Independent Kurdish state a reality to come true: President Barzani

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Kurdish independence is neither a rumor nor a dream, but a reality that will come true, the Kurdistan Region President said on Thursday.

“We will do everything in order to accomplish this objective [Kurdistan Independence], but peacefully and without violence,” said the President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani in an interview with the Washington Post.

President Barzani mentioned the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) would do everything necessary to achieve independence, adding it was time to carry out practical steps for the cause.

The President noted he was only 16-years-old when he joined the Peshmerga forces.

“From then until now I have been a Peshmerga,” he said. “There are no villages or mountains or valleys I have not gone through. All my efforts from day one have been to establish a Kurdish state.”

According to the President, the day a Kurdish state is declared he won’t be interested in holding any political posts “because that goal will have been achieved.”

In another part of the interview, President Barzani stated he expected the new United States administration to continue supporting the Kurdistan Region both militarily and politically.

Peshmerga is often considered one of the most effective ground troops defeating the Islamic State (IS).

President Barzani added the Kurdish forces needed more military aid in the fight against the extremist group, including heavy armament.

Moreover, he highlighted the aerial support provided by the US-led coalition warplanes targeting IS positions, calling it “very helpful.”

Additionally, he mentioned the coalition forces had trained Peshmerga, and there was intelligence cooperation between Kurdish agencies and the US.

President Barzani expressed readiness to cooperate with the new US President Donald Trump in removing the insurgent group from Iraq.

“It is not only a military war. It is about the ideology. It is about social, economic, and cultural aspects. It is a multifaceted war, and it needs a collective effort with American leadership,” he stated.

The President acknowledged Kurdistan would welcome the US’ military presence in the Region, stating it would prevent terrorism from growing in the area.

He hoped the US would not repeat previous mistakes by withdrawing troops in Iraq after clearing Mosul from the IS extremists.

“I told the military commanders who were on the ground in 2010 and 2011 that if the US forces withdrew from Iraq, it would give an opportunity for terrorism to grow,” he continued.

“Had a limited number of American troops stayed, [IS] would not have been able to take over Ramadi or Mosul,” President Barzani concluded.

The Kurdish leader participated in the 2017 World Economic Forum (WEF) and spoke on conflict ending in Iraq and Syria.

He met many several diplomats and leaders from around the world during the annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany