KurdistanObserver.com

Southern Kurdistan PM's Speech On Announcement Of  Unified Administration

The following is PM Nechirvan Barzani's speech, made on Sunday shortly after the Kurdish lawmakers in Southern Kurdistan voted for a single administration

May 7, 2006

In the Name of God, the Merciful, and the Compassionate

Your Excellencies.

Massoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region.
Speaker and members of the Kurdistan National Assembly.
Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives .
Iraqi Vice President.
Ambassadors and distinguished guests.

Greetings to you all. You are all welcome to this historic event.

I am honoured and privileged by the attendance of Kurdistani, Iraqi and international representatives.

Thank you for being here on such an important occasion in the political life of our people.

The people of the Kurdistan Region today are entering a new stage. We are striving towards a new future, towards realizing the outcome of our struggle and sacrifice.

Today, we announce the first unified cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government since the fall of the Ba’ath regime.

This step is a sign of fundamental change. We are recording a new page in our history. We must be mindful that we have many challenges ahead.

The harmony and unity among us is the catalyst for our current and future success. Today we have come together in unity and with a common will before the Kurdistan National Assembly to announce a new cabinet.

Caring about our citizens without discrimination, protecting each and everyone, providing equal opportunities to all, respecting the social, religious and political composition of the Kurdistan Region, providing security and commitment to the rule of law and individual and collective freedom are the main guiding themes of this cabinet.

As a modern government we want to live in peace and harmony among ourselves and with our neighbours. Nobody knows as well as we do the geopolitics of Kurdistan.

We know we do not live on an island isolated from our surroundings. We know very well that our future is dependent on the current changes in Iraq.

Although we live in a difficult region of the world, we have been, and we will continue to be, a factor for peace, stability and friendship.

The people of the Kurdistan Region have suffered greatly as a result of the disastrous policies of successive Iraqi regimes.

We worked in the past, and we shall continue to work in the future, to find just solutions to our causes.

The rights that have been taken from us forcibly in Mendali, Khanaqin, Kirkuk, Makhmour, Shaikhan and Sinjar, we shall recover peacefully through the democratic process and under the rule of law. All actions will be in accordance with the Constitution of Iraq.

After fourteen years of our experiment in democracy we send a new message to announce our vision of strengthening our capacities toward good governance and management of our Region.

It is our duty to explain openly what we mean by a unified government. What should we do? How should we work to achieve our goals and objectives? How should we secure a better and brighter future?

We are determined to establish strong constitutional institutions to further support the democratic process.

Our main task is forming a system of good governance through the participation of all groups, with transparency and accountability, which means a modern, professional government.

We are proud of our own people. We believe they deserve better services. With sound policies to guide us we shall work toward securing a bright future.

We are honoured by the task you have assigned to us. We will try to work in the best way to organize, increase, and apply our capacities, and to lead our team so that we will become a model of a successful cabinet.

During the past three years the political leadership played an effective and outstanding role in the political process at two levels.

At one level, the leadership protected the achievements of the Kurdistan Region. At the other level, the leadership has been effectively participating in the re-building of the state of Iraq.

We must always remember that these are the result of the hard work and struggle of our people. It is the outcome of the blood of our martyrs. It is the product of the courage and sacrifices of Kurdistan’s Peshmerga forces.

Today, we bow in respect to honour those brave heroes among the martyrs who have sacrificed their lives and shed their blood for the sake of our rights.

Our grateful thanks to all those without whose support these achievements would not have been realized.

Here we thank America, the United Kingdom, and other allies and friends who throughout past years have supported us.

The history of our struggle - our bittersweet experience – is full of lessons. It is obvious we are not able to change our past.

We can, however, influence our future. This is our challenge: to make our future better than our past.

We must modernize our system. We must learn good governance. To learn democratic culture and life, we must review our own democratic process and learn from the successful experience of democratic countries to build the foundation of a modern government.

We must then adapt these practices to our own progressive model on the basis of the supremacy of law, pluralism and tolerance.

Our new cabinet is forward-looking. It will wisely seek the changes we need while taking into consideration the social, cultural, environmental, economic and political aspects of our Region. We have many tasks to accomplish and we have a long way ahead of us.

What we have done so far is only the beginning.

Our new ministers need to know and understand the demands and expectations of our own people.
They must coordinate their efforts with the Kurdistan National Assembly, work to formulate sound policies and faithfully implement the government’s agenda accordingly.

This cabinet cares about the lives of our citizens
Prior to the 1991 Uprising, the infrastructure of the Kurdistan Region, including Kirkuk and other areas, was neglected.

Apart from widespread destruction and relentless militarism, civilized care was not given to key aspects of daily living. Essential public services at no time met the daily needs of our people.

The Kurdistan Regional Government, with its limited resources, has seriously been addressing the problems. But as you know, this reconstruction cannot be realized in a short time. The federal government of Iraq should carry out its responsibility to compensate the loss and damages Kurdistan has suffered, and allocate a fair and just budget to the region.

We thank the people of the Kurdistan Region for their patience and understanding.

In our new cabinet we shall seriously care for all socio-economic levels of Kurdistan society. We need much effort, time, and resources to meet the needs and expectations of our people in all sectors.

Education and health are the two vital sectors affecting every citizen and are priorities in our agenda. We must work to improve the level and quality of these services.

We shall work to adjust and adapt our education system to match our needs in the spirit of the modern era.

We shall pay extra attention to our vocational schools in agriculture, industry and business management to provide skilled workers for these fields.

We shall encourage and support the development of the private sector to provide public services.

Private schools and colleges will offer work opportunities to many. These educational institutions will become part of our effort to raise the levels of skills and capacities to expand and strengthen our workforce.

We will place great emphasis on culture and the arts. We will work to preserve archaeological sites and Kurdish tradition and heritage.

We will support original music and songs and we will develop the classic arts of theatre and painting as well as movie production.

This new cabinet shall give particular attention to youth activities including sports. We shall work seriously to address their needs.

We shall prepare our youth in such a good way so they can carry out their duties and responsibilities.

Securing a bright future within a realistic framework and expectations is a natural right of our future generations. We shall encourage and support them to play effective and constructive roles in society.

Providing water and electricity shall be a primary duty of our new government. Tirelessly we shall work to find appropriate solutions.

We understand the complaints and demands of our people but we have had many difficulties in front of us which have slowed our progress in these areas.

Due to the vicious policies of the Ba’ath regime – the destruction of communities, forced dislocation of our people - the life and economy of Kurdistan has been torn apart.

Our new government must support the return of our people to their native rural communities. We must take control of our food basket in our own hands again.

We must make self-reliance once again the main principle of our countryside.

Our regional government shall work systematically and methodically to make agriculture much more productive by importing modern technologies to improve and increase agricultural production, to establish agro-industries to support our economy.

When we talk about needs we should never forget the families of Anfal victims and our highly esteemed martyrs.

It is important that the government take special care of pensioners and of families who lost their breadwinners, and the handicapped and disabled.

Our new government should give special care to them. We should collect information to develop effective programs to help them – who and where they are, and what are their needs.

We shall work to protect and strengthen the rights of women and reflect this clearly in the Constitution of the Kurdistan Region.

We shall review our laws and work towards ensuring they are in accordance with the Constitution and modern standards.

The Kurdistan Regional Government must actively support the participation of women in the political, economic and social life of our Region.

Women must, together with men, play strong roles in our universities, in our government, in our Parliament and in all other areas.

They themselves must also work to bring about these changes by taking initiatives and moving their participation forward.

The Kurdistan Regional Government is a government for everyone. It will support the legitimate demands and rights of every person of every segment in society.

We know that fuel is a basic necessity of everyday life. We are well aware of the complications and difficulties caused by scarce fuel and high prices.

We shall work seriously to find solutions. A secure and long-term solution is to develop and utilize our own natural resources. Success in this area will make all our lives easier.

This government will protect all citizens
We know well that security and stability are the main preconditions for socio-economic development. To a great extent, we have been successful in this regard.

We should never forget that there are many on duty day and night for the sake of the security of our citizens.

This security and stability did not come about easily. It has come through strong leadership, and the vigilance and dedication to duty and hard work of our Peshmerga, security and police forces.

Here today, I wish to take the opportunity to highlight and thank everyone for protecting the lives and wealth of our citizens.

Without the participation and support of our citizens, however, government forces cannot alone perform these critically important duties.

Every one of us can and should participate in the protection of our peace and stability.

The rule of law is our supreme principle. It is above every one of us. Our laws shall be drafted in a modern way and they shall be based on the principles of democracy and human rights.

Citizen’s security and rights will be protected when law enforcement institutions are strong. Law enforcement officials must know their duties and responsibilities, and they must respect every citizen’s rights.

In order to improve the implementation of these duties, we must better organize our institutions. We must also train our officials in applying the latest useful technologies which we shall make available to them. They should be prepared mentally too – with the right attitude and approaches.

Regarding our Peshmerga forces, we shall continue to modernize our forces in keeping with the Constitution of Iraq.

We shall work to create a unified force to protect our Region and to protect our citizens in accordance with the laws passed by the Kurdistan National Assembly.

The ministries of justice, interior, and human rights shall work together to develop plans to protect every citizen’s rights and to guarantee security throughout the Region.

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, each citizen has fundamental rights which we pledge to protect.

This cabinet will provide equal opportunity for all citizens
When we focus and talk about any one subject it does not mean we ignore others. On the contrary, we shall work in all fields simultaneously.

There must be full coordination among ministries to formulate new plans, to train our government workforce in modern ways.

Education and improved learning, together with training programs, are pre-conditions to better prepare our workforce for the future.

Only when we develop our talents and skills will our workforce be better prepared to serve themselves and our collective future.

The regional government shall work to reduce unemployment through development of the private sector. Our economy cannot progress without major developments in the private sector.

Increasing work opportunities – more jobs and higher paying jobs – increases the purchasing power of our people.

With increased purchasing power they can guarantee their lives, raise their standard of living, and improve their quality of life.

The Kurdistan Region has great agricultural potential but because of insufficient support facilities and services, and inadequate marketing systems, our farmers receive lower benefits.

We must focus on the agricultural sector to increase rural incomes through increased work opportunities for both women and men.

Increasing agricultural production and investing in agro-industries would significantly improve the quality of life in rural areas and contribute to strengthening our economy.

The ministries of agriculture and industry should fully coordinate with each other to support increased production so that our food products are better utilized.

The future of the Kurdistan Region also needs to greatly expand the development of small enterprises that would create more jobs, raise incomes and strengthen our economy.

To support small enterprise development the KRG will establish a micro-credit system to support those willing to work but who do not have the financial capability.

Our government supports international banks and seeks reputable banks that will provide full banking services that meet the highest international standards.

To date, we have seen rapid development and have begun to realize the benefits of modern information and telecommunication technology (ICT).

We need to develop this technology much further so it becomes a part of our work and life. We should encourage students and civil servants to become fully familiar with this technology and use it properly in the service of our people.

We shall continue to support the expansion of ICT in the Kurdistan Region so that we can benefit more educationally.

Our Region needs modern airport facilities and services. We are working on modern air transport because we believe in the future.

Both Suleimaniyah and Erbil airports provide domestic and international flights for passengers and cargo.

Modern air transport facilities and services will increase opportunities for both imports and exports and this will have an impact on increasing job opportunities, raising income and attracting foreign investment.

The Regional Government works to reduce and eliminate obstacles to trade and investment and in this we have made some good strides.

We work to formulate sound policies and to explain our vision and views. We have begun to encourage, promote and import foreign capital.

Our purpose and objective is to increase work opportunities, raise incomes and improve the quality of services for our people.

When we talk about encouraging and supporting investment we are not referring to only foreign investors, because in the region and Iraq there are many potential investors with substantial capital who are able to play an outstanding role in strengthening our economy.

The KRG fully believes in the importance and potential of the private sector. Our local investors will, therefore, have the same support, facilities and services as foreign investors.

To expand and accelerate our economic development, we shall support joint venture projects between government and foreign investors, and also between local and foreign companies.

The Regional Government will continue to work seriously and closely with the Kurdistan National Assembly for the passage of an investment law.

This law must be flexible, attractive and encourage foreign capital to come to the Region. Our goal is to make the Kurdistan Region the gateway for investment to all of Iraq.

Our Region has substantial tourism potential. Expanded tourism facilities and services would lead to work opportunities for thousands of our people. In today’s world, tourism is an industry and includes various programs and projects.

Within the framework of the new Constitution of Iraq, exploration and production of oil and gas has begun and more programs and projects are under way.

We know we have many problems because we have not rightfully benefited from this natural resource in the past.

Now, confidently we can inform you that we are working with world-class companies to benefit from our natural resources in the best peaceful interests of all our people.

We are looking ahead to installing pipelines, refineries, and power plants to fully meet the needs of our people in the Kurdistan Region and contribute to the needs of the rest of Iraq.

Kurdish is our mother tongue. At the same time, we respect and support the languages of Turkmen, Chaldeans, Assyrians, Armenians and Arabs.

We remain committed to the principles of cultural and language diversity and pluralism, and we provide freedom for all in this area.

In addition to Kurdish and Arabic language schools, for more than a decade Turkmani and Syriac language schools have been opened and fully supported by the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Recently, with support from the KRG, an Aramaic language school has opened.

We encourage respect for and learning of the languages of our neighbours to better understand and communicate with each other.

We want to establish more effective cultural, educational, sports, arts, trade and economic relations with our neighbouring countries.

To better understand today’s world and to become a part of it, we must advance our knowledge and understanding of the English language.

English is today’s international language. We must learn it well. We must prepare our education system accordingly to excel at English language instruction at all levels, from preschool through university levels. Full attention must be given to this.

The Regional Government fully supports English language instruction both inside and outside of schools, not only for children, but also for women and men. English language instruction is for all ages at all stages.

We have to better understand in more depth the concepts of good governance, transparency, accountability, federalism, democracy, freedom and pluralism, which are urgently needed to develop a new government like ours. Let us all together strive to implement these programs.

The cabinet will respect all its citizens
The Kurdistan Regional Government will continue to promote our distinctive features - our customs and traditions – and respect the entire social, religious, national and political composition of our Region.

As a modern government, we respect the Constitution, the supremacy of law, human rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

It is our duty to serve the residents of the Kurdistan Region. It is our responsibility to create a conducive environment where our civil servants take pride in serving their people.

Above all else, the government should be an organization in which our people can be proud.

It is vital that confidence and trust be established between government and the people. Confidence in government is established when government runs its affairs in a transparent manner and is prepared to be held accountable and subject to examination.

We want everyone to be treated with respect and dignity in the government institutions. We shall take steps to reduce routines and bureaucracy. We shall work to remove hindrances in our programs.

We are well aware of talk of financial and administrative corruption. This is a shameful issue for both the government and the people.

Corruption is shameful on both sides of the deal. The government shall work seriously to reduce and eliminate this undesirable phenomenon.

The government will establish a commission to examine this issue. We must promote an atmosphere where action is taken with neither fear nor hesitation.

Our citizens must cooperate and support the government in this important task because it is the duty of government and society.

The government should review its work systems and procedures, to know the extent to which it is generating results according to law. Experienced and trusted media can play effective roles in helping in this area.

Benefiting from administrative experience, the new cabinet must be at the level of this historic responsibility.

Our ministries must prepare policies and formulate strategic plans for the entire Kurdistan Region.

Well designed and approved policies are the basis and justification for programs and projects to be implemented.

We shall eagerly work to draft the Constitution of the Region and its ratification as the basis for promoting and providing equal rights to all our citizens regardless of political association, religious belief, or national or cultural identification in Kurdistan.

We reiterate our support and commitment to the rights of Chaldeans, Assyrians, Syriacs and Turkomen, in accordance with the Constitution.

We will give our full attention to the needs of the Faili Kurds to compensate them for the historic oppression and injustice they suffered.

We must work with the new Iraqi government and the unified KRG to ensure that their rights are guaranteed.

To protect our citizens in accordance with the Constitution of Iraq, our Regional Constitution and the rule of law, we must modernize our judicial system to the highest available standards.

To protect rights according to our constitutions, the courts, judges, and lawyers shall deal with their duties and cases in a modern way.

We as the government respect our citizens and our land. We urge our citizens to respect the land and our country.

We should keep our cities and towns clean, and remember that streets, picnic sites and public areas are the responsibility of each of us.

Both the government and our citizens have a historical responsibility to protect the environment.

The Kurdistan Region is rich in nature and this is an asset for our people. In keeping with well established traditions in other parts of the world where environmental preservation and conservation are well planned and a source for economic tourism, national parks should be established to preserve and protect our natural environment to be appreciated and enjoyed for all generations to come.

The government works to organize a modern life for its citizens, and citizens have both rights and responsibilities.

To protect our environment, we must review laws and regulations to put an end to violations by holding the violators accountable.

The aim of the Kurdistan Regional Government is to develop a civil society that is free, democratic and tolerant.

The cabinet will present a unified budget to the Kurdistan National Assembly for its approval. On the basis of established priorities of the government agenda, the effective programs will be implemented.

We have learned much during the past fifteen years. But we still have much to learn. While it is true that many doors are open to us, those doors do not open unless we knock.

We are appreciative of our human resources and we shall work to benefit more from them. We are indeed fortunate that a good number of our people abroad have had the opportunity to learn well and to gain valuable experience.

Those who have completed their formal studies but more importantly have gained experience and expertise are assets to themselves and for their people.

Today in the reconstruction and advancement of our Region, we need each and every individual to play his and her role in contributing to our future.

Today is the day for the talented, capable and experienced to take the initiative. We all must respect each other. Work and life opportunities are not only in the government.

We encourage the private sector to actively participate in the development and progress of our region.

It is obvious that no political entity can be secure and stable unless its economy is strong. The new cabinet will strive for sustained economic growth and securing a prosperous life in the Region.

We fully support the production force which has considerable participation in realizing sustainable development.

We want to have a capable government, a government able to fulfill its duties and responsibilities in formulating the economic policy of the Region.

In Iraq, during this post-Saddam period, the country must be run in a constitutional manner. The Constitution of Iraq gives the Kurdistan Region the right to run its own affairs.

We have to protect these Constitutional rights and make certain they are followed and made permanent.

While we submit this program, we also emphasize there are major challenges ahead. We all must cooperate with each other and strive realistically toward a bright future.

To all of you here today, I would like to say, on behalf of my dear brother Kak Omer Fattah, the new cabinet ministers and myself, that this cabinet will be the cabinet of the people of the Kurdistan Region.

It will be a cabinet that respects the supremacy of the rule of law and strives for economic development, and which provides security and stability, jobs and basic services.

Finally, we thank you for your confidence and we promise you to perform as a team in the service of our people, and to work diligently for their benefit.

Today, we have an historical opportunity. We should not waste this chance.

We will work to implement the existing Constitutional articles regarding the use of Kurdish as the second official language, fully and at all levels of the government of Iraq.

We will work for full implementation of the specific articles relating to the budget of the Kurdistan Region. We must work to secure the legitimate rights of our people in the capital, investment and services budgets of Iraq.

We will work to organize KRG offices and representations abroad, in accordance with the new Constitution of Iraq.

Federal Iraq will become peaceful and stable only when all religious, national and doctrinal constituencies give their pledge to live together within a democratic system in Iraq.

We will work with all our efforts and capabilities to put in place a democratic federal system in Iraq, on the basis of consensus, agreement, and respect for the rights of all nationalities and religions in Iraq.

Therefore, we support democratic consensus in the political process in Iraq as the way to reach this goal.

We are against terrorism and violence in all its forms. We will work shoulder to shoulder with the federal government of Iraq to bring about peace and stability in all of Iraq.

We will fully coordinate and cooperate with the federal government to rebuild and develop Iraq.

We will support the efforts for the establishment of other federal regions in Iraq, based on Constitutional principles and voluntary, peaceful co-existence.

Finally, we will work to establish an appropriate mechanism for dealing with the federal government of Iraq in ways that protect the Constitutional rights of Kurdistan.

Within the framework of this government agenda, and with your support and the active participation of the people, the government will work seriously to implement this plan.

Thank you.