his mark in the 58th minute, firststime volleying a perfectlysweighted Roberto long ball past a helpless Guiata with his left foot.
Messi learning English for possssible Premier League move
Here's a good one to keep the Lionel Messi to the Premier League rumor mill ticking over. TalkSport quotes Sky Sports' pundit Guillem Balague as saying the Argentine is learning English in preparation for a possssible move to England one day.
Balague goes on to say Messi has heard from former teammate Cesc Fabregas, now with Chelsea, and countryman Sergio Aguero at Manchester City, that England is a great place to live and play
In a statement released by Kurdistan Regional Governssment official website, KRG expressed its happy feeling over the Texas District Court dismissal of Ministry of Oil’s lawsuit against KRG.
"The Kurdistan Regionssal Government (KRG) is pleased that the United States district court in Texas has dismissed the groundssless lawsuit filed by the Iraqi Ministry of Oil," read the statement
A U.S. judge has dismissed a lawsuit over a disputed cargo of Iraqi Kurdish crude oil that showed up last year off the shore of Texas, prompting months of legal wrangling as Iraq sought to block the Kurdistan Regionssal Government (KRG) from directly exporting oil.
The case was dismissed on Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge Gray Miller besscause the vessel carrying the crude sailed away after the
U.S. buyer balked at taking delivery because of the lessgal fight. In the eyes of the court, without a cargo there could be no dispute and the case was moot.
The end of the lawsuit means U.S. courts have yet to rule decisively on the fundamental question of whether the KRG has the right to export oil from its lands without permission from Baghdad. Washington has struggled to mediate the
conflict.KRG believes there ress
mains no legal obstacle in the United States or elsesswhere to the KRG’s exercise of its right under the Iraqi Constitution to market and sell oil around the world.
A previous finding from the judge, which still stands, says his court can hear ownssership disputes between the two sides. That ruling could be applied in other U.S. dissstrict courts.
KRG says it can export oil independently and legally
A former member of the Kurdistan Islamic Union, KIU, argues that the political situation in Kurdistan Region is not stable and that the curssrent issues among the politisscal parties all started from the parliament.
Dr. Dindar Najman Doski, former KIU politbureau memssber, further says the parliassment has been paralyzed, govssernment is a mess and Gorran argue that they haven’t withssdrawn from the government and they want to stay.
“Gorran used to be the opssposition for four year, so if they become opposition again they cannot do anything,” exssplains Doski. “People are fed up with reform and antiscorss
ruption war; they want to do something that reform is done inside the government practisscally.”
Doski further explains that government is now facing a financial crisis, and during crisis one cannot do anything. Opposition wouldn’t be able to do anything. Gorran, acsscording to this politician, is currently using opposition tone and even if they become opposition in practice they cannot do anything more, and they don’t have more cards.
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), on the other hands, according to Doski, is deterssmined that Gorran should be out of the government as they claim to have proofs that Gorss
ran was involved in burning KDP offices.
“Now, the position of PUK [Patriotic Union of Kurdissstan], and the other parties, is not clear in this situation, and the Gorran ministers, espesscially Finance Minister did not have any problem with the Prime Minister and had reform projects; and the PM has welcomed his project; but they became the victim of a political conflict.
A member of the Kurdistan Parliament on the KDP Bloc argues that they have proofs that Gorran activists, memssbers and supporters were involved in attacks on KDP offices in Suleimaniya, Garmssian and Raparin areas and in
addition to KDP members and supporters, other residents of these areas are concerned about Gorran’s behaviors.
MP Siraj Ahmed says a team of KDP MPs visited these areas, did investigations and prepared a report for the Parssliament, which includes some data, information and docussments that show Gorran’s involvement in the riots and attacks on the KDP offices.
Based on the findings of our investigations, we will presspare a report and submit to international diplomatic repssresentations in Kurdistan ressgion, political parties and the public.”
Former KIU member: No more cards in Gorran’s handsPUK and other parties don’t have a clear stand
As the political crisis continssues in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the main parties are still struggling to find a solution to their quarrels.
A source form the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) stated that the majority of their senior officials believe that the PUK may step into Gorran (Change Movement) positions in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Parliament through a fresh agreement with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
The source explained that some other PUK officials insist that the party must be
granted the position of Prime Minister if the KDP wants them to extend Massoud Barsszani’s presidency term.
According to analysts, the PUK is attempting to renew its previous strategic agreessment with the KDP in order to secure its position before the next elections, so they can enjoy sharing power with the KDP even if the polls fail to meet the PUK’s expectations.
However, the source said, Gorran officials are also dissvided into three different camps: one believes they should stop jeopardizing the party’s interests, while anothss
er insists on continuing taking risks to retain their popularity. The third direction, led by the party’s General Coordinator Nawshirwan Mustafa, thinks that Gorran cannot make any changes without the PUK.
Reports suggest that Mustafa recently called his colleagues from abroad, encouraging them to approach the PUK in order to end the current crisis and maintain their position.
Gorran Member of the Kurdistan Region Parliament, Bestoun Fayq, told a local Kurdish news website that they do not regret the posisstion they have taken against
the KDP. “And it is absolutely normal to find different opinssions among other Gorran ofssficials,” the MP said.
Member of the KDP Leadssership Council Ali Awni strongly criticized Gorran for “acting like opposition while enjoying participation in the government.” He revealed that the KDP won’t treat the Gorran as before until the parssty reconsiders its policies.
However, Senior PUK ofssficial Shalaw Ali Askari said that his party won’t retreat from the current government as the PUK follows indepenssdent policies.
Gorran seeks solution to political crisis via PUKPUK to renew strategic accord with KDP to secure its position
A district mayor from the eastern Van province was removed from her post on charges of declaring selfsrule.
Diba Keskin, a member of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and cosmayor in Van's Erciş district, was arrested afsster she allegedly made a call for 'autonomy' in the district through a press statement on October 14.
The district prosecutor's ofssfice launched an investigation into the incident and Keskin was accused of "performing acts aimed at undermining the state's independence and unity".
Previously, prosecutors in the province of Mardin demanded life sentences for eight people including s cosmayor of the Nusaybin district Sara Kaya
s who were all accused of dessclaring selfsrule late August. Selfsgoverning areas were also declared in Nusaybin as well as towns across Sirnak, Hakkari and Mus provinces.
On Aug. 12, Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) issued a call to "people's assemblies" in parts of Turkey's southeast to declare selfsgovernance, saying the assemblies "would
not recognize state institutes and would form their own selfsgovernance".
On Aug. 19, seven people, including Sur CosMayor Seyid Narin, and Silvan CosMayor Yuksel Bodakci were detained over "autonomy" claims and then two cosmayssors were removed from their posts over the indictments.
HDP District Mayor Removed from Post
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Kurdistan has produced four new postage The Ministry of Transss
port and Communication of the KRG has pubsslished four new postage stamps. The publishing happened after the interssnational postage union announced it would not work with the region’s stamps. Yet the regional heads of post said exsschange of post with the region is in fact working and Erbil is known to be a center for international exchange of post.
The Directory of Posts and Communication that is part of the Ministry of Transport and Communisscation has published four new stamps this year, while continuing usage of the old stamps. The new
stamps were published at the high quality Green Gallery in Lebanon.
The four symbols on the postage stamps are envissronment day in Kurdssistan, a partridge bird, the Alwand Bridge, and a statue for the Ezidi’s genocide.
Omid Mohammad, the Director of Postage in the region, told “Hewssler” that in each year’s new stamps, which meet international standards, special work is done both within and outside the ressgion.
All this has been hapsspening while the Kurdssistan region has gone through unique situations in regard to finances and
security. However, as Mr. Mohammad mensstioned, the public’s trust towards postage in the region has increased and people continue to work with post.
Moreover, Taha Mussstafa, Director of Postage of Erbil, told “Hewler” that every post sent from the Kurdistan region (usssing KRG stamps) has not faced any problem. He commented that while most international posts are exchanged through
Baghdad, Erbil does in fact have its own indesspendent international center.
According to Mr. Mussstafa, up to now 170,000 stamps in the Kurdistan region have been pubsslished, many still workssing, while some have been archived for differssent purposes. According to Mr. Mustafa, from 1991 to 2007, the postage situation was quite low, however, it has steadily improved and increasss
ingly people are using international postage.
After the uprising of 1991 and the establishssment of the Kurdistan Region Government, the Ministry of Transport and Communication first began publishing stamps for the region’s posts.
The Kurdish Globe.By: N. M. Mohamad
The film ‘Mardan’ directed by ‘Bateen Qubadi’ was showcased in ‘World’s Cinema’ part of 38th Interssnational Film Festival of ‘Mill Valley’ in America. ‘Mardan’ is considered as the first production of the Kurdish filmmaker ‘Bateen Qubadi’ was showed in 87th round of Oscar Acadssemy Prizes in 2015 as the selected film of Iraq, and was showed in two differssent chances on 13th and 15th of October 2015 in ‘World’s Cinema’ section representing Kurdistan Ress
gion in the 38th round of International Film Festival of Mill Valley in Rafael, California in USA. The festival was founded in 1977 by instate of Film in California, aiming to support the independent and young filmmakers and their productions, and is one of the prominent events of American cinssema in which new films from around the world are showed every years. 38th International Film Festival of Mill Valley took place with the showss
case of over 200 films by filmmakers from over 50 countries around the world in various parts, including:
‘World’s Cinema, Amerisscan Cinema, Documentassry, Children Film Festival, Short Film and Active Cinss
ema’ that took place from 8 to 18 October 2015 in Rafael, California, United States of America.
In its latest international participation, ‘Mardan’ had been showed on September 25th 2015 in competition part of Second Silk Road International Film Festival in Fuzhou, China, attended by the director ‘Bateen Qubadi’. The event took place with participation of a group of filmmakers from around the world in two competisstion sections from 22 to 25th of September 2015 in Fuzhou, China.
By H.G. Hassan
‘Mardan’ Showcased in American International Film Festival