‘Kurds transfrom mass graves into land of coexistence'

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – A conference was held on Monday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Operation Provide Comfort (OPC) and examine the lessons learned from the operation.

The conference, attended by Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials, former US officials, decision makers, and scholars, was organized by the Middle East Institute under the title “Operation Provide Comfort: Reflections and Lessons for Today.”

Falah Mustafa, head of the KRG Department of Foreign Affairs, conveyed President Masoud Barzani’s speech at the commemoration. “It was through the resolution of 688, we [in the Kurdistan Region] began to form a new life carrying with it hope and certainty,” he read.

“The United Nations Security Council Resolution was a valuable document because the silence of the international community had finally come to an end and the world began to tell Saddam that enough is enough,” Barzani's statement continued.

He added that, “the Resolution gave the people of Kurdistan a sense of hope [and] enabled us to demonstrate to the world that we can transform this land of mass graves and misery into a land of hope and coexistence."

General Anthony Zinni, who served as the Chief of Staff and Deputy Commanding General of Combined Task Force OPC, said at the conference, “Support elements and the quality of the foreign troops that participated were exceptional.”

According to Zinni, the OPC that lasted for 80 days was meant to support the Kurds fleeing excessive attacks by the former Iraqi regime.

“This [OPC] was a success primarily because of the Kurds, a people who are resilient and courageous,” the General added.

In late March 1991, nearly 1.5 million people from the Kurdistan Region were displaced due to Saddam Hussein’s atrocities. The situation urged the UNSC to adopt Resolution 688 on April 5, 1991, to announce the no-fly zone over the Kurdistan Region.

Reporting by Baxtiyar Goran
Editing by Ava Homa and Karzan Sulaivany