Masrour Barzani: A strong Kurdistan brings peace and prosperity to the entire region

ARK News.. The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American University of Kurdistan (AUK), Masrour Barzani, affirmed that building a state based on institutions and achieving genuine stability in Iraq depend on the fair distribution of power and genuine partnership rather than domination, stressing that “a strong Iraq necessarily needs a strong Kurdistan.”

During a comprehensive speech at the annual graduation ceremony for the new class of students at the American University of Kurdistan in Duhok, attended by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Head of the Foundation Coalition Mohsen al-Mandlawi, Masrour Barzani said: “Tonight, standing among us are graduates who came from central and southern Iraq, others from cities across the Kurdistan Region, and others from outside the country. They came from different backgrounds, languages, and convictions, but they gathered in one classroom, on one platform, with one shared future.”

The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government added: “Twelve years ago, the American University of Duhok was merely a dream. Today, you are living proof that this dream was worth striving and working for.”

The Prime Minister addressed the sensitive political and security circumstances facing the region and Iraq, affirming that the Kurdistan Regional Government was among the first to recognize the scale of the risks and swiftly moved to coordinate with partners in Baghdad to consolidate the foundations of a stable Iraq.

Masrour Barzani stressed that the Region’s support for the federal government was not merely slogans, explaining: “When the threat of war reached the Strait of Hormuz and the region was thrown into turmoil, the Kurdistan Region was a key contributor to maintaining the continuation of Iraqi oil exports. When our fellow citizens in other parts of Iraq needed energy, we supplied them with electricity despite our own pressing need for it. This is how genuine partnership is built, and this is how state institutions based on justice and competence, rather than favoritism and narrow interests, are built.”

Masrour Barzani reviewed the scale of the security pressures and challenges faced by the Region, revealing that Kurdistan had been subjected to systematic attacks involving more than 1,000 missiles and drones targeting infrastructure, the economy, and the development process with the aim of halting the progress of development.

The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government said firmly: “They failed to achieve their objectives. We stood firm, remained patient, and continued working side by side with our partners in Baghdad for the benefit of all of Iraq. Just as we broke the strength of ISIS and protected our land in cooperation with our allies, today we are confronting these threats with the same determination and eliminating them.”

Masrour Barzani continued, stressing: “A strong Iraq requires a strong Kurdistan, and a strong Kurdistan brings peace and prosperity to the entire region. Its strength stems from its unity, and this approach is at the heart of the advice and guidance of President Masoud Barzani, as well as the enduring principle of the Immortal Leader Mustafa Barzani, whose name this university campus bears.”

On the academic and environmental fronts, Masrour Barzani announced the opening of the university’s new student residence, which is the first building in all of Iraq to receive the international LEED Gold certification for green and sustainable buildings, noting that the project represents a practical commitment to environmental protection and quality of life.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees highlighted the university’s standing as the first university in Iraq to receive institutional accreditation as a candidate from a US accreditation body, and the first to offer an American-accredited nursing program. He also announced the outlines of the university’s vision for the coming period: “Our mission for the next decade is to move from ‘academic excellence’ to ‘creating tangible impact’ in the life and prosperity of society. Our vision for 2035 is clear and bold: for the American University of Kurdistan – Duhok to become the first choice for students in the region.”

The Prime Minister concluded his speech by offering an inspiring set of messages to the new graduates, saying: “Kurdistan today needs your determination. The more the Region prospers, the more Iraq prospers, and the more Iraq prospers, the more Kurdistan develops. We do not have two futures, but one shared future, and you are its builders and creators.”

Masrour Barzani added: “Do not wait for anyone’s permission to lead your communities toward a better future, and do not allow skeptics or pessimists to plant despair in your hearts. This land has the ability to rise, and its resurgence will certainly be in your hands. You came here to learn, and today you leave to prove to the world what you are capable of achieving.”

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