KDP VP Nechirvan Barzani in Sulaimani: ‘No More Green and Yellow Zones’

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In an address delivered from the heart of Sulaimani, Nechirvan Barzani, Vice President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), on Sunday issued a rousing and heartfelt call to the party's supporters in Sulaimani and Halabja, declaring them an indispensable part of the KDP's history, its identity, and its ambitious campaign to secure "one million and more" votes in the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections.

Speaking at a major campaign rally for the KDP's list 275, Barzani sought to transcend the political and geographical divisions that have long defined the Kurdistan Region, emphatically stating that "the party is Sulaimani, and Sulaimani is also the party," and vowing that the time of "green and yellow zones" must end, to be replaced by a single, unified "Kurdistan zone."

The high-profile rally, and Barzani's presence at its head, represents a significant and deliberate push by the KDP to energize its base and expand its influence in a region traditionally dominated by its political rivals.

His speech was a masterful blend of historical reverence, emotional connection, and forward-looking promises, designed to reassure supporters that they are not forgotten and to frame the KDP as a truly pan-Kurdistani party dedicated to the development and prosperity of every corner of the nation, regardless of its political affiliation.

From the podium in Sulaimani, Nechirvan Barzani began by sending his greetings to the party's faithful across the region.

"From Sulaimani, I send greetings to the KDP supporters in Sulaimani and Halabja," he said. "You are an important part of the history of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. The party is proud of you and remains proud because of you."

He immediately moved to reinforce a sense of mutual ownership and belonging, a direct counter-narrative to any feeling of marginalization. "The party owns you, and you own the party. You are the owners of the Barzani path," he declared, a powerful statement of inclusion that places the supporters in Sulaimani and Halabja at the very core of the party's identity.

He then directly addressed the party's ambitious electoral goal, framing the supporters in the region as a critical and emotionally vital component of that national effort.

"You are an important part of the campaign for one million and more for list 275 of the Kurdistan Democratic Party," he announced.

The target of one million votes, he implied, was not just a numerical goal but a symbolic one, and it would be incomplete and hollow without their full and enthusiastic participation. "We expect the number of your votes to be at the level of the party's struggle and history in this city, in this region. One million without you has no taste, it must be one million."

Visibly moved by the energy of the crowd, he added, "I had brought the message of one million for you, but when I see you, my message has surpassed one million."

Barzani also acknowledged the significant political challenges that lie ahead in Baghdad, offering a message of reassurance and solidarity. "We are also ready for all the challenges that are made against us in Iraq. Rest assured, your happiness is our happiness, and your sorrow is our sorrow. Your demand is our duty."

It was in this context that he made a frank and significant admission about the KDP's current political standing in the area, immediately pivoting it into a promise of future commitment. "Let me say a truth, in this area the representation of the party is low, but be sure that the party's program for this area is great," he pledged, signaling a long-term strategic focus on the development of the region.

He forcefully rejected any notion that the KDP views the Sulaimani and Halabja regions as anything less than integral to the whole of Kurdistan. "We believe that the Kurdistan Region is incomplete without this area, the party is incomplete without this area," he stressed.

He addressed the issue of service shortcomings in the provinces of Halabja and Sulaimani, as well as the independent administrations of Garmian and Raparin, stating that these deficiencies are not a matter of political calculation or indifference for the KDP.

"The shortcomings are not a source of happiness for the party, but a great sorrow for the Kurdistan Democratic Party," he said, framing the lack of development as a shared national concern, not a partisan issue. "We look at this area as a beloved part of Kurdistan. The party is a party of all of Kurdistan."

In a powerful and direct refutation of the concept of regionalism that has so often defined Kurdish politics, Barzani declared that such divisions have no place in the KDP's ideology.

"The party has forgotten regionalism, regionalism has no place and will have no place in the party's mind," he asserted.

He rooted this pan-Kurdistani vision in the party's history, noting, "It was the KDP that first launched a pan-Kurdistan revolution. Therefore, no KDP member looks at any part of Kurdistan with discrimination or distinction. When a street is built in Halabja or in Zakho, we are happy about it."

He used a powerful metaphor to illustrate this concept of a unified national identity, referencing the recent issues surrounding air travel and the Sulaimani airport. "The sky of Sulaimani is a beautiful part of Kurdistan. If Sulaimani's sky has few flights, then air travel in Kurdistan will decrease," he argued. "Our sky and our land have one name, and that is 'Kurdistan'."

This led to the most resonant and widely quoted part of his speech, a direct call to dismantle the political and administrative divisions that have separated the Kurdistan Region into zones of influence controlled by the major parties.

"There should not be green and yellow zones, there should be one zone and that is the Kurdistan zone," he declared, a statement met with enthusiastic applause.

Barzani acknowledged the immense challenges the region has faced, from the systematic destruction wrought by the Ba'ath regime to the costly and brutal war against ISIS, which he said "slowed down the caravan of reconstruction and development of Kurdistan."

He reminded the audience that the threat of ISIS was an existential one that did not distinguish between political colors. "It attacked the Peshmerga, but it did not ask which of you has green blood and which of you has yellow blood," he said.

In response, "the heroic Peshmerga all together defended Kurdistan." He acknowledged that while a great deal of development has been achieved, "we are still not satisfied with it and we must do it faster, more, and better."

In a direct appeal to voters to look at the evidence on the ground, Barzani made a bold claim about the KDP's track record in governance and development.

"The people of Kurdistan are witnesses, wherever the party is present, there will be more development and services," he asserted. "The party has proven this in practice. The party has received the certificate of development from the people of Kurdistan."

Finally, Barzani concluded his speech with a tribute to Sulaimani's historic and cultural legacy, expressing a deep desire to see the city reclaim its role as a beacon of intellectual and cultural leadership. "The time has come for Sulaimani to return as it was and be a leader in science, knowledge, and political and cultural initiatives," he said.

He recounted the city's proud history in the 20th century, noting that its sons were at the forefront of establishing schools, the army, courts, and the first university, and led the political, literary, and artistic movements against oppression.

His message was clear: a vote for the KDP is a vote to restore that past glory and to build a unified, prosperous, and developed future for Sulaimani, Halabja, and all of Kurdistan, free from the divisions of the past.

This article was updated on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, at 03:50 PM.