Masrour Barzani’s Speech at MEPS 2025
ARK News.. Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani delivered the following welcoming address on Tuesday, 18 November 2025, at the opening of the Middle East Peace and Security Forum (MEPS 2025). He expressed hope that the outcomes and recommendations of the conference would not remain confined to dialogue but would form a foundation for practical steps, saying: “We hope that once this conference concludes, the recommendations produced here will be presented to those in positions of authority so they may benefit from them.”
Below is the full text of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s speech at MEPS 2025:
In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful,
Your Excellency President Barzani;
Mr. Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Iraq;
Mr. Fayiq Zaidan, President of the Supreme Judicial Council;
Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region;
Honorable Deputy Speakers of the Council of Representatives;
Mr. Mustafa al-Kazhimi, former Prime Minister of Iraq;
Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu, former Prime Minister of Turkey;
Dr. Busher al-Khasawineh, former Prime Minister of Jordan;
Distinguished party leaders and political representatives;
Members of the diplomatic community;
Academics;
Dear students;
Dr. Mohammed Hassan, representative of the United Nations;
Esteemed guests, brothers and sisters:
Welcome to all of you, and welcome to the Middle East Peace and Security Forum — MEPS.
This forum is being held for the sixth consecutive year to discuss and address the challenges and issues facing our region. There is no doubt that your participation will enrich the forum and contribute to its success. I hope you enjoy your time here, and I extend my gratitude to the organizers of the forum, wishing them continued success.
We hope that once the forum concludes, the recommendations formulated here to address the existing problems and challenges in the Middle East will be presented to the authorities and decision-makers so they may benefit from them.
It is also appropriate to congratulate everyone on the successful Iraqi elections, which constituted a major victory for the Iraqi people. I wish the winning parties — and all Iraqis — success and prosperity.
And finally, I would like to ask all participants to support Zakho FC, which has been nominated by FIFA for the Best Fan Award. I hope you will all support Zakho FC and contribute to advancing sports in the clubs of Kurdistan and Iraq.
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Since Early 2025: More Than 600 People Killed in Homs and Hama
ARK News.. A Syrian human rights source reported a sharp rise in targeted killings and retaliatory assassinations across Syria, with more than 600 victims recorded in just two provinces.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 614 people — including men, women, and children — have been documented as killed since the beginning of 2025 in the provinces of Homs and Hama.
The documented cases are distributed as follows:
Homs: 373 victims
• 342 men
• 21 women
• 10 children
• 238 cases linked to sectarian affiliation
Hama: 241 victims
• 230 men
• 7 women
• 4 children
• 149 cases linked to sectarian affiliation
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Masrour Barzani: Kurdistan Region Supports Strengthening Relations with South Korea
ARK News.. Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani received Lee Jong-il, the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Iraq, on Monday, 17 November 2025.
At the outset of the meeting, the Prime Minister congratulated the ambassador on assuming his post, highlighting the strong friendship and deep ties between the Kurdistan Region and the Republic of Korea. He affirmed the Kurdistan Regional Government’s full support for elevating and expanding bilateral relations.
For his part, the South Korean ambassador praised the progress and prosperity witnessed across the Kurdistan Region, expressing his country’s desire to enhance cooperation with the Region in various sectors.
The ambassador also congratulated the Prime Minister on the successful federal parliamentary elections and commended the achievements and reforms undertaken by the Kurdistan Regional Government to build a robust economic infrastructure.
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President Barzani: KDP Achieved Remarkable Success Thanks to the Trust of the People of Kurdistan
ARK News.. President Masoud Barzani received Irfan Siddiq, the British Ambassador to Iraq, on Sunday, 16 November 2025, in Pirmam.
The British Ambassador congratulated President Barzani on the successful Iraqi parliamentary elections and the significant victory of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which secured over one million votes. He expressed hope that the post-election political process in Iraq proceeds on the right track toward forming an inclusive federal government.
President Barzani thanked the ambassador and noted that, despite the obstacles placed before the KDP, the party achieved notable success thanks to the strong confidence of the people of Kurdistan. He described the post-election phase as critical and stressed the need for all political parties to work seriously together to correct the course of governance in Iraq, uphold the constitution, and learn from past mistakes.
President Barzani affirmed that for the KDP and the Kurdistan Region, constitutional implementation will be the central foundation of negotiations to form the next Iraqi government. He emphasized that the party has no veto against any individual or party, provided that all believe in federalism as a comprehensive constitutional system and commit to implementing all constitutional articles—particularly long-delayed laws such as the Federal Council Law and the Oil and Gas Law.
“Anyone who is committed to implementing the constitution will be closest to us and to the Kurdistan Region,” he said.
Regarding internal Kurdistan affairs, President Barzani explained that prior to the elections, the KDP showed significant flexibility. However, the circumstances before the elections may not necessarily remain the same afterward, making open dialogue essential to resolving differences. He stressed that Kurdish unity in Baghdad must be based on shared convictions regarding the Kurdistan Region’s strategic issues, federalism, and Baghdad’s full adherence to the constitution.
Relations between the United Kingdom and both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq also formed an important part of the meeting, with both sides agreeing on the need to continue strengthening bilateral ties in all fields.
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The Guardian: U.S. Plans to Split Gaza into Two Zones
ARK News.. A British newspaper has revealed that the U.S. military is planning to divide the Gaza Strip into two separate zones, with the deployment of foreign forces inside the enclave.
According to The Guardian, the United States intends to divide Gaza into a “red zone” and a “green zone,” which would be secured by international and Israeli forces. The report added that foreign troops would initially be stationed alongside Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza.
On Friday, November 14, 2025, the United States—along with several Arab and Muslim countries—called on the UN Security Council to “swiftly” adopt a U.S.-drafted resolution supporting the peace plan proposed by President Donald Trump for Gaza.
In a joint statement, the United States, Qatar, Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan, and Turkey expressed their “collective support” for the draft resolution, which includes authorization for the creation of an international stabilization force. They voiced hope that the Security Council would approve it “as soon as possible.”
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With European Support, "Syrian Civil Society Dialogue Day" Kicks Off in Damascus
ARK News.. For the first time inside Syria since its launch nine years ago in Brussels, the “Syrian Civil Society Dialogue Day” began at the Conference Palace in Damascus, in cooperation between the Syrian government and the European Union.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani said in his opening remarks that the event marks the starting point of a “strong and renewed” partnership between the state and civil society, emphasizing the pivotal role of Syria’s partners in the European Union.
The Syrian foreign minister added that civil society is not a new phenomenon, but rather an extension of unions and grassroots initiatives that endured through the most difficult circumstances.
In the first European comment from inside Damascus, Michael Unmacht, Chargé d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to Syria, said on the platform X that he looks forward to hearing the concerns, priorities, and hopes of the Syrian civil society representatives participating in the event.
Meanwhile, from Brussels, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas stated that the event reflects the EU’s commitment to supporting the Syrian people in rebuilding their country after decades of dictatorship, confirming the allocation of €2.5 billion to support reconstruction efforts.
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UK Reaffirms Support for an Inclusive and Representative Political Transition in Syria
ARK News.. The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its support for an inclusive and representative political transition in Syria, emphasizing continued political engagement with Damascus following the visit made by Hamish Falconer and the British Foreign Secretary to Syria.
Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer stated that the UK “steadfastly supports the Syrian people,” adding that his discussions with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani focused on strengthening Syrian–British relations and the importance of achieving a political transition that is representative and inclusive of all.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) also noted on the platform X that political engagement with Damascus continues, following the visit made by Falconer and the British Foreign Secretary to Syria last August.
Meanwhile, the UK’s Special Envoy for Syria, Ann Snow, stated that Britain sees the current stage as “an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations in a way that serves stability.”
Ann Snow added that London remains committed to supporting “an inclusive political process that allows all Syrians to be represented.”
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Israel Alarmed by Trump’s Pressure to Withdraw from Mount Hermon
ARK News.. An Israeli newspaper has reported growing concern within Israel that U.S. President Donald Trump may push Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to an Israeli withdrawal from Mount Hermon, following Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s historic visit to the White House.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth on Friday, November 14, 2025, Israeli bulldozers have been advancing toward the summit of Mount Hermon inside Syrian territory, at an altitude of around 2,800 meters, where fortification and renovation work is underway ahead of the coming winter.
Despite this activity, the paper noted that Israeli leaders do not view the current winter as the army’s last on Mount Hermon. However, Washington and Damascus may be calculating differently after the recent meeting between Sharaa and Trump.
The report added that “quiet contacts” between associates of Prime Minister Netanyahu and envoys of the Syrian government “have not made any progress so far.”
The newspaper explained that the goal is to formulate a new ceasefire agreement to replace the security arrangements that had been in place from 1974 until the collapse of the Assad regime last year.
Israeli security officials, the paper said, have warned Netanyahu against relinquishing the summit of Mount Hermon, describing it as a strategic vantage point that enables wide surveillance over the occupied Golan Heights and alleged “weapons smuggling routes” from Syria to Lebanon.
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President Barzani Congratulates the 241st Anniversary of the Founding of Sulaymaniyah
ARK News.. President Masoud Barzani on Friday, November 14, 2025, extended his heartfelt congratulations to the people of Sulaymaniyah on the 241st anniversary of the founding of their city, wishing them peace, prosperity, and continued advancement.
Text of the message:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
On the 241st anniversary of the founding of Sulaymaniyah, I extend my warmest congratulations to the dear people of the city— the city of the immortal Sheikh and the city of struggle and sacrifice. Sulaymaniyah is a cherished part of Kurdistan, the city of the martyrs of June 9, the city of the 1963 curfew, and the city that has always stood up to oppressors, tyrants, and successive regimes.
Like every other city and region of Kurdistan, Sulaymaniyah has long been a home to Kurdish writers, poets, intellectuals, activists, and revolutionaries. It has played a major role in the Kurdish liberation movement. In the early 1940s, the city— in all its diversity— graciously welcomed the immortal Barzani and the exiled Barzanis, a gesture of hospitality and solidarity that will never be forgotten.
On this anniversary, I wish peace and prosperity to the honorable people of Sulaymaniyah. They deserve all forms of progress and leadership.
Masoud Barzani
November 14, 2025
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U.S. Envoy: Framework Set for Upcoming U.S.–Turkey–Syria Cooperation Phase
ARK News.. The U.S. Special Envoy to Syria stated that the historic visit of Syrian President Ahmed Al-Shar’a to Washington this week marks a major turning point in the strategic partnership and bilateral relations between the two countries, emphasizing that lifting the Caesar Act will be a key step toward Syria’s recovery.
In a post published on Thursday, November 13, 2025, on the platform X, Special Envoy Thomas Barrack described the week as “a decisive turning point in the modern history of the Middle East, and in Syria’s profound shift from isolation to partnership.” He added that he had the honor of accompanying President Al-Shar’a to the White House, becoming the first Syrian president to visit the United States since the country’s independence in 1946.
Barrack noted that President Donald Trump previously announced on May 13 his intention to lift all U.S. sanctions to give Syria a new opportunity.
According to Barrack, the meeting between Presidents Trump and Al-Shar’a this week was characterized by cordiality and clarity, reflecting a shared conviction that it is time to move from estrangement to engagement and to offer the Syrian people a genuine opportunity for renewal.
The envoy said the Oval Office discussions highlighted President Al-Shar’a’s commitment to joining the international coalition against ISIS—an important shift that repositions Syria from a source of threat to an active partner in counterterrorism. He emphasized that Syria has pledged to contribute to reconstruction efforts and to support stability across the region.
Barrack added that Damascus will take an active role in confronting the remnants of ISIS, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other “terrorist networks,” positioning Syria as a central partner in international peace and security efforts.
Barrack revealed that a follow-up trilateral session brought together U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Sheibani, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The meeting mapped out the next phase of U.S.–Turkey–Syria cooperation, including:
Integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces into Syria’s new economic, defense, and civil structures
Redefining Turkish–Syrian–Israeli relations
Strengthening understandings supporting the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas
Addressing outstanding issues related to the Lebanese border
He stated that the Trump administration is laying the foundations for a reorganization based on a “security-first” approach, and that the next step in “giving Syria a real chance” is the full repeal of the Caesar Act.
Barrack urged the U.S. Congress to take this historic step, noting that substantial progress has already been made, but that the current phase requires a final decisive push to enable Syria’s new government to revive its economy and to support prosperity for the Syrian people and the region.
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