Masrour Barzani: Protecting the Kurdistan Region’s Entity Is Everyone’s Responsibility

ARK News.. The second phase of the Green Belt Project in Erbil was launched on Sunday, November 15, 2026, in the presence of Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. The project plans to plant 1.8 million saplings.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Barzani said the attack on the Kormor gas field was a crime against all the people of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, stressing that such an attack was unacceptable.

He expressed hope that the investigation committee would reach its findings soon and that those who committed the crime, as well as those behind it, would face legal consequences.

The Kurdistan Region prime minister stressed that protecting the Kurdistan Region’s entity was everyone’s responsibility, reaffirming his opposition to any attempt to divide the Region.

“I am confident that every loyal and patriotic Kurd will stand against any further division of the Kurdistan Region,” he said.

In his speech, Barzani thanked those attending the launch of the second phase of the Green Belt Project, which will involve planting more than 1.8 million additional saplings around Erbil.

“This marks another stage in an initiative aimed at greening the areas surrounding Erbil and our city. We will continue doing everything we can to improve the climate and expand tree planting and forests,” he said.

He described the project as a valuable undertaking that could benefit Kurdistan Region residents in several ways.

“Planting trees and forests is important for the environment. It helps protect the environment, improve and purify the climate, and provide people with places to relax in more pleasant surroundings, creating a better environment for all of us,” he said.

Barzani added that the project would also create employment opportunities, allowing many people to work on the site. He noted that many of the saplings being planted were fruit-bearing trees that could provide food and potentially support the establishment of olive oil production factories, with the resulting benefits serving the people of Kurdistan.

Barzani also praised the participation of Peshmerga forces alongside volunteers in planting the saplings.

“It is heartening to see our Peshmerga heroes defending our homeland and the people of Kurdistan on the front lines, while here they are standing alongside our dear volunteers to plant these saplings,” he said.

He said the second phase would cover an area of 10,000 dunams and include three water basins.

“This is something that deserves recognition. I call on all of you to warmly thank and commend our Peshmerga brothers and sisters and the volunteers. Thank you very much. This is a demonstration of patriotism and loyalty to the people and the homeland,” he added.

Barzani recalled that, when the project was first launched, he had highlighted the potential impact of tree planting and forest expansion on the Kurdistan Region’s climate and environment.

He said the government had hoped to continue its environmental projects without allowing problems or obstacles to undermine efforts to protect the environment.

He also referred to improvements in air quality in Erbil following the implementation of several projects, including the Ronaki Project, which aims to provide round-the-clock electricity to residents.

“When I used to come down from Pirmam, I would often see Erbil covered in smoke. This was previously caused by the many generators operating in the city and emitting heavy smoke,” he said.

“Following the launch of several projects, including Ronaki, which provides 24-hour electricity to all citizens, we have seen a significant improvement in the air quality of Erbil and other cities across Kurdistan,” he added.

He said expanding green spaces in cities, towns, and across the Region had also contributed to improving the environment, describing this as essential for public health.

Barzani said that, just as there had previously been attempts to cut down forests in the Kurdistan Region and make life more difficult for its residents, he believed that efforts were now being made to undermine the Region by targeting infrastructure essential to its people.

“Unfortunately, just as there were previous attempts to cut down forests in the Kurdistan Region to make life more difficult here, a dark hand is once again trying to strike at Kurdistan and destroy the infrastructure that is essential to serving its people,” he said.

He added that the attack on Kormor and the targeting of electricity infrastructure supplying power to Kurdistan Region residents constituted a crime against the people of both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.

Concluding his speech, Barzani called on the committee formed to investigate the attack to complete its work and announce its findings as soon as possible.

“We demand that the committee reach its findings soon so that everyone who committed this crime, as well as those behind it, can be identified and referred to the judiciary to face the legal consequences,” he said.

He stressed that the attack was a crime against innocent people and the entire population of the Kurdistan Region, adding that such acts must not be accepted under any circumstances.

Barzani said the Kurdistan Regional Government was ready to provide all necessary assistance to the investigation and remained in continuous contact and discussions with the federal government on the matter.

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