President Barzani: The Only Path to Kurdish Success Is Unity Among Kurds

Welat TV – Erbil

During the opening ceremony of the 17th Erbil International Book Fair on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, President Masoud Barzani reaffirmed his call for all winning parties in the recent elections to open a new chapter and work together to form the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) based on electoral entitlement. He emphasized the urgency of forming the government as soon as possible.

Below are excerpts from President Barzani’s speech:

“In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Distinguished guests, dear attendees—welcome to you all. We are truly pleased to have you here and hope you enjoy your time in Erbil. Thank you sincerely for coming.

Once again, we witness the opening of the Erbil International Book Fair in our capital, Kurdistan’s heart, now in its 17th edition—an annual tradition that brings us joy. I extend my gratitude to Mr. Fakhri Karim, the al-Mada Foundation, and all those who worked tirelessly to make this event a success.

Year after year, the book fair continues to grow and improve. We hope this progress continues, and that we always gather here in good health.

Regardless of technological advancement, the famous words of the great Arab poet al-Mutanabbi still ring true: 'The best companion in time is a book.' The value and importance of books are eternal.

This is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the culture we proudly uphold—one of coexistence, acceptance, and freedom of belief and expression. These are non-negotiable principles.

Regarding internal affairs, the Kurdistan Region is not isolated from broader regional dynamics. Last October, we successfully held regional parliamentary elections—despite doubts and speculation that the process would either be delayed or face significant challenges. According to the United Nations and other monitoring organizations, the elections were free and fair. While no election is without flaws, these were markedly better than previous ones.

Now, we must move forward with forming a government—together, with all parties according to their electoral share. Kurdistan belongs to everyone. We are brothers and one family. It is wrong to exclude others. A strong opposition is welcome, but it should be constructive and aimed at improving governance and parliamentary performance. Let us turn a new page.

I call on all parties to participate. However, the main responsibility lies with the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, who have already made progress. Still, more must be done—and urgently—especially given the mounting crises regionally and globally.

The only condition for Kurdish success is unity among Kurds. We will do everything in our power to achieve this, and we urge the KDP and PUK to expedite the formation of the regional government.

As for relations between Erbil and Baghdad, while some issues have been addressed, many still remain. Since the fall of the Baath regime in 2003, Iraq was supposed to be built on three fundamental principles: partnership, balance, and consensus. Unfortunately, these principles have not been honored.

In 2005, Iraq's constitution—shaped with significant Kurdish involvement—was ratified with 85% voter approval. Had it been properly implemented, many of the current issues between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region would not have arisen.

The key solution now is to return to those founding principles and fully uphold the constitution. We are ready to do our part, and all political forces in both Erbil and Baghdad must have the courage to acknowledge past mistakes and open a new chapter. Iraq must be spared further crises, especially as we observe escalating conflicts and looming dangers in the region.

We hope the wars end soon, and the suffering of people in Palestine, Lebanon, and elsewhere comes to an end. Above all, we urge the leadership in Baghdad to do everything possible to prevent Iraq from becoming entangled in these conflicts.

In conclusion, we wish prosperity to the people of Kurdistan, Iraq, and the wider region. May peace and security prevail.

Welcome again, and thank you all for attending. May you remain well and happy. Thank you very much.”

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