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Transcript: Prime Minister Talks to Citizens in Political Dialogue Meeting

Transcript: Prime Minister Talks to Citizens in Political Dialogue Meeting

Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, in a meeting with a number of residents from Erbil province as part of the program “Dialogue with the Prime Minister,” expressed optimism about the future of the Kurdistan Region. He emphasized that stability will continue, progress must increase, and the economic situation needs improvement.

Here is the transcript of this dialogue:

Prime Minister: I am pleased to be at your service, and I am happy that this meeting is being held here at the Erbil Citadel. This is part of a series of meetings with citizens across all cities in Kurdistan, to get to know each other better. I am glad to have this opportunity to meet with you, dear and esteemed citizens, so that we can have a more direct and close discussion about issues that are specific to the lives of citizens and the current and future situations of the Kurdistan Region and its surrounding areas. This way, we can know if you have any questions, we will provide answers, or if you have any feedback on the government’s performance, I would be pleased to respond to all brothers and sisters with transparency.

I do not intend to dictate the topics or focus on particular points, as we have already discussed many issues in different forums. This time, I want to listen more to you. If you have any comments or questions, I am at your service and will respond to any point you raise. I may also highlight certain issues that I believe are currently important for citizens, particularly the residents of Erbil province and its surroundings, so that we can have a necessary discussion on them.

What matters most is creating a strong connection between the people and the authorities. During the time we have been in government, as we approach the end of this cabinet’s term, I hope we have had a clear understanding of the situation and know where we have succeeded in fulfilling our responsibilities and where there may have been shortcomings. What were the reasons? How satisfied are the people? And what are the suggestions for improving government performance in the future? I hope we can have this conversation together, and I will be at your service. Now it is your turn. Please, anyone who has a question, I am here to serve you.

Question from the audience: Good evening, welcome, Mr. Prime Minister. I am Nurhad Emad Bashir, a university student from Erbil. Since Erbil is the capital of the Kurdistan Region, why do we still face unresolved basic issues, such as transportation and public infrastructure? Why has the city of Erbil, which has been facing problems like water shortages and flooding for years, not seen improvements? Can you clarify this for me and shed light on the situation in Erbil?

Prime Minister: Thank you very much. You are right; these issues have existed for some time. One of the main reasons is the rapid expansion of Erbil and the increasing population, as people from all regions move to the capital of Kurdistan. But now, we are actively working on solving transportation issues, like public transit systems, such as buses, which are well-prepared and I hope will be operational soon.

Some streets in the city are narrow and it might be difficult to connect all parts of Erbil smoothly, especially in older areas. However, we are working on ensuring that citizens can benefit from the transportation system. Regarding the water issue, as you mentioned, I remember that during my first year in this role, we witnessed severe flooding, and unfortunately, even lives were lost. We immediately took serious steps to address this, focusing on redirecting floodwater channels. While heavy rains continued, the city did not experience the same level of flooding, though some areas still faced issues.

Regarding the water supply, a program was set up over 10-12 years ago to increase Erbil’s water provision, but unfortunately, the contracted companies did not deliver as expected. We are now focusing on groundwater sources, though this too is diminishing over time, as seen in several summers with significant water shortages. To solve this fundamentally, we decided to expedite the construction of Erbil’s water project, and I hope in 18 months, this issue will be resolved for the next 30 years.

Question from the audience: Welcome, Prime Minister. I am Shino Adil Sharif, a civil servant at the Ministry of Education. Thank you for your esteemed visit to Erbil. My question is: In your opinion, where is Kurdistan heading in the next five years?

Prime Minister: I am optimistic and see Kurdistan continuing on a path of stability, with further progress and economic recovery. By resolving our issues with the Federal Government, we can remove the obstacles that have been placed in front of us. I hope that the region will continue to move toward stability, and if it remains stable, we can continue to make more significant advances. Therefore, I am hopeful that Kurdistan will move toward more security and peace, and in the coming years, you will see a more prosperous and developed country.

Statement from the audience: I have a proposal and a request for you. In the next cabinet, could you establish a department or agency for oversight?

Prime Minister: What kind of oversight?

Statement from the audience: Oversight that can deeply understand society. This should reach the poor and low-income individuals, enter governmental offices and institutions, and understand the problems and difficulties of the people. These officers should directly report to either you or the ministers but remain anonymous among the public. This way, they can truly understand the people’s struggles, whether in government offices, schools, or hospitals. They should start from the lowest level of society. My second request is personal. I own a shop in Tayrawa, and many people have requested that you, as the Prime Minister, visit the Tayrawa market and its surrounding streets, which hold historical significance in Erbil. It’s an area rich in heritage, filled with national heroes, intellectuals, artists, teachers, and writers. The Tayrawa market itself is significant but lacks services. When the larger market burned down, they called this place the ‘harmful lane.’ It comprises around 300-400 shops. They used to cover the shops with makeshift tents. I kindly ask that when you visit, you issue a directive to build a modern commercial area here. We would greatly appreciate it.

Prime Minister: Thank you very much for your proposal. It’s a good idea, and as you’ve pointed out, I am committed to continuing this work. I cannot guarantee exactly when this will happen, but if I remain in office and am re-elected, we will definitely focus on these issues. As for your request, we will consider it and see when it’s feasible. We will include it in our future plans, though I cannot specify a timeline right now.

Question from the audience: I’m a healthcare worker. My question is about the rising costs of services like electricity and water. Many people feel these costs have increased. What is the reason behind this, and what is the solution?

Prime Minister: Thank you. I’m not sure what you’re referring to. Can you clarify how the prices for electricity and water have increased? Because, to my knowledge, the prices of water and electricity have not been increased for the public. This is not part of the government’s plan. However, we haven’t been able to provide 24-hour electricity because the public’s demand exceeds the amount of electricity we can currently generate. This is one reason. We tried to increase the gas supply, but obstacles were placed in the way, preventing us from producing more electricity. In areas where we have been able to provide 24-hour electricity, we have implemented a new system in a few neighborhoods in Erbil, such as Shadi and another district. I hope the residents there can confirm how satisfied they are with this new system. It ensures 24-hour electricity while reducing reliance on private generators, which are much more expensive than government electricity. In fact, the portion of the costs that the government covers is much higher than what the public pays—less than 20%. We hope to expand this system to other areas, but there are challenges.

Question from the audience: Good evening, Prime Minister. I am Fatima Rasool, a legal assistant in Shaqlawa’s office for combating domestic violence. First, thank you for giving us this opportunity to speak. My question is about the temporary employment contracts for teachers, which were recently approved. Is there any plan to make these contracts permanent? Additionally, if I may, I’d like to suggest that you visit Shaqlawa. While you have inaugurated many new projects in various places, Shaqlawa still needs further development. We would appreciate your support in bringing new services and projects to our area.

Prime Minister: Thank you. Since 2013, the Kurdistan Region has not been able to provide permanent employment, primarily because Baghdad has not allowed it. The federal government has frequently cut off or withheld our budget and salaries, limiting the resources available to the KRG. In contrast, the federal government has hired nearly a million people this year alone. Has any of that allocation been shared with the Kurdistan Region? No. Recently, we’ve been engaged in discussions with both the federal financial committee and the Iraqi parliament’s finance committee to address these economic challenges. As you may know, as a federal entity, Kurdistan should have its own budget and the right to allocate it based on our own priorities. Unfortunately, certain political parties in Kurdistan have opened the doors to Baghdad, allowing them to interfere in our internal affairs. These challenges have led to delays in salary disbursements and employment opportunities in the Kurdistan Region. We are in talks with Baghdad to resolve these issues, as they directly impact the rights of our citizens.

Statement from the audience: I also remind you to visit Shaqlawa, I think you had forgotten.

Prime Minister: Shaqlawa, by God, I go there very often, we’ve done projects there, how could we not? For example, the Aqoban Dam, but there’s more that we will do, God willing.

Statement from the audience: We have higher hopes with the new project, thank you so much.

Prime Minister: Without a doubt, Shaqlawa is a very beautiful city, and I’ve spent a lot of time there during the uprising. We spent a lot of time in Shaqlawa. It’s famous, people from all over Iraq come to visit Shaqlawa. It deserves the best services, and we will definitely give it more attention.

Question from the audience: Greetings to you, Kak Masrour. I am pleased to be able to discuss things with you. What I do not know may be a criticism or a question or anything else; I would be happy to hear your response regarding the field of higher education and the higher education sector in Kurdistan. I can say seriously that work has not been done in this regard. We, as students, have been studying for 16 years, and I do not know something that might be a reflection of myself. I am ready to accept criticism, but I am not the one who has to face the outcomes; the problem is not with you, but with me for not being educated properly and not having a proper job opportunity in all places. That is a general issue. Should everyone have more value than me in a specific field to study? Both in the field of higher education and in the education sector. For all those whose financial status is better than mine, they find opportunities in other places, for example, in specialized fields outside the country. For instance, we have universities with a much higher status than those of the government. It is a burden for all those university teachers and school teachers who have not been able to bring any criticism to the ministry of education until now; the educational policy for higher education does not create a proper environment for those who have jobs.

Now, I, like myself after college, feel that I have learned and that I have learned everything, earning 200 dollars, and thank God my status is very good, and I am in a very good place. But why should it be like this? Should it not be in these 16 years that someone should be educated so that people feel grateful to say, “I will work for it”?

Prime Minister: Thank you very much. Sometimes, regarding the level of education, whether in higher education or school education, something has been done. However, I also feel that much better can be done, especially in raising the quality of education. We have now established a framework for a very short time, and this has now become complete, to improve the quality of education in higher education, to elevate the standards of all universities. How can we raise the educational standards in Kurdistan to a level comparable to international standards? This framework, this institute, is more about ensuring that the quality of universities and colleges can be compared to those international systems and that we can advance the higher education sector further.

So this must be taken seriously because indeed, we also desire for our education level to be higher. Our university standards must be on par with the advanced standards of the world.

Question from the audience: However, your Excellency, you mentioned another issue: the issue of vocational work. It is not a requirement that everyone go into a specific field to work; rather, they should have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree. Therefore, we have worked a lot with the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Education on how we can create vocational work, even in cooperation with foreign countries. One of those countries is South Korea. We discussed how they can assist us in promoting vocational work in Kurdistan, so that one can learn a vocational skill without being forced or required to have a high-level degree until they find work. There are many fields where people can learn more through experience; they should be trained in some places, and those people should benefit.

However, despite all this, I still want to reiterate that you say you have work and a good position; if someone is interested, they can learn. If there is a desire to succeed, they will find a way. But the government must facilitate this. I do not say that everything should be done for the citizen, but there should be a self-motivation to learn and find opportunities.

Prime Minister: Regarding the disparity in services between Erbil and Sulaimaniyah, this issue has often been raised. We’ve made concerted efforts to consolidate Kurdistan’s revenue, aiming to serve all cities equally. We’ve been criticized for centralizing authority at the provincial level. However, we have decentralized authority to the provinces to ensure that they implement the projects that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) initiates. The issue is not about the budget or the projects themselves but more about local administrative inefficiencies, particularly in Sulaimaniyah. There has been too much political interference, preventing local administrations from implementing projects as intended.

Question from the audience: Your Excellency the Prime Minister, thank you very much for giving us this opportunity. I have a question regarding the electoral process. As we know, elections are one of the most important mechanisms for political participation. However, if we look back at the voter turnout rate in the elections, particularly from the first session of the Kurdistan Parliament to the most recent elections, we see that the participation rate has significantly decreased, meaning it has gone down. In the last elections, the participation rate was 58.9%, which is 30% lower than the turnout in the first session of the Kurdistan Parliament. Therefore, I ask what are the factors that influence the decline in voter participation in the elections of the Kurdistan Parliament?

Prime Minister: Certainly, in every society, in every country, the participation rate in one election compared to another is different. It is not a requirement that it always decreases; in one election, the participation rate may be somewhat lower, but in the subsequent elections, it can be higher. I hope that this election will see an increased participation rate. Therefore, we cannot generalize and determine the reasons for the decrease, but some factors may be at play. Some citizens may have lost hope due to a political process that has not worked for them, leading them to feel that their voice does not matter, or they may think that participating or not participating makes no difference.

I personally believe that every citizen’s voice and vote are very important, and if a citizen does not participate in voting or does not have a say in determining their solutions, then another citizen will make decisions for them. Therefore, I continually encourage every beloved citizen to participate actively in order to decide their own country’s solutions, their own issues, and their own futures. The participation rate must have an impact because I do not want only those who are directed by a political party or a party to consider their participation in the elections. Every citizen must understand that participating in elections has consequences because every decision made and every authority taken has an impact on the lives of all individuals. Whether it is a political party or not, every citizen’s decision on voting affects the future of that individual.

So, I encourage everyone to participate and be assured that their vote matters because it determines who can govern this country in the future.

Question from the audience: Prime Minister, I hope that in Kurdistan, those who are capable will assist in international relations so that that great expertise and intelligence that exists in other countries can be transferred to Kurdistan. In Kurdistan, a large industrial facility should be established. People should not only think about my salary; the people of Kurdistan must be focused on finding funds, generating money, and creating income. My suggestion is that if possible, the foreign expertise and skilled individuals available outside should be brought to Kurdistan.

Prime Minister: Thank you very much. What you are discussing is part of the cabinet agenda where we have initially talked about unifying revenues, enhancing the economy, and creating a strong economic infrastructure in Kurdistan. We have done a lot in agriculture, and tourism is an important topic for us, which is crucial from a professional perspective. However, it might not be at the necessary level; it is true that it is not at the required level, and there are reasons for that.

The reason is that over the past few years, several budgets for the region have been halted by the federal government, and the economic situation at the global level and in the region, particularly in the Kurdistan Region, has faced setbacks. The COVID-19 pandemic has also been a primary challenge for two years that hindered many economic activities. Despite all this, we have made a serious effort to create a better relationship between the public sector and the private sector, and many of the projects that you are currently seeing in the Kurdistan Region have continued despite significant government challenges that have led to delays in project implementation. However, regarding the private sector, projects have continued, and this healthy relationship has created better trust between the private sector and the public sector, between the government and citizens, with results that have been beneficial in some areas.

Your points are valid, but we have also considered other aspects, apart from empowering our people to go abroad and benefit from the experiences of other countries for the development of the industrial sector, especially if God helps us and we stay committed. Our plan is to benefit from those experiences by attracting the expertise of those countries to Kurdistan. We cannot just let a few individuals benefit; rather, many of those countries have shown rapid progress in a short period. Can we not benefit from their experiences? If they come and establish their factories, businesses, and companies in collaboration with the private sector here, it would be mutually beneficial: both the expertise would come here, and job opportunities would be created for citizens. Citizens should be independent and self-sufficient, and in the public sector, they should work diligently; if they do not, they should work in the private sector. There should be enough space for citizens to extend their work in the private sector as they see fit.

In any case, this will lead us to the next phase, and God willing, I hope we can serve even better in that regard.

Question from the audience: I am Avesta Ali, from the International Relations and Diplomacy department. My question for you concerns the service projects that seem to differ significantly between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. As we see in Erbil, whenever a service project is proposed, it is designed and implemented in a standardized manner. However, in Sulaymaniyah, although the necessary budget has been allocated, the implementation does not seem to be as organized. What is your response to this?

Prime Minister: Thank you very much for this question. From the outset, we have made a serious effort to consolidate all revenues of the Kurdistan Region so that we can provide services uniformly across all cities. There have been many complaints that authority needs to be decentralized to the level of the provinces. This has been a significant issue for a long time, where we have concentrated authority and have not allowed it to return to the provinces.

We have taken action, decentralized our authority, and given all our authorities to the provinces so that they can carry out these tasks. Therefore, the local authority at the provincial level is responsible for implementing all the projects that the Kurdistan Regional Government demands to be executed. Thus, the government’s projects are not just for one province; they are not just for Duhok, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, or Halabja; they are for everyone. For independent administrations, there is one project, and how that project is implemented reverts to the local authority level at the provincial level.

I do not comment on the administrative authority at the provincial level, but I am involved in party decisions regarding administrative matters, which have prevented them from being hindered at the level of provincial administration. In allocating the budget, implementing projects, the party has had authority in Sulaymaniyah, which has not allowed them to conduct their administrative work and implement projects as necessary. This is the reality of the situation.

Prime Minister: I sincerely appreciate your comments. All of us here can live freely in this country, thanks to the security and stability we enjoy. This is something for which we must thank our Peshmerga and security forces. Inshallah, Kurdistan will continue to flourish and remain a place of peace and harmony.

Statement from the audience: Good evening to everyone, and welcome, Mr. Prime Minister. We, as religious teachers and in the place of other religious teachers, really see ourselves as more responsible than anyone else regarding our land and our country. We hope for a peaceful resolution because this Kurdistan is a trust for all of us. Elections should be a cause for happiness for our nation because the Kurdish nation truly desires peace. If the livelihood is interrupted for even 30 days, this nation does not demand great things; they simply want peace.

We hope that all parties remain committed, as this Kurdistan is not about one party or another; everyone should be aware of their own responsibilities and recognize the safety of others. We religious teachers know this safety and indeed guard it.

Regarding the land of Kurdistan, we express our desire that no side, without exception, no party, no group, no individual forgets for even a day that this land is peaceful and a sacred place mentioned in the Quran. It is the land of humanity where the Ark of Noah landed, and it is not an issue of contention among the Arabs. Therefore, no one should think of disrespecting this peace because if disrespect happens or if the unity is broken, we all suffer the consequences.

Another point regarding Kurdistan, which we, as religious teachers, know well, is that the political policies of the regional government are often emphasized. The coordination among the different groups in the Kurdistan region is important because there is indeed a great opportunity for unity. While today may have some challenges, we, as religious teachers, must remember our mission: (Enjoin what is good and forbid what is wrong). We must speak out against what is good and criticize what is wrong.

Therefore, the issues of land, safety, and coordination are legitimate matters for all parties, for the citizens of the Kurdistan Region, and for our youth to observe carefully; no one should take actions that would harm the region. We wish you success, Your Excellency, and welcome you once again.

Prime Minister: Thank you very much, esteemed teacher. Thank you for your insights. Indeed, we can all live freely in this country with dignity because there is security and stability. We must express our gratitude to the Peshmerga and the security forces who stand guard and dedicate themselves to ensuring this peace for every citizen of Kurdistan. God willing, this will continue.

In God’s hands, the Kurdistan region is on the eastern side, in a specific area where we see significant challenges. However, Kurdistan remains a safe place, and people from other regions come to Kurdistan to live peacefully. This is a source of pride and appreciation, and we thank you for your reference to the coordination among the parties. All religions and beliefs coexist freely in Kurdistan. This is indeed a place of honor, a place of dignity where everyone in this country is respected, not just within the region but on a global level.

Kurdistan, as a place and region for diverse religions and nations, is known for this, and this is once again a source of celebration. We hope it will continue.

Regarding the call for elections, our message has always been clear from the start: we call for a peaceful election process where every person and every party is free to propagate their ideas and discuss their programs, talk about the future of our country, and express concerns within a reasonable framework. However, we should be cautious that if any party or individual uses harsh or inappropriate language, it reflects poorly on them and their party.

I hope that the people of Kurdistan will wisely determine how to direct their votes for the future of Kurdistan, and at that time, the people’s decisions will determine the future of our country.

Question from the audience: Thank you for providing this opportunity. I am Formas Mohammed, a graduate of the Political Science College. My question directed to you is: To what extent does the Iraqi government cooperate with the Kurdistan Regional Government in addressing issues?

Prime Minister: We cannot generally say that the Baghdad government is a single entity because it contains various political factions and characters, and the ministries are not all the same. There are many who are more supportive in addressing issues, and the central government still has its own perspectives. Many in Baghdad still believe in federalism; their authorities should be delegated to other places or partnerships in governance. At times, there is no central government under federal governance. There is a government at the federal level, but there is also a regional government and provincial governments that operate under a federal system. However, when authority is misused and the central government is concentrated, these kinds of issues emerge.

We have made efforts, especially now, to maintain good relations with the honorable Prime Minister and the ministers, emphasizing that my intention is to solve issues and facilitate discussions to continue. More than ever, in the past period, delegations have visited Baghdad, and federal authorities have come to Kurdistan to address all the existing issues. The region has implemented all its obligations, fulfilled all its duties, and we await the federal government to take responsibility and respect the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region.

Question from the audience: Honorable Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers, thank you for this opportunity. My question is regarding climate change: Does the Kurdistan Regional Government have a diverse strategy for addressing the impacts of climate change, especially in the city of Erbil? Thank you very much.

Prime Minister: Yes, undoubtedly. We feel that the climate changes have significant impacts on Iraq, particularly in the Kurdistan Region. The Kurdistan Region may experience less impact due to the abundance of our water resources, as many of our sources are our own. Rain and snow seasons are more abundant, allowing us to benefit from these resources. However, how can we ensure that we benefit from this renewable resource year after year? One of the programs we have developed is to manage water properly, with several dams and small, moderate dams constructed to ensure this water is effectively utilized for the benefit of citizens, agriculture, tourism, and to mitigate the impact of climate change on the Kurdistan Region. This is part of a strategy we have swiftly established, and we have a plan for further implementing larger dams to achieve this.

I believe this provides significant assistance to the citizens of Kurdistan, reducing their vulnerabilities. But this is not only it; we have also taken other measures for the first time, as there are places in all of Iraq where gas pipelines are not effective for oil extraction. There is currently a place where this gas can be used for electricity and fuel in Kurdistan, and we have worked on that, and there have been results. Some of this current energy, although less, can be sourced from the gas extracted from those regions. All is not lost, as some places are still in existence, but that program has unfortunately seen many incorrect decisions regarding oil and gas in the Kurdistan Region, preventing us from effectively utilizing that renewable resource. Some of these matters were overlooked, but in our program, we must take all necessary measures to ensure climate change does not worsen, or to create other solutions for this issue.

On another note, establishing recycling companies will allow more citizens to benefit from those activities, not only in terms of improving the environment but also gaining profit from it. These issues have been addressed, and the waste management, for instance, deals with the waste found in cities, and we have many suitable programs developed over the years. Our people have sent us to Japan, Germany, America, and other European countries to understand which system is more suitable for the Kurdistan Region, and to adopt it as long as it contributes to environmental protection or to preserving the environment in this way.

Additionally, establishing energy systems with the new technologies available, such as solar energy, has been part of the government program, with some parts already in operation. However, in the end, there is an important point. I have often discussed this issue in meetings and other settings; what is more crucial is how citizens can actively participate in environmental protection. Every culture and community should strive for this so that every citizen in Kurdistan knows their responsibilities, as no one can neglect their home. Hence, for the country to succeed in this regard, citizens must cooperate and support the government. Environmental protection is not solely the government’s responsibility; citizens must also engage in ensuring a clean environment.

Statement from the audience: There are two small points that I truly want to address. One is the collective issue, and I wish to express my gratitude to the security forces; I hope you will pay more attention to them. On religious and media platforms, it cannot be solely the responsibility of the head of the government. If there is no public cooperation, it cannot be solely left to the head of the government to raise public awareness regarding the election process and environmental protection. It is very important for these two platforms to be considered, as this is where people engage in discussions.

If a member of the Kurdistan Parliament in the last session is Turkmen or Christian, or if a member is Kurdish, they have a responsibility. There are two or three members, but they need to know how to act. Unfortunately, I say that the government has been negligent in raising awareness among citizens regarding the election process. We cannot sit idly by for four or five years; all the election matters must be resolved within 20 days. The work of the parliament member is to oversee the laws and monitor the citizens’ affairs. However, it should not be limited to only responding to issues; this has also been a reason for the diminishing number of members in the last session.

As you rightly pointed out, we are proud of our collective achievements and the stability and tranquility of Iran, but we cannot forget that many people are looking for opportunities and are trying to find a place within and outside of the country. Some parties also welcome that idea. Unfortunately, I say it is possible that a member of parliament is part of that.

Prime Minister: We are proud that Kurdistan is our homeland, and it has its own unique characteristics. What you mentioned regarding the issue of not having a final agreement is indeed a factor, but the truth is, everyone should know what has caused the delay in reaching agreements. There is a dimension from the Kurdistan National Union regarding the Federal Court and the Commission so that these agreements are not delayed. They are proud of it, claiming that we have not delayed; we have removed our agreements. They discuss it with pride, not regarding the disputes.

I must say this was a mistake; at times, they claim the reason for the delay was that there was a pre-election ban due to a specific political party’s objections. Okay, but this presents a specific issue without regard to the party; the party must be proud of being a place of trust for those who have had confidence in the party, including Turkmen and Christians who have shown trust in the party and formed alliances in the past. On the other hand, they could not become a place of consensus regarding these agreements. Their mistake was not to consider their own mistakes and their party’s trust in the possibility of peaceful coexistence regarding the rights of these agreements. Therefore, they should have become closer to the party.

But there was no other reason for these agreements to become an alliance with the party; there was no party alliance; these agreements were made. Removing the agreements for political advantage led to violating the rights of these agreements, and I have raised this issue within the international community many times; we have discussed it repeatedly because it is about the rights of the individual and collective rights. You cannot simply discuss a political issue at the expense of the rights of an ethnic group or another religion. I think this was a mistake that happened, but it is possible for this mistake to be corrected in the future parliament session.

We documented that these agreements should not participate in future elections; therefore, we insist that five seats in the agreements be returned within the framework of these 100 seats, and five of them be returned to these agreements. Although this should also be corrected because the citizens of the Kurdistan Region must have a fair distribution of representation. It should not be for the sake of a political party’s interests that these seats are distributed among the provinces.

Statement from the audience: In the Kurdistan Region, specifically in Soran, education is at a high level in terms of quality and training. However, the environment and the facilities for the education and upbringing of the children in those borders are not adequate. We appreciate your support for the developmental initiatives that have been in place in the Kurdistan Region during the ninth cabinet; education has not been neglected there. I ask you, Your Excellency, to give good news from that program to Soran, which is a new community, similar to what is being established in Erbil. May God grant you the strength, and we hope that you will remain in the cabinet. We are looking forward to that. Your Excellency, my second question is, is governance in the Kurdistan Region easy?

Prime Minister: Soran is an important city, and every city has its own specialties. We need to ensure that the level of education and training throughout Kurdistan continues to advance. However, in order for us to effectively serve the education sector and maintain health services, and all other sectors, we need to have revenue. We must increase our income. Therefore, our policy has been focused on how we can increase our revenue so that we can utilize that income for these sectors and provide more services to the citizens.

Regarding services, education and training, and health issues, undoubtedly, all of these are for the people of the Kurdistan Region. Soran is now a place with its own specialties, particularly in tourism, which is very, very attractive, not just the city of Soran but also the surrounding areas, the Balakayati region, Sidakan, Rawanduz, and all of those places, the people of Ali Beg. We have a very large tourism project for that region that can potentially generate significant income for the area and for Soran as well. Thus, we must increase the quality of our cities; not just the capital, but all cities, with each city having its own unique features, without differences and distinctions across all of Kurdistan. Each city has its own specialties; one is for agriculture, one is for tourism, and one is for industry. We want to bring those specialties back to the cities and give them importance.

In creating education, health services, and universities, undoubtedly, if those facilities are provided by the government, we will prioritize education because it is extremely important. We want capable youth to emerge who can have an impact on the advancement of their country and provide better services for their government and community.

Regarding your second question about whether governance is easy or not? No, it is not easy. It is not easy because it is a trust; handling that trust is difficult. I came and took this responsibility, and I have strived to fulfill that responsibility with regard to God, the people, and my own conscience to overcome all challenges at every stage that have been tough, but I have always remembered that we should not under any circumstances violate the rights of the people. Therefore, if you have taken on this trust, you will feel the burden of that responsibility, and that is why it is not easy.

Statement from the audience: Thank you for this opportunity, Your Excellency. I myself reside in the city of Erbil, and I am a teacher in Erbil, but my heart truly belongs to Khalifan; the people of Khalifan are my people. I express my gratitude to you and the Kurdistan Regional Government for the youth projects implemented in Khalifan. However, I must say, as a request to you, that the Khalifan region is large, but there isn’t a good hospital, like a specialized hospital. Many times, for example, if there is an emergency, patients have to go to the city of Soran or to Erbil. Sometimes patients may arrive in Soran or Erbil in such a state that their health deteriorates to the point of risking their lives. Or those from Khalifan city may have to seek treatment in other cities for even minor ailments, so if there could be an announcement for a hospital to be built.

Prime Minister: Isn’t there a hospital there?

Statement from the audience: There is a hospital, but there isn’t a specialized doctor, and the facilities are very old and inadequate. If a hospital could be built that includes all types of specialties and surgeries, we would be very grateful. Even though I reside in Erbil, my heart is with that place.

Prime Minister: Understood, I will discuss this with the ministers.

Question from the audience: I am an activist and a member of the Ashti Enlightenment Center in Diana in the Christian region. Thank you very much for meeting with you, Your Excellency, and the ministers. I appreciate your decision to establish an independent administration for Soran; that is a commendable decision. I have two requests for you. The first request is that you continue with the programs so that in the upcoming cabinet, God willing, we can continue to serve the youth and community. My second request, Your Excellency, is that in the upcoming cabinet, God willing, we advocate for the formation of the next government so that we can give more importance to the unity of the people to achieve a peaceful, prosperous, and developed Kurdistan. Thank you very much.

Prime Minister: Thank you very much, God willing, may God accept our prayers.

original article (auf Kurdisch)