President Masoud Barzani affirmed today that wisdom and rational decision-making prevented a humanitarian catastrophe and ethnic strife in “Rojava” (Western Kurdistan), stressing that the historic stance of the Kurds has always been—and will remain—against oppression and oppressors, not against peoples.
This came during a speech he delivered at the Mesopotamia Medical Conference in the capital, Erbil, where President Barzani addressed a number of sensitive political and humanitarian issues related to Kurdish and regional affairs, according to Kurdistan 24.
Speaking about the recent crisis in Western Kurdistan, President Barzani revealed the deep concerns he had prior to the past phase, saying: “My greatest fear was that the region would slide into a Kurdish–Arab war, which would have constituted a major catastrophe by all standards.”
He added: “History bears witness that the Kurds have never been the initiators of war, and our guidance has always emphasized that our struggle is only against oppression.” He described overcoming that critical phase as “God averted what could have been far worse,” noting that making decisions in such circumstances requires prioritizing reason over emotion.
President Barzani explained the difference between the earlier intervention of the Peshmerga forces in Kobani and the current situation, clarifying that sending the Peshmerga to Kobani was a necessity to fight ISIS side by side with their brothers. In the recent crisis, however, “the circumstances were different, and the primary and urgent objective was to extinguish the flames of war and prevent its expansion.”
The President expressed hope that the agreement reached between the parties in Rojava and the Syrian government would continue, affirming that the Kurdistan Region exerted every possible effort to ensure the conflict did not spread, ultimately aiming to achieve a prosperous and stable life for the people there.
President Barzani described the “national sentiment and thought” demonstrated by the Kurds in the four parts of Kurdistan and in the diaspora as “the greatest victory,” emphasizing that this unity is the true source of strength.
He also extended special thanks to the people of Kurdistan for their enthusiasm and readiness to volunteer, praising the significant humanitarian role played by the Barzani Charity Foundation and the Ministry of Health of the Kurdistan Regional Government for the valuable services and medical and humanitarian relief they provided to those in need in Western Kurdistan.
In a clear political message, President Barzani said: “We must not think of war as an option; at the same time, we cannot accept injustice from any party whatsoever.”
Regarding the situation in Northern Kurdistan—Turkey, President Masoud Barzani renewed his support for the peace process in Turkey, stating: “We have supported the peace process since its first day, and we continue to support it. We hope it will lead to positive results that serve the interests and well-being of all.”
Read the Arabic version: Click here
