Top Kurdistan Region officials mark 74th anniversary of founding of KDP

"The KDP has always been in favor of dialogue and amicable resolution of outstanding issues."

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Top officials across the Kurdistan Region on Sunday marked the 74th anniversary of the founding of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the birth of its leader, Masoud Barzani.

"I extend my heartfelt good wishes to first and foremost, the families and loved ones of our martyrs and to all the members and supporters of our political party," Masoud Barzani said in a statement. He also stated that the KDP's foundation was a "turning point in the Kurdish freedom movement" and became a "national school" for those striving for Kurdish rights and freedom.

The KDP was founded on August 16, 1946, by the late Mustafa Barzani – the father of the party's current leader, Masoud Barzani – in the Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhalat) city of Mahabad. Soon after its establishment, the party began to engage in armed struggle with various oppressive regimes over Kurdish rights for autonomy.

In his statement, Barzani stressed the role of KDP in "safeguarding the Kurdistan Region's cultures of existence, pluralism, and peace." He also affirmed that "one of the major roles" of the KDP is to ensure such principles among the region's various ethnicities and communities are upheld.

"The KDP has always been in favor of dialogue and amicable resolution of outstanding issues," Barzani wrote with regards to Kurdistan Region's relations with the federal Iraqi government.

He noted that there is an opportunity to reach a balanced agreement between Erbil and Baghdad based on the constitution, as Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has an "understanding of the Kurdish cause," which paves the way for solving outstanding issues and reaching a "good result."

Kurdistan Region President’s Letter

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani. (Photo: Kurdistan Region Presidency / Facebook)
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani. (Photo: Kurdistan Region Presidency / Facebook)

On Sunday, the Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzaniwho is also the KDP vice presidentin a statement congratulated Masoud Barzani, the KDP politburo, leadership council, cadres, and supporters.

President Nechirvan Barzani reaffirmed the autonomous region's commitment to resolving outstanding issues between the regional and federal Iraqi government based on the country's constitution.

He also called for translating federalism in Iraq into action, as he reiterated the importance of "consensus, balance, and partnership" among all the Iraq's components to guarantee its political stability.

The regional president stressed the role of his party and its cadres "to help better the livelihoods of the people of Kurdistan and overcome the existing challenges and crises." He noted that the KDP's members have been "the initiators and pioneers of unity and solidarity" to protect Kurdistan's achievements. 

Masrour Barzani, the Kurdistan Region's Prime Minister, issued his statement on the event on Saturday, in which he called on all political parties across the region to unite in the face of Kurdistan's current challenges.

"The establishment of the KDP... was a turning point in the history of our people's struggle, as all liberals lined up under the leadership of the spiritual father of our nation, the immortal Mustafa Barzani, who revived the spirit of resistance and defense in the souls of all patriots," he said.

Read More: PM Masrour Barzani calls for unity to overcome Kurdistan's crises

Editing by Khrush Najari