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The Kurdish Globe No. 345, Monday, March 26, 2012 2Gap widens between Erbil and BaghdadGlobe EditorialRelations between Erbil andBaghdad are going from bad toworse on a near daily basis. Almtmost all the pending issues bettween the two capitals since theestablishment of the so-callednew Iraq have not been resolved,nor have there been any seriousattempts from Baghdad to findresolutions to these issues. Thetense relations are now combinedwith the regional developmentswith the advent of the Arab Springand the fall of the regimes. Thebloody situation is Syria and theKurdish national question in Syritian Kurdistan inevitably elevatesthe Kurdish national question to aregional/international level alongwith powerful regional actors Iranand Turkey, as each have theirown Kurdish national question.With the advent of the popularmovement in the Middle East,which challenges the establishedpolitical status quo and forcesregime changes, the tense relattion between Baghdad and Erbilmoves toward a new dimension.As the Middle East is in turmoil,the position and political decistsion that Erbil may take unilateterally will have wider resonancethroughout the region.Subsequent speeches of Kurditistan President Massoud Barzaniin recent various occasions highltlight the seriousness of the Kurditish political stance concerning thechallenges ahead. The president’sdiscourse signifies a new radicalturning point both in dealing withBaghdad in specific and in dealingwith the Kurdish national questionat a regional level. In a speech tothe Kurdistan Youth Conferencegathered in Erbil, Barzani statedthat the division of Kurdistan intofour parts happened against thewishes of the Kurdish nation andit must be united through peaceftful, mutual understanding and inbrotherhood. He demonstratedthe case of Germany where, inspite of of being divided into twoparts following WWII, the Germtman nation after all those years fintnally managed to unite. Referringto the four parts of Kurdistan anddemanding a united Kurdistan isa new political perception anda new radical vision within theKurdish national liberation movemtment. This is a new political disctcourse, and it becomes particularltly meaningful when expressed bya powerful and respected Kurdishleader who has the legitimate titleof Kurdistan Presidency and waselected by the majority of peoplein Kurdistan.This new political discourse atthe time of turmoil in the MiddleEast is certainly going to definethe character and developmentof the Kurdish national issue inthe region and solutions or challtlenges toward or against it.While the Kurdish politicalvision reaches higher nationalstandards with a strong politicalfoundation established in IraqiKurdistan, the parties involved onthe other side of the question, thatis Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey,continue to follow their outdatedpolicies regarding the Kurdish nattional question. The gap betweenthe Kurdish political spectrumand occupiers of Kurdistan thuswidens to a breaking point.Despite the various politicalgroups and parties throughoutKurdistan, the political entity inKurdistan Region, with its legitimtmate institutions, now becomesthe backbone of the Kurdish nattional liberation movement. Thesignificant and strategic role thatKurdistan Region’s political inststitutions have within the Kurdishnational movement at the regionatal level brings new responsibilityand challenges to Kurdistan Regtgion.The growing centralized tendtdency in Baghdad under Nuri al-Maliki further frustrates alreadytenserelations between Erbil andBaghdad. The recent speech ofthe Kurdistan president on theoccasion of Newroz, the KurdishNew Year, explicitly demonstratesthis. He stated that power-sharingin Iraq and a commitment to theIraqi Constitution is under threat,and that the Kurds will decidetheir own course of action if thesetwo principles are abandoned.“Iraq is facing a serious crisis. Wehave tried our utmost to preventIraq from descending into sectaritian conflict and we have consisttently avoided taking sides in thisconflict. The Kurds have played apivotal role in bringing about thenew Iraq, particularly two yearsago when our initiative resulted inthe formation of the current goveternment. Had it not been for ourrole, one can only guess what anunknown fate would have besetIraq. It is very unfortunate that aREUTERS/StringerA woman waves Kurdish flags during a rally in the disputed Iraqi town ofKhanaqin, northeast of Baghdad October 16, 2011.small number of people in Baghdtdad have imposed themselves andmonopolized power.”In his message to the nation, thepresident further stated: “Powersharingand partnership betweenKurds, Sunni and Shiite Arabs,and others is now completely nonexistentand has become meanitingless. The Iraqi Constitution isconstantly violated and the Erbilagreement, which was the basisupon which the current governmtment was formed, has been comptpletely ignored. As soon as theycame to power, they disregardedthe Constitution, the previousagreements that we had, and theprinciple of power-sharing.”On the issue of Kirkuk and otherdisputed territories, he said: “Theresolution of the status of Kirkukand other disputed areas has conststantly been evaded. We haveshown utmost flexibility and pattience, and here I want to thankour people for their patience. Wehave opted for a resolution basedon legal and constitutional means,but others have reneged on theirpledges. It is impossible for usto abandon this issue because forus it is extremely significant andmore than being a mere matter ofprinciple.”He accused Baghdad of prevtventing KRG progress and stopptping the KRG from developingand utilizing Kurdistan’s naturalresources: “None of the KRGcontracts with foreign oil comptpanies is unconstitutional. Themain reason behind this disputewith Baghdad is not a question oflegality of the contracts; rather, itis that they don’t want to see theKRG make progress and strideforward.”He strongly criticized Maliki formonopolizing power: “There is anattempt to establish a one-millionstrong army whose loyalty is onlyto a single person. Where in theworld can the same person be theprime minister, the chief of staffof the armed forces, the ministerof defense, the minister of intertrior, the chief of intelligence andthe head of the national securitycouncil.“In his final message to the nattion on the eve of Newroz, thepresident asked the nation totake into their own accounts thecurrent affairs: “It is time to sayenough is enough. The currentstatus of affairs in unacceptable tous, and I call on all Iraqi politicalleaders to urgently try and find asolution; otherwise we will returnto our people and will decide onwhatever course of action that ourpeople deem appropriate.”The president’s Newroz messtsage should be read as the level offrustration and the end of the roadwith Baghdad. The Kurdish nattion and all other minority groupsliving in Kurdistan Region had alrtready made their decision in 2005when there was a semi-officialreferendum held in Kurdistan.More than 99 percent of peopleopted for independence and separtration from Iraq. For people ofKurdistan, the appropriate actionis to aim for independent statehthood. That is what people hopeand aspire for.Independence of Kurdistan Regtgion from Iraq is not confinedsolely to Iraq but has regionalconsequences and implications.The four states that occupy partsof Kurdistan have a commonpolicy not to allow an independtdent Kurdish political entity toappear in the region. Despite theapparent conflict between Syria’sregime and Turkey and betweenTurkey and Iran on the issue ofSyria and NATO missile shields,these states are implicitly coordintnating their policies regarding theKurdish national question. Kurditistan Region is not only facingBaghdad but also Tehran, Damasctcus and Ankara.Against this anti-Kurdish coalittion, Kurds should develop a uniteted strategic policy and a politicalunity in four parts of Kurdistan.The first step toward that unity isnot organizing a Kurdish nationalconference of the four parts ofKurdistan as has been discussedwidely. It would be more practictcal and urgent that a national conftference to be organized betweenKurdistan Region and SyrianKurdistan to establish a commonand strategic policy to safeguardKurdish national interests in Syritian Kurdistan. A successful jointestablishment between these twoparts of Kurdistan could servethe basis of a larger and widerKurdish national unity among theKurds in all of Kurdistan.Azad AminWeekly paper printed in ErbilFirst published in 2005www.kurdishglobe.netinfo.kurdishglobe@gmail.comAddress:Erbil, Bakhtiyari QuarterEXECUTIVE EDITORJawad QadirEDITORAzad Aminazad.kurdishglobe@gmail.comSenior U.S. EditorSuzanne DeRouensuzi.kurdishglobe@yahoo.comAssociate U.S. EditorElizabeth Schmittelizabethschmitt@earthlink.netSenior U.K. EditorBashdar Pusho Ismaeelbashdar@hotmail.comAko Muhammed+964 750 4661936ako.kurdishglobe@gmail.comAiyob Mawloodi+964 750 4776905aiyob.kurdishglobe@gmail.comQassim Khidhir+964 750 4823081qassim.kurdishglobe@gmail.comSTAFF WRITERSSazan M. Mandalawisazan.kurdishglobe@gmail.comZakaria Muhammed+964 750 475 3897zakaria.kurdishglobe@gmail.comHawzhen Rashadaddin+964 750 4707416hawjin.kurdishglobe@gmail.comARTS EDITORDiyaco Qayoumy +964 750 4036252diyaco.kurdishglobe@gmail.comAdvertisementFor information and prices of ad spots, please contactGlobe’s Advertisement section: Rizgar Yahyarizgar.kurdishglobe@gmail.comCell: +964 750 4055888You can also check prices and packages by loggingon to: kurdishglobe.net/adSubscriptionThe Kurdish Globe can be delivered to your office orhome address, whether in Kurdistan or abroad.To subscribe: Please contact the Globe DistributionSection: Rauf Aspindarairauf.kurdishglobe@gmail.com+964 750 4497976You can also subscribe by logging onto:kurdishglobe.net/subscription

The Kurdish Globe No. 345, Monday, March 26, 2012 3Barzani denounces Baghdad power grab“…Time has not yet come” for the “good news,” says BarzaniKurdistan’sPresident Barzaniaddresses the nationto curb relationswith BaghdadKurdistan Region PresidentMassoud Barzani delayeddeclaring the expected"good news" for Kurds,saying "the time has notyet come." Instead, duringa speech on the occasion ofNewroz—the Kurdish NewYear—he shed light on currtrent problems with Baghdtdad, which resulted in firmreactions afterward."I assure you that the daywill definitely come to anntnounce this good news, butit must come at the righttime--be sure it will come,"said President Barzani,addressing the people ofKurdistan about a messagemany expected concerningthe declaration of Kurdistanindependency.In an earlier speech onFebruary 18 on the anniverstsary of the Kurdistan Demotocratic Youth Union, Presidtdent Barzani told the youths"to be prepared" for a greatevent. "More than 2,500years ago, Kurds rose upand rejected dictatorship,"said Barzani, referring tothe Newroz story when aKurdish blacksmith termintnated the life of the tyrannyruler, thus making the Kurditish calendar. Newroz, or theNew Day, on March 21 hasbeen celebrated ever since."Since that day, Kurdshave continuously strivedand struggled for freedomand sovereignty. This hasa big meaning. It meansKurds are alive and are anation that will never acctcept being suppressed byanyone. We are a nation thathas to be free and live withfreedom. This is a lessonfor us and for other people,"he stated.In the critical speech onMarch 20, Barzani firmlycriticized Iraqi Prime Minitister Nuri al-Maliki's polictcies both in relation to Iraqand to Kurdistan Region afftfairs; he plainly warned thatthis administration is leaditing toward "dictatorship."“It is time to say enough isenough. The current statusof affairs is unacceptableto us, and I call on all Iraqipolitical leaders to urgentlytry to find a solution; otherwtwise, we will return to ourpeople and decide on whatetever course of action ourpeople deem appropriate.”Al-Maliki and his aideswere annoyed by this statemtment and particularly by theidea of turning to the peopleof Kurdistan for a decision.Salih al-Hasnawi, a Parltliament member from theal-Maliki-led State of Law,said that they were "surptprised" by President Barztzani's statement, which—ashe put it--was "a violationof the [Iraq] Constitution.”"Even if the Kurds inttended separation, this mustbe preceded by drawingthe borders, amending theconstitution, and holding areferendum with two-thirdsof Iraqis’ approval," saidal-Hasnawi in an interviewwith al-Sumaria news. Henoted that that the Kurdstake a satisfying share of thebudget and hold sovereignposts as well as ministriesand embassies; he declinedto say if Kurds have beenmarginalized in the governmtment.Barzani’s warningBarzani dedicated mostof his Newroz speech tocriticize the Shiite-leadinggovernment, although heassured his critics that hewas targeting a small groupin the government, not theShiite parties.“Iraq is facing a seriouscrisis. We have tried ourutmost to prevent Iraq fromdescending into a sectarianconflict and we have consisttently avoided taking sidesin this conflict. The Kurdshave played a pivotal role inbringing about the new Iraq,particularly two years agowhen our initiative resultedin the formation of the currtrent government based onthe Erbil Agreement. Hadit not been for our role,one can only guess what anunknown fate would havebeset Iraq. It is very unforttunate that a small numberof people in Baghdad haveimposed themselves andmonopolized power,” saidthe president.He said there are a numbtber of main disputes withthe Baghdad government.“Power-sharing and partntnership between Kurds,Sunni and Shiite Arabs,and others is now comptpletely non-existent andhas become meaningless.The Iraqi Constitution isconstantly violated, and theErbil Agreement--whichwas the basis upon whichthe current government wasformed--has been completeltly ignored. As soon as theycame to power, they disregtgarded the Constitution, theprevious agreements thatwe had, and the principle ofpower-sharing.”Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani speaks to reporters at a joint news conference with Shiite leader Ammar al-Hakim,Erbil, March 17.On disputes between Erbiland Baghdad, the presidentsaid: “The resolution of thestatus of Kirkuk and otherdisputed areas has conststantly been evaded. Wehave shown utmost flexibilitity and patience and here Iwant to thank our peoplefor their patience. We haveopted for a resolution basedon legal and constitutionalmeans but others have rentneged on their pledges. It isimpossible for us to abandtdon this issue because forus it is extremely significantand more than being a merematter of principle.”He said the other main isstsue is allocation of fundsfor the Kurdistan RegionPeshmerga forces, whichthe Iraqi government hasconsistently refused to addtdress. “For the last five orsix years, funding for Peshmtmerga forces has been embtbezzled,” stated PresidentBarzani.On the dispute regardingoil and gas exploration andmanagement, he defendedthe legality of the oil andgas contracts that the KRGhas signed. “None of theKRG contracts with foreignoil companies is unconstittutional. The main reasonbehind this dispute withBaghdad is not a questionof legality of the contracts;rather, it is that they don’twant to see the KRG makeprogress and stride forwtward.”On monopolization ofpower in Baghdad, thepresident stated that poweris being concentrated inthe hands of a few peopleand others in the politicalprocess are being marginatalized, including Shiites.“There is an attempt to esttablish a one-million strongarmy whose loyalty is onlyto a single person. Wherein the world can the sameperson be the prime ministter, the chief of staff of thearmed forces, the ministerof defense, the minister ofinterior, the chief of intelltligence and the head of thenational security council.”The President dismissedstatements that the Kurditish-Shiite alliance is closeto collapse, saying, “We arecommitted to our alliancewith the Shiites, but not withthis group of people whohave monopolized powerand with their policies haveeven marginalized otherShiites. The Kurds and thefollowers of Al-Hakim andAl-Sadr have always shownsolidarity with each other.”Barzani to visitWashingtonMeanwhile, PresidentBarzani heads to Washingtton, D.C., in April to meettop U.S. officials to discussongoing political crises inIraq. The president was invtvited by official invitationfrom Vice President JoeBiden, according to Kurditistan Region Presidency offtficials.Barzani’s visit to thecapital of the United Statescomes at a critical period asIraq heads toward sectarianconflict, particularly sincethe withdrawal of U.S.troops and following the poltlitical crisis that deepenedwith the charges againstIraq’s Vice President TariqHashimi. Hashimi is one ofthe most influential Sunnileaders. He fled to Kurdisttan Region for safety.Baghdad urged Kurdishauthorities to hand Hashimiover to Baghdad judicialauthorities to face a heariting. The Kurdistan presidtdent refused, and membersof al-Maliki's party in turncriticized Kurdistan Regionauthorities.Kurdish leaders dentnounced Maliki as attemptiting to establish a dictatorialregime in Iraq. In additionto that and apart from Sunnileaders such as Saleh Mutltlaq, the vice-premier ofIraq, some Shiite influentialleaders such as Muqtaderal-Sadr and Amar al-Hakimalso accuse Maliki’s regimeof being dictatorial.Barzani’s visit to D.C.is crucial in regards to theongoing turmoil in Syria.There is a considerablenumber of Kurds in Syria.As they search for their nattional rights in what maybe a post-Assad period, theactive policy of KurdistanRegion vis-à-vis Syria andSyrian Kurdistan is crucialin any regional or internattional move against the Syritian Regime.The Kurdistan president’svisit to the U.S. can also beviewed from the perspecttive of bilateral U.S.-Kurditistan relations. U.S. politictcal analyst John Hannah,for example, advised U.S.President Barack Obamaand his administration totake the opportunity of thisvisit to improve and constsolidate U.S.-Kurdistan Regtgion relations. In an articlepublished in Foreign Policy,Hannah urged: “More thantwo decades after savingIraq's Kurds from annihilattion, it's time for America toinstitutionalize a long-termstrategic relationship withthem--one that understandsthat a secure and prosperotous Kurdistan, confident inits ties to the world's solesuperpower, can be a boonto U.S. interests, and a forcefor stability and modernismthroughout Iraq and thebroader Middle East.”Ako MuhammedErbilako.kurdishglobe@gmail.comGLOBE PHOTO/ Safin Hamed

The Kurdish Globe No. 345, Monday, March 26, 2012 5Ban Ki-moon to attend Arab Summit in IraqIraqi Minister ofForeign AffairsDr. Hoshyar Zebaricommented on theupcoming March 29Arab Summitin Baghdad.Foreign Minister says post-summitIraq will be differentIn an interview conducted atthe Foreign Affairs Ministry inBaghdad, Minister Zebari toldthe Globe that eight to 12 Arabpresidents will participate in thesummit, which is estimated tocost around US$600 million.Below is the text of the intervtview:Globe: When will the ArabSummit be held and what is theagenda?Zebari: The Arab Summit willbe held in Baghdad on March29. Before that and on the 27th,the meeting of the Arab Financeand Economy Ministers will beheld, and on the 28th the meetiting of the Arab Ministers of Foreteign Affairs will be held, bothof which will be in Baghdad,followed by the summit on the29th.Globe: Are all the Arab counttries invited? What about Syria?Zebari: We have officially invtvited all the Arab countries exctcept Syria, as there was a commtmon decision by Arab countriesnot to invite Syria due to thecurrent situations in the countryand the war against the citizensof this country. This means thatwe have invited 21 countries toattend the summit in Baghdad,all of which claim they will atttend. Numerous Iraqi ministersand officials have delivered theinvitations to those 21 countries,and none has refused the invitattion. However, on which leveleach country will attend is theirdecision.Globe: How many leaders ofArab countries are expected toattend?Zebari: Per the Arab Communtnity standards and experience,there has never been an ArabSummit attended by all Arabpresidents and leaders, and therehave always been absentees.According to confirmed informtmation, we expect that betweeneight to 12 presidents and leadeters from Arab countries attendthe summit, and if this happens,we will say that the summit wasa success.Globe: As thousands of guestscome to Baghdad for the summtmit, where are you in terms ofpreparations?Zebari: Technical and logisttical preparations are alreadymade. Baghdad is ready for thesummit, and all the hotels andpalaces are ready to receive theguests.Globe: How many hotels, palataces and villas are prepared forthe guests?Zebari: The Presidential Palatace, which is very large andunique, has been renovated andready. It used to be occupied bythe U.S. Army and the U.S. Constsulate, and despite being bombtbarded, it has now been comptpletely renovated. And the ArabLeague has seen the place andis impressed by the decorationsand preparations; it has also saidthat future hosts of the summitshould work very hard to imitateIraq. More than 10 halls are alsoprepared, only two of whichwill be primarily used. Rashid,Sheraton, Ashtar, Palestine,Meridian, Baghdad, Babel andMansour hotels are all ready towelcome guests. This is besideshundreds of other places to hostthe visitors. Moreover, there are27 presidential villas borrowedfrom our people and renovated,such as Dr. Rozh Noori’s house,a number of Mam Jalal’s housetes, Dr. Ibrahim Jaafari’s house,Rafi Issawi’s house and other offtficials’ houses.Globe: How many people willcome here for the summit?Zebari: More than 500 reporteters are expected to cover thesummit, but for the delegationsof the countries, it is not clear, aseach country might change thesize of its delegation; but theyare thousands of people. Wehave prepared more space thanrequested by the Arab League.Globe: What is the cost of hostiting the summit?Zebari: The cost is very high.Initially some US$400 millionwas allocated for the preparattions and associated renovattions, but we have now requestedmore, as new issues have risen.The total costs would reach US$500-600 million. However, thismoney hasn’t disappeared butrather has been invested, andeven if the summit is not organtnized, the money has been usedin renovating palaces, roads,building and renovating hotels,renovating the airport, buildingnew stuff. The problem in Iraqis everyone thinks negativelyand believes that everyone is athief and corrupt. Once an offtficial asked me, “Aren’t youafraid of signing those contractsvaluing 10m to 50m?” I said no,as I have no doubt about myselfand am not afraid, especially asI told the ministerial council thatI accept to chair the preparationcommittee with two conditions:First, that no one interferes in thework of the committee, and wewill be available for all monitoriting and investigations. Second,we need to have enough budgetand welcome any auditing bythe Integrity Board.Globe: It is said that you havebought 400 bulletproof vehiclesfor the summit?Zebari: Those things are farfrom truth; we have only bought50 to 60 vehicles, but now thereare numerous officials, wealthypeople and Mullahs who havebulletproof cars.Globe: Is any non-Arab counttry invited to the summit?Zebari: We have not invitedany other countries to attendthe summit. Besides the Arabcountries, we have invited fourinternational and regional organtnizations including the UnitedNations, the European Union,the African Union and the Orgtganization of Islamic Cooperattion. And I am announcing thatthrough your paper that we havereceived a letter from Ban Kimoon,the United Nations Secrtretary-General, a few days agoconfirming that he will attendthe summit, which if it happenswill have its own significance.Globe: Rumors are that Intterpol has asked Iraq to arrestOmar Hassan al-Bashir, Sudan’spresident, if he attends the summtmit.Zebari: These rumors are nottrue and are baseless. Unforttunately this rumor came fromKurdistan. Iraq is not part of theInternational Court of Justicethat has summoned al-Bashir.Besides, this man is attendingnumerous meetings and congtgresses in various countries aftter the count’s decision. He isnot being arrested.Globe: Does any of the Arabcountries have conditions for atttendance, as it was reported thatSaudi Arabia and Kuwait hadsome conditions?Zebari: No, this is not true, andno country has put conditions toattend.Globe: When would the summtmit be described as a success?Zebari: The summit has been asuccess so far, as no one imagitined that Iraq could bring 21Arab countries onto its soil—and especially to Baghdad andthe way it is now. The initialdelegations are now arriving inBaghdad.Globe: What will be the benefitof this summit for Iraqis?Zebari: The summit is a succtcess for all of Iraq from Kurditistan to its other end. This willachieve two objectives: First,after the 1990s invasion of Kuwtwait, Iraq has been separatedfrom the Arab world and hashad no role due to war, sanctionsand isolation. After this summitIraq will regain a legal statusin the Region and Arab world.The summit and the presenceof those Arab leaders in it willrecover trust for the politicians,diplomats, business people andinvestors. This summit will beimportant for the Kurds as well.Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari speaks to Reuters during an interviewin Baghdad December 21, 2011.Second, the summit will changeIraq by breaking the sanctionson it, as in the past Iraq waslooked at as an illegal birth byArab countries that claimed thatit was invaded and governed bya bad tribal regime. Hence, thepresence of all these Arab leadeters and holding the summit inBaghdad is giving legitimacyto Iraq and its political process.Therefore, we say that a postsummitIraq is a different Iraq,and especially development inthe economic, business and invtvestment aspects will boost dramtmatically.Globe: What does Maliki’s rectcent Kuwait visit mean?Zebari: It was very successfulfrom all aspects. We agreed toremove the problems of the IraqiAirlines. Iraq could not buy aplane and, if it had a buildinganywhere in Kuwait, it wouldhave been confiscated; but weagreed to put an end to this issueand we also agreed that all thecourt cases of Kuwait againstIraq be withdrawn. It was dectcided that we spend US$300million and they spend US$200million to solve those issues.Moreover, there are some obligtgations on Iraq, which we willfulfill such as respecting thedecision of the United NationsSecurity Council about the Iraq-Kuwait border after the KuwaitWar, despite all the unsettledissues related to this decision,which are not in the benefit ofIraq and some Iraqi farmers whohave lands inside Kuwait, whoshould be compensated. Besidessome water border issues thatare against Iraq’s interests, wesaid that all of these should bemanaged mutually.Globe: What happened to theissue of Mubarak Port?Zebari: A big discussion wascreated over the issue. This porthas no negative impacts on Iraq,and we submitted a court case onthe issue and we won the case.Globe: Iraq’s stance on the Syritia situation is being criticized.Zebari: We are with the Arabs’common voice toward a solutionfor the country’s current situattion. We are against the SyrianRegime if it kills its own people.If the Syrian nation changesAssad, Iraq cannot stop that,and if an international decree ismade against Syria, Iraq wouldnot object, but what is clearnow is that we have not closedour border with Syria and havenot summoned our ambassadorfrom that country, as we havemutual interests with Syria.Globe: How many foreign embtbassies are there in Iraq and howmany Iraqi embassies are therein the world?Zebari: There are currently98 embassies and internationalorganizations in Iraq, and Iraqhas 90 embassies and consulatates worldwide; we are planningto open an Iraqi consulate in theIranian Province of Urumiah.REUTERS/Mohammed Ameen

The Kurdish Globe No. 345, Monday, March 26, 2012 6Rebellion through hairstylesA barber cuts a client’s hair at his shop in Erbil, September 3, 2010.GLOBE PHOTO/ Qassim KhidhirIn Baghdad, your haircut can cost your lifeSome male teenagersin Iraqi Kurdistanrebel against society’straditions withstatements offashionable haircutsand tight jeansand T-shirts.At Family Mall, Erbil’s largetest mall, groups of four to fiveteenagers eat fast food, smokecigarettes and girl-watch everynight. Most of these teenagers callthemselves "emos," which in theWest is defined as a style of rockmusic “characterized by melodicmusicianship and expressive, oftten confessional lyrics,” accorditing to Wikipedia. These teenageters don't know the origin of theterm, however. “Emo is a style ofhaircut," said Mariwan Salar, 16,who was wearing tight jeans and atight black T-shirt, and sporting anemo haircut. The three cigarettesmokingteens accompanying himwere dressed as he was and hadthe same haircut. They were opento speaking with the Globe, andpleased that their styles attractedthe attention of others. They saidthey come to Family Mall almostevery night. "My parents comptplain about the way I dress and myhaircut, and they are angry that Igo out every night," said YadgarSarbast, 16. "But I don't listen tothem much.”The term "emo" originated in the“mid-1980s hardcore punk movemtment of Washington, D.C., whereit was known as ‘emotional hardctcore’ or ‘emocore’, and pioneeredby bands such as Rites of Springand Embrace, also according toWikipedia.In Kurdistan, emo got its starttwo years ago with a few stylishbarbers eager to display the style.The most popular barbershop forteenagers, The New Style Barbtbershop in Erbil, first introducedthe emo haircut style to teenagers."Here emo is only a style, nothingelse; there is no philosophy behindit," said Zana Sleman, a hairdresseter working in the New Style Barbtbershop. Sleman said he has a lotof customers who like emo hairctcuts--all of them teenagers. "Theyare not organized groups; they arejust small groups of friends. Theywant to attract girls; they thinkgirls like the style."Sleman mentioned that the hairststyles that are now most popularamong teenagers include the Kortrean, V, Rock and emo cuts, withthe Korean being most popular.Dyar Jalal, another hairdresserat the same barbershop, believesteenagers who like these haircutsare rebelling against social tradittions and parental control. "Mostof them have an isolated life. Theyhave bad relationships with theirparents; they are rarely at homeand always outside," said Jalal,adding, "They are very peacefuland don't like violence."Today in Iraq, haircuts can costlives. In the past weeks, a numberof teenagers were brutally murdtdered by religious extremists inBaghdad, accusing the teenagersof having a feminine appearancebecause of their tight clothing andemo haircuts.Karwan Abdullah (not his realname), a Kurd, plans on workingin Baghdad at a recently built mall.His friends in Baghdad warnedagainst going because of his emostyle, so he went to the barber, cuthis hair and bought new clothesbefore he left.Meanwhile, Arab hairdresserAdel Hussein, from Baghdad,left there a week ago after he feltthreatened because he performsemo haircuts. Now, Husseinworks in one of the barbershopsin Erbil. "Many of my customerswent into hiding so as not to getkilled. And my family urged meto leave Baghdad as soon as posstsible. Everything happened afterValentine's Day."Moreover, Shawkat al Bayati,an Iraqi journalist from Baghdadwho conducted an investigativereport on the killings of emos, toldThe Kurdish Globe, “Most of theteenagers who were killed weresuspected by extremists of beinggay because of their feminine apptpearance.In Baghdad, said Hussein, thereis "no rule of law. Religiousgroups can do anything, they arethe power."The Baghdad government in astatement denied that they wereinvolved in killing or arrestingemos. However, they did acknowletedge that the police are allowed toarrest homosexuals and those invtvolved in drugs, both of which areagainst the norms of Iraqi society.The Baghdad government has notcommented on whether extremitist religious groups have targetedemos.Kirkuk: a beggar’s paradiseSome eat, live and pay rent off of their proceeds as beggarsMore than 50,000benefit from thesocial protectionnetwork in Kirkuk,but this hasn’tlowered the highnumber of beggars.Beggary is a widespreadphenomenon in every corntner of the city of Kirkuk.Found on main streets, inttersections, business areasand virtually everywherein the city, the majority ofbeggars are females.Eleven-year-old SajaSalman, who covers herhair with a black scarf andwears black, says that sheand five members of herfamily moved to Kirkukafter her father was killedin Baghdad in 2003. “Wehave been busy with beggtgary for more than sevenyears now,” says Salman.“We [herself and herthree sisters] begin at 7a.m.; three of us beg andone collects stuff fromgarbage. My mom rarelycomes out as she is sick.”Salman says that sincethe average population ofthe city is poor and chockfull of beggars, they don’tget a lot of money. “Eachof us collects between15,000 to 18,000 Dinars[approximately US$12 to15] per day; we use part ofit to buy food and we goback home at 5 p.m. Therest we use to buy clothesand pay rent.” Salmanwishes to be able to giveup the “dirty job” and goback to school like all herfriends.Jwan Hassan, head ofthe Human Rights andWomen’s Affairs Commtmittee at the Kirkuk Provtvincial Council, says thereare no statistics about theactual numbers of beggarsexisting in Kirkuk city.Hassan says they havetried to enroll a numberof female beggars in thesocial protection network,which would give each ofthem 50,000 Iraqi Dinars,approximately US$40 permonth. “But no one acctcepts this; they say ‘weearn 50,000 Dinars a day,what shall we do with50,000 a month?’” statedHassan in an interviewwith the Globe.Hassan said the committtee plans to work in coopeteration with the KirkukPolice Directorate andwomen’s organizations toestablish a place to trainthe women and help themlive ordinary lives onceagain.Lt. Sarhad Qadir, directtor of Kirkuk Districts andSubdistricts, states thatthe spread of beggary is asecurity threat to the provitince. “The issue is whena woman covers her bodyand face with abaya andscarfs; one doesn’t knowwhether she is a beggaror a terrorist hiding explostsives,” said Qadir in an intterview with the Globe.Beneficiaries of the Soctcial Protection Networkin Kirkuk exceed 50,000people, but the large numbtber of beggars hasn’t abateted. And although mostreligions prohibit beggary,different factors forcepeople to resort to it.Bushra Mohammed,a women’s activist inKirkuk, believes that arrtresting the beggars is nota solution or a way to uprtroot the phenomenon. “Amajority of those beggarsare used to beggary andcannot give it up easily, asthey earn good money outof it,” Mohammed told theGlobe. “And some of themare controlled by bandsthat send them out to thecity to collect money forthem.”Despite the fact thatKirkuk is Iraq’s richestcity in oil reserves, thepoverty level in the cityis very high and increasiting continuously. Unetemployment and lack ofservices alongside politictcal conflicts among differetent groups inside the citythreaten the livelihood ofits inhabitants.

The Kurdish Globe No. 345, Monday, March 26, 2012 7Arab revolutions heat up car marketAuto prices skyrocket and businessmen profitGLOBE PHOTO/ Safin HamedThe photo depicts a German car at the international car show during the Erbil International Fair in February 2012.Syrian uprisingcauses road closuresand concernbusinessmenwho bring inautomobiles fromthe beleagueredcountry.Businessmen are claimiting that Arab revoluttions and Newroz, thebeginning of the Kurditish calendar New Year,have boosted the carmarket in Kurdistan Regtgion of Iraq.In a nearly desertedcar store in Erbil, theowner of Adnan CarsCompany and his partntners discussed the automtmobile market and theirexpectations. “Most carbusinessmen or sellersagree that the Arab uprtrising and the upcomiting spring tourism seastson are heating up thecar market and causingan increase in prices,”Mozafar Abdurrahman,35, told The KurdishGlobe.The security deteriorattion in Syria has causedhigh prices in the carmarket, said Abdurrahmtman, and Syrian roadclosures have causedhigher transportationexpenses. Kurdish medtdia also reported that abusinessman’s car shipmtment was seized by theSyrian Free Army, thenreleasing for $20, 000.But the owners claimthat caravans stuck behthind borders are also restsponsible for increasedprices.“There used to be seveteral ways to bring carsinto Kurdistan beforethe Syrian uprising.First, we took cars fromSyria to Turkey thento Kurdistan. Second,we took them directlyfrom Turkey. Third wasfrom Dubai to southernIran’s harbors to themost northern bordersof Kurdistan,” said Abdtdurrahman.Now almost all Kurditistan’s car businessmenhave stopped importiting cars from Syria andshifted instead to Dubaiand Jordan. Abdurrahmtman said that beforethe Syrian uprising, ashipment of cars wouldnormally take a week or10 days to arrive; nowit takes around 40 to 45days.Car storeowners menttioned that car saleshave increased almostthree times over the prevtvious months. “Thestores are nearly emptybecause demands forcars have dramaticallyincreased. For instance,we sold two cars a dayseveral months ago;now that number hasrisen to six cars,” saidAbdurrahman.Businessman DilanKareem, who chose toremain anonymous, notticed that many Arabsfrom the middle andsouthern parts of Iraqnow head to Kurdistanfor their automobilepurchases. “This inftflates the market, causiting price increases of$1, 000 per car,” saidKareem.American cars donot sell as fast as Kortrean and Japanese cars,and Kareem said thatfew American cars arebrought in by tradesmtmen. But, he added,“An American car hasnearly $1, 500 to $2,000worth of benefits to thedriver, which is morethan other countries’manufactured cars.”In addition to Syria,uprisings in other Arabcountries have directlyaffected the car marketin Kurdistan.Some Kurdish tradesmtmen even sell their carsin Jordan and Oman toLibyan, Egyptian andTunisian tradesmenbecause car purchaseshave increased since thebeginning of the uprisitings in those countries.Salim Mohammed, 26,is a new governmentemployee in the huntfor a car for two weeksnow; he complains thatthe government is notmonitoring the car marktket. “Some tradesmenmonopolize the marketand the governmentcannot stop them bectcause they [the tradesmtmen] are high-rankingofficials,” Mohammedtold the Globe.Lolan Adeeb, 33, agovernment employeeat Kurdistan’s Ministtry of Planning, was inthe market for a secotond-hand car beforeNewroz—even withthe inflated prices. Andwhile prices remainhigh, people still don’tmind spending the extramoney for the days duriting Newroz so they canvisit tourist attractionsand spend joyful timewith their families, Adeteeb said.Salih WaladbagiErbilsalihas2006@gmail.com

The Kurdish Globe No. 345, Monday, March 26, 2012 8Quality Control Board keeps its guard upSome 85 percent of inferior goods denied distributionMedicine, animals,plants and otherproducts mustmeet the Board’sapproval beforereaching the public.Dr. Muayad Abdulrahmtman, director of theKurdistan Region Qualitity Control Board, statedin an interview with theGlobe that the Board hasbeen able to control upto 85 percent of the tradeof inferior products at theborders and in the marktkets. The remaining 15percent of uncontrolledproducts are those imptported illegally.Dr. Abdulrahman saidthat, according to a decreeby the Kurdistan Regionatal Government’s Ministryof Planning, as of April1, 2010, controlling thequality of food productson the Region’s bordershas been the responsibtbility of the Ministry ofHealth. Since that time,the Board has controlled65 commodities in addittion to medicine, animals,plants and other products.“However, we mainlycontrol the quality ofcosmetics and detergentssuch as shampoo, soap,detergent powder, due tothe vast quantities of suchproducts available in themarkets,” stated Abdulrtrahman.Abdulrahman arguedthat the import of badproducts from neighboriting countries is not asstsociated with bad intenttion, while there are manyproducts that neighboringcountries do not allowto be sold in-country butallow to be exported tocountries such as Kurditistan and Iraq. He added:“It is in the interest ofneighboring countriesthat Kurdistan remains asa consumer.”Although there has beenno control over constructtion materials and electrictThe photo depicts a quality-control worker in a lab in Kurdistan Region. File Photocal products, according toAbdulrahman such itemswill also be controlled asof April 15 of this year.Regarding the adversehealth impacts from ingtgesting inferior food, esptpecially baby milk, Abdtdulrahman said long-termeffects result in diseasessuch as cancer and heart,kidney, liver and otherdiseases; worse than that,some effects will impactthe second generation.He stated that laboratortries in the region are notall properly equipped andsome have equipment thatis not used. The quality ofthe university graduatesPRESS PHOTOin Kurdistan is very lowand they cannot even usesome devices, said Abdtdulrahman, “so we needto train them from zero.”Abdulrahman added thatthey are using a differentapproach than the oneused in Baghdad for qualitity control. In Baghdad,quality control is comptpletely centralized, but inKurdistan they have qualitity control units at all bordtder points.While herbal medicinepharmacies fill up moreof the market daily, someof those pharmacies areworking without a lictcense from the Ministryof Health. Commentingon this issue, Abdulrahmtman warned people aboutusing such herbal medictcines, as a majority ofthem are fake and harmfulto health. He argued thathis board has succeeded100 percent in controllingthe quality of cigarettesand alcoholic beveragesin Kurdistan Region.Kirkuk prison escapee capturedAn award is offered for the capture of escaped prisonersErbil’s securityforces capturedone of 19 escapedinmates fromTasfirat CentralPrison of Kirkuk.On March 23, 2012, some19 inmates held on terroritism charges escaped fromTasfirat Central Prisonof Kirkuk, according toTorhan AbdurrahmanYoussef, Kirkuk DeputyPolice Chief Major-Geneteral.Farhad Mohammed,Kirkuk’s Media Departmtment of Security Forces,said Erbil’s security forcescaptured Hemin Maujood,one of the 19 escaped prisotoners, on March 24, 2012.“Maujood was born in1982 and is the only Kurdamong the 19 escapees,”said Mohammed. Erbil’ssecurity forces handed theescapee over to Kirkuk’sDirectorate of Police.Maujood was first capttured on October 20, 2011;he is accused of murderunder Provision 406. All19 prisoners are accusedof committing murder at acheckpoint in Perde on theErbil-Kirkuk highway.The prisoners escapedvia a prison bathroom windtdow after tying blanketstogether to assist them inreaching the ground level,a security officer said.Tasfirat Central Prison isa temporary holding placefor detainees who are acctcused of committing acrime. Detainees are investtigated and then moved toBaghdad’s central prison.After the prison break,Kirkuk police launcheda wide net and sent thenames and photographsof the escaped detaineesto media outlets. A Kirkukpolice source said a monetetary award has been alltlocated for anyone whoassists in finding the esctcapees.Adnan Hadi and a deletegation from Iraq’s Minitistry of Interior visited theKirkuk to investigate thecase. Hadi held a pressconference and announcedthe arrest of all employeesof Tasfirat prison becauseof the escape. “We knowthere has been facilitatiting in this escape. We willpunish those who werecareless and helped them,”Hadi said.A committee has beenformed by the ministry toinvestigate the case andwill announce the resultwhen it concludes its invtvestigation.Zarka prison breakThis is the second prisonbreak in Iraq’s KurdistanRegion since January. Thelast occurred at Zarka Prisoton in Duhok city where, ataround 3 a.m. on January8, 2011, prisoners escapedvia an 85-meter undergtground tunnel that beganin a prison bathroom.Immediately after theescape, Duhok policesent photos and names ofthe 11 runaway prisoneters to media outlets. TwoA photo released by the Kurdistan Region Security Protection Agency shows the only person out of19 escapees to be rearrested in Erbil.were caught on January11. Duhok police saidMuhammad Ahmed Aliturned himself in, whileFarhad Safar Abdullahwas handed over to policeby his family. One of theescaped prisoners, Fareydtdoon Lateef Shareef, wasconvicted of killing hisNorwegian wife, MaritaStroem, in 2004.Kurdistan Region's Minitister of Labor and SocialAffairs, Asos Najeeb,whose ministry is incharge of all Kurdistanprisons, questioned howprisoners dug an 85-metter tunnel without beingnoticed by prison guards."Zarka Prison is very wellprotectedwith very heavysurveillance," she said.By Salih WaladbagiPRESS PHOTO

The Kurdish Globe No. 345, Monday, March 26, 2012 9The article focuses on the successstory of a British-born Kurd who ismaking landmark changesLaween Atroshi, a 23year-old British born-Kurd who is outspokenby nature and an advoctcate of Kurdish prosperitity and development, isa clear example of theincreased role of youngKurds in today’s Kurditistan, although he admitswith laughter: “Prior tomy first visit to KurdistanI had quite a negative imptpression. I imagined Erbtbil International Airportto be tragic, but as soonas I landed I was like,‘Wow!’”Asked what he constsiders himself, withoutsecond thought he confidtdently replied: “A Kurdof course!” After a momtmentary pause, he added,“Regardless of where aKurd is born, he or sheis a Kurd.” His story issimple: With knowledge,information and muchexperience in a develotoped country, there issomething that Atroshifeels he can contribute toKurdistan.The most significant ofcontribution to Kurdistanis that Atroshi recentlynominated the Sulaimatani Autism Center for theUnited Nations PublicService award--the most“prestigious internationalrecognition of excellencein public service” award,according to the UN. Thecenter has already movedinto the second phase ofthe competition.This nomination comeswith two significant andunique circumstances:First is the nominee,Laween Atroshi, a 23-year-old British-bornKurd who has only visiteted Kurdistan three timesin his life. The second isthe autism center itself.“Disability in Kurdisttan is looked down uponand shamed, and oftenthose who are autistic arelocked up; it is remarkatable for a center to existthat recognizes the existtence of this condition,”said Atroshi, admiring thevolunteers who foundedthe center.Recalling his return aftter his third visit to Kurditistan, Atroshi explained:“I came back to the UKthinking: They need recotognizing!” To furthersupport and encouragethe center, Atroshi nomintnated it for the UN award.As a rule, the nominatedinstitution has to be partof a country that is a UNmember. A proud Atroshiaffirmed that this is thefirst time such a nominattion was made in the histtory of Iraq.“We’re not in it to winit,” he said, although hereiterated the significtcance of being nominateted and the importance ofthe center in Kurdistan.“Family and relativesweren’t aware that theycould assist their autisticchildren until this centerwas established. Therewere also no mechanismsin place to promote socialinclusion prior to this inittiative. It is a step in thepromotion of equalitywithin these vulnerablechildren.”The Sulaimani AutismCenter was founded by anumber of mothers of auttistic children who raisedtheir concerns and reqtquested support from theKurdistan Save the Childtdren charity alongsidethe Ministry of Labor andSocial Affairs. Their conctcerns were heard, and itwas later concluded thatan autism center wouldbe beneficial.Being raised with paretents who possess a strongmedical ethos--a fatherwho is a doctor and amother with a backgtground in pharmaceutictcal science--Atroshi saidthat as a young child hisinterest was in technolotogy. Early on, he realizedhis interest would notdivert much from that ofhis parents as he blendedthe love for technologywith his interestin healthcare systems. “Naturallythe interest in technolotogy blended with the useof it in improving healthcare.”Having completed aBachelor of Science honotors degree in biomedicalinformatics (electronichealth care systems) atthe University of Londtdon and currently anapproved UK Health Inftformatician working at agovernment hospital as acritical care clinical audittor, Atroshi sees the gapsin Kurdistan’s health caresystem and is taking stepsto change that.“My plan is to introduceelectronic health care systtems as I feel Kurdistanhas the intellectual andphysical capacity to adoptsuch a system. But mostimportantly, I want toeducate the users throughworkshops, lectures anddifferent groups in howto use such systems andimplement so that theycan pass the skills on tofellow professionals.”His returns to Kurdisttan are packed schedulesin observing the existingsystem and meeting withpeople in the field to gaininsightful information. “Ifeel that one of the shortctcomings is the lack ofaccountability, transparetency and integrity. I alsofeel that there is a lack oftraining and resources forhealth care professionatals. For instance, stateof-the-arttechnology isbrought in, but is uselessas professionals are notable to use them due tolack of training. Thereis no accountability forprocedures that are perftLaween Atroshiformed.”Recently, KurdistanRegion has seen manyevents and changes thatare purely initiated by itsyouth living abroad. Suchinitiatives include the anntnual Kurdish festival inthe United States, andthe Vision Library, whichaims to establish the biggtgest library in Kurdistan.Nevertheless, the governmtment has been criticizedin the past for its lack ofsupport for Kurdish proftfessionals living abroad.In a recent article inThe Kurdish Globe,Chris Bowers, the BritishConsul General in Erbil,wrote: “The odd thingis when people return totheir country of origin,their host governmentaccepts them--except,it seems, in KurdistanRegion. Why does thisthriving, dynamic regionof Iraq not want those ofits citizens who can nolonger live in the UK orEurope back?” In his artticle, he refers to the UKasylum policy and Kurdsbeing sent back to Kurditistan.Rupak Mansour, a21-year-old student inKurdistan, stated, “Weneed those young peopleabroad to come back toKurdistan. Just like theinvestment law that atttracted much businessinto the region, a new lawor a system needs to beput in place to attract allthe Kurdish youth abroadto return and rebuild.”Referring to Atroshi’sachievements, she asstserted, “If Laween and afew others with the sameinterest as him returned,and the government madeit attractive for themto come back, then wewould see many quickand positive changes.”As for Atroshi, in summtming up the journey sofar, he said: “If you’re inKurdistan to purely serveand improve, then youwon’t be disappointed.”Although it is evident heis aware that his youthfuljourney of serving “backhome” will come withmuch cost, dedicationand, at times, frustration.Iraq VP demands probe into bodyguard's 'torture'Iraq's fugitive vice presitident on Sunday calledfor an urgent neutral inqtquiry into the death ofhis bodyguard, who wasallegedly tortured whilein custody.Vice President Tareqal-Hashemi, a Sunnithe authorities have acctcused of running deathsquads, said his lawyershad been restricted acctcess to the investigationagainst him and that the"situation in Iraq hasbecome intolerable."Hashemi alleges thathis bodyguard AmirSarbut Zaidan al-Battawi, who died in custtody earlier this month,was tortured, and hasreleased photographswhich he says supportthe claims.Security forces andjudicial officials sayBatawi died of kidneyfailure.Human Rights Watch,meanwhile, has calledfor a criminal investigtgation into the death ofthe 33-year-old fatherof-three."I ask all human rightsrelated organisationsin Iraq to take urgentactions by sending (a)neutral and specialisedcommittee to examinethe body medically andto identify the cause ofdeath," Hashemi said ina televised speech deltlivered in English."I also ask securityand judicial authoritiesin Iraq to provide an exptplanation for what happtpened."He said his lawyershad not been allowedto witness investigattion hearings, and whenthey were given accessto minutes of the heariting, judges barred themfrom taking notes ormaking copies."I beseech (the) intternational communityto take rapid action torectify (the) disastroussituation and status reltlated to human rights, asthe situation in Iraq hasbecome intolerable,"Hashemi said.A senior Iraqi generaland a judicial spokesmtman have said Batawidied of kidney failureand other conditions aftter refusing treatment,and suggested phottographs released byHashemi's office apparetently showing Batawi'sbody bearing signs ofabuse were digitallymanipulated.In December, shortlyafter US troops comptpleted their withdrawalfrom Iraq, the country'sShiite-led authorities isstsued an arrest warrantfor Hashemi on terrorcharges, sparking a prottracted political crisis.Hashemi, who hasbeen in Iraq's autonomtmous Kurdistan regionfor the duration of therow, says the allegattions are politically mottivated, and Kurdishofficials have refusedto hand him over to thecentral government.AFP

The Kurdish Globe No. 345, Monday, March 26, 2012 10Baghdad to lock down for Arab SummitEntrance and egress to be severely restricted in BaghdadSome Iraqi factionsthreaten to turn theArab Summit into anIraqi internal summit.On the road from BaghdadInternational Airport to thecity of Baghdad, Turkishlaborers work feverishly topave the road, build roadstside parks and plant palmtrees. They have until March29, when Baghdad hosts theArab League Summit.Baghdad has spent US$150million to spruce up the roadconnecting Baghdad to theairport, according the semiofficial“Sabaah” newspaptper. "All of this work onlyso that Arab leaders can seea beautiful road on theirway from the airport to thesummit hall," said one taxidriver. "I doubt they [Arableaders] will see this roadbecause their cars all havetinted windows."Baghdad has not hostedthe Arab League Summitsince May 1990, monthsbefore Saddam Hussein invtvaded Kuwait, an act of warthat led to Iraq’s isolationfrom most Arab countries.The Arab Summit is aPhoto by Hadi Mizban-Pool/Getty ImagesArab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby, left, walks with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, 2nd right, after arriving atBaghdad International Airport March 25, 2012 in Baghdad, Iraq.huge challenge for Iraq inthe term of politics and sectcurity. Politically, Baghdadhas to rebuild its relationswith many Arab countries,in particularly with SaudiArabia, Kuwait and otherArab Gulf countries, whosee Baghdad as an oppresstsor toward its Arab Sunniminority that ruled thecountry since the OttomanEmpire; moreover, they seeBaghdad as a strong ally oftheir foe, Iran.In regards to security,Baghdad should guaranteethe safety of the guests andshow the Arab leaders thatit is capable of providingsecurity to the country.The Baghdad governmentstated that it has put almost100, 000 soldiers and sectcurity members on alertto protect the summit andguests. Meanwhile, beginntning March 26, the Baghdtdad airport will be shutdown and a curfew will bein place for all vehicles exctcept for those belonging tomilitary members and highrankingpolitical figures. Novehicle will be allowed toenter or exit Baghdad. Dueto the curfew, the governmtment decreed a one-weekholiday for all governmentemployees and schools anduniversities."The summit is a chancefor Iraq to improve its apptpearance and again becomea player in Middle East politicy," said Muhammad al-Hajati, an Arab intellectual.However, al-Hajati said hedoes not expect any crucialdecisions to be made in thesummit, and he doubts thatthe summit will be successftful since Iraq suffers frominternal conflicts and secttarian and ethnic problems.Al-Iraqiya List, the secotond largest Iraqi politicalbloc, which is supported bySunni Arabs, warned that itwould bring Iraqi internalproblems to the table duriting the summit."Discussing Iraqi internalproblems in the summit willnot cause the summit to fail;it will give a chance to Arableaders to share their soluttions for Iraqi internal probltlems," said Ahmed Masari,an MP from Iraqiya List.As the summit date nears,Al-Qaeda has increased itswave of bomb attacks. Lastweek, a nationwide wave ofattacks killed 50 people andwounded 255 others. Theterrorist organization dectclared responsibility for theattacks and said its aim wasto cripple security ahead ofthe summit.The taxi driver who worksbetween the Baghdad airptport and the city said he willstay home and not walk inpublic areas during thefour-day summit becausehe fears the possibility ofsuicide bombings.Qassim KhidhirErbilqassim.kurdishglobe@gmail.comIraq oil income dropssharply on weather,sabotageIraq's oil exports andrevenues from crudesales in February bothfell to their lowest levelin at least a year as a restsult of bad weather andsabotage of pipelines,officials said on Thursdtday.Iraq exported 58.4 milltlion barrels of crude inFebruary, down from65.3 million barrels amonth earlier and thelowest such figure sinceNovember 2010, figurespublished by the oilministry show.The country raised$6.595 billion in oilsales last month, downfrom $7.123 billion inJanuary. The monthlyrevenue was the lowestsince February 2011.Average oil priceswere up in Februaryto $112.928, against$109.081 the previousmonth."Bad weather in thesouth and sabotageagainst the oil pipelinebetween Kirkuk andCeyhan are the reasonsfor the decrease in exptports in February," oilministry spokesman Asstsem Jihad told AFP.Oil Minister Abdtdelkarim al-Luaybi addeted that exports were setto increase in March, but"will still be lower thanour ambitions, again bectcause of the weather."He pointed specificallyto strong winds affectiting the country's southetern oil export platforms,through which most ofits crude flows.Oil sales account forthe vast majority of theIraqi government's inctcome and around twothirdsof gross domesticproduct.Iraq currently producetes around three millionbarrels per day, and Luataybi has said the counttry plans on increasingproduction and exportsthis year to 3.4 millionbarrels per day (bpd)and 2.6 million bpd restspectively.AFPKurds say Exxon still working in KurdistanExxon Mobil has not susptpended its work in Iraq'sautonomous Kurdish regtgion, an aide to the region'spresident said on Saturday,after Baghdad said Exxonhad frozen its Kurdishdeal.Iraq's oil minister said onFriday that Exxon had writtten to Baghdad informing itthat it had suspended workin the Kurdish region, undtder a deal which Baghdadconsiders illegal."We've never heard anytthing like this from ExxonMobil. We have continuotous meetings with ExxonMobil's senior executivesand I think the companyis continuing its work,"said Fuad Hussein, senioraide to Kurdish PresidentMasoud Barzani.Exxon is one of the oilmajors that is participatingin massive projects intendeted to make Iraq the world'sbiggest source of new oilover the next few years, butthe U.S. firm's decision tosign a deal with the Kurdshas infuriated Baghdad.Iraq has threatened toblock Exxon from biddingin future oil projects andeven to reconsider its rolein a supergiant field, WestEmployees of the state-run South Oil Company (SOC) work on a damaged pipeline, a day after bombattacks occurred, in Rumaila oilfield in Basra province, December 14, 2011.Qurna-2, where Exxon waspart of a consortium thatwon a contract in 2009.Baghdad has offered intternational oil firms feefor-servicecontracts, whilethe Kurdish region offersproduction-sharing dealswhich give the foreignfirms a share of oil output- considered far more luctcrative.Because the legality ofKurdish deals is in dispute,only smaller firms hadmade agreements with theautonomous region untillast November, when theKurds announced that Exxoton had signed a deal for sixexploration blocks.Iraq's Oil Minister AbdulKareem Luaibi said on Fridtday that Baghdad had rectceived a letter from Exxonon March 5 "saying theyare freezing the contractwith the Kurds".Exxon declined to commtment on Luaibi's remarkson Friday.Luaibi said Iraq had notyet reversed a decision tobar Exxon from bidding inthe next round of oil deals,and Baghdad was waitingfor Exxon to further clarifyits position.ReutersREUTERS/Atef Hassan

The Kurdish Globe No. 345, Monday, March 26, 2012 11Turkey’s Newroz Festivalturns into fireballsTear gas and truncheons await Kurdish New Year revelersBy Mehmed Sabri AkgönülThe beginningof the KurdishNew Year beginswith violence anddeath as Kurdsdefy the banimplemented bythe Turkish State.REUTERS/Umit BektasKurds in Turkey welcomedNewroz, or "New Day," withfear, conflict and deaths.In many cities, includingDiyarbakir and Istanbul,Kurds clashed with Turkishsecurity forces. Turkish poltlice attacked thousands ofKurds trying to join the Newtwroz celebrations and usedtear gas, water cannons andbatons to break up Kurditish demonstrations. Demotonstrators hurled stones inretaliation.Clashes and violencewere expected during theNewroz celebrations. Thepro-Kurdish Peace and Demtmocracy Party (BDP), inan attempt to allow greaterparticipation, planned tobegin celebrating Newrozon Sunday, March 18, andexpanded the celebrationsinto the week. However, theTurkish Interior Ministryinsisted the celebrations beheld on March 21 instead.The BDP’s organizing commtmittee released a statementsaying the banning of thecelebrations was unacceptatable, adding that Newrozcelebrations would begin asplanned on March 18.BDP co-chair SelahattinDemirtas announced that"the meetings were prohibitited, but not the celebrattions. The [Turkish] securitty officers should not leavetheir stations; they are theones who are creating tenstsions. The [Kurdish] peoplewill celebrate Newroz." Heemphasized that Newrozhas become a symbol of thestruggle for freedom. "They[Turkish authorities] canban our celebrations, but wewill hold all of the plannedevents any way in all citiesat the planned time and loctcation," he added.BDP co-chair GultanKisanak also held a pressconference at BDP’s Istanbtbul office on March 17 inwhich he stated that NewtDemonstrators flash victory signs during a gathering to celebrate Newroz in Ankara March 18, 2012.wroz is a day of the peopleand cannot be banned. "Ourparty undertakes the restsponsibility for the Newrozorganization to meet thedemands of our people. Theruling Justice and Developmtment Party [AKP] can prevtvent our organization duty,but it can never put a ban onNewroz. Our people will bein areas everywhere; theywill celebrate their day withgreat morale, motivationand enthusiasm.”Thousands of Kurds deftfied the ban and gatheredin many cities. BetweenMarch 18-21, many wereinjured and more than 600were taken into custodyduring the demonstrations.Despite aggressive tacticsby the Turkish police, inDiyarbakir, the main cityin north Kurdistan, overone million people gatheredto march to the "NewrozPark" area where Newrozcelebrations took place. MPDemirtas and other BDPMPs were among them.The huge crowd called fora peaceful solution to theKurdish issue.In Batman province, thepolice hurled tear gas at abus carrying BDP officials,including Ahmet Turk, aprominent figure in Kurdishpolitics. Turk was physictcally attacked by police andtaken to the hospital afterwtward. From his hospitalbed, he said they are readyto pay any price for Kurditish people's freedom. "They[Turkish security forces]can't silence the Kurdishpeople by exercising terroritism and violence," he addeted. Police also beat anotherBDP MP, Ertugul Kurkcu,during celebrations in Merstsin on March 20.In Istanbul, Turkey's biggtgest city with a large Kurditish population, thousands ofKurds who wanted to celetebrate Newroz encounteredpolice truncheons and teargas. Haci Zengin, the headof an Istanbul branch officeof the BDP, died during apolice intervention againstNewroz celebrations onSunday, March 18. Istanbtbul Governor Huseyin AvniMutlu claimed that Zengindied from an asthma attackcaused by tear gas, but acctcording to information fromBDP Istanbul provincial exetecutives, he received a headwound from a gas bombhurled by police and died asa result of the injury. Manyother demonstrators werealso injured and in seriouscondition; many were takeninto custody.Another Kurdish party,the Rights and FreedomsParty (HAK-PAR), releaseda statement on demonstrattions and violence by theTurkish police in whichthey condemned the deathof Haci Zengin and said hewas the victim of the Turkitish state's harsh and violentpolicies. "Trying to preventthe right to demonstrate,which is guaranteed by theconstitution, is an abuse ofrights. We are aware thatpolicies…targeting lives orpublic property do not servepeace and democracy. Webelieve that security-orienteted politics of the [Turkish]state will lead to further imptpasse of the Kurdish issue,which is the most importantquestion of Turkey.”Meanwhile, Turkish depututy PM Bekir Bozdag saidthat governors’ offices hadtaken precautions in orderto ensure security and hadthe authority not to givepermission for demonstrattions. "Obviously the BDPand its supporters don't wantto hold demonstrations in ademocratic environment.They desire trouble andturn to demonstrations todamage public property andthreaten lives," he stated.Some Turkish journalistsalso criticized the banningof the Newroz celebrationsand use of violence bythe Turkish police. WellknownTurkish journalistMehmet Ali Birand wrotein his article in "HurriyetDaily News" that the banof Newroz demonstrationscaused great damage inIstanbul and Diyarbakir,and he emphasized that theTurkish state will pay forthis loss. "For two years,the BDP expanded thesecelebrations to the week.During recent years, thestate did not place any bans.For two years, there wasno bloodshed at the demotonstrations nor was there aMolotov cocktail thrown.This year, somehow, thestate said ‘no’ and almostprovoked these demonstrattions," he wrote.This ban on Newroz andcurrent violent events are notindependent from the securtrity approach that the Turkitish state has taken againstthe Kurdish people. Since1925, Turkey has treatedthe Kurdish national issuesolely as a security issue.This approach deals withthe issue as a concern of ordtder and finds the solution intaking military and securityactions. Recent clashes andarrests can be evaluated andseen as a paradigm of theTurkish Republic's securityapproach to the Kurdishissue. This events showsthat the policies of democrtratization, which have beenimplemented into the Kurditish issue in recent years, areseen as a conjunctural push,which covers the securityapproach instead of givingit up.Mithat Sancar, professorof law at Ankara University,wrote an article publishedin the Turkish newspaper"Taraf" about the latestdemonstrations and the failuture of the security approachto the Kurdish issue. "TheNewroz demonstration inDiyarbakir makes it obviotous that security policies,which are based on reststrictions, oppressions andviolence, are a total failure.Removing the ban would bethe most suitable responsefor the AKP government. Itwas clear that insisting onNewroz restrictions wouldjust heighten the tensionand injure the situation,"wrote Sancar.According to Cengiz Candtdar, a Turkish journalist andformer government adviser,Newroz celebrations wereforbidden because it wasassumed that thousandsof people would probablyjoin. In his article publishedin the Turkish newspaper"Radikal," Candar argued:"There are no Newroz celebtbrations. There is a massiveconflict about the Kurdishissue that makes the questtion more chronic. If theAKP government choosesto be the new inheritor ofthe restrictive state policyinstead of creating and exptpanding freedom, the Kurditish issue won't be solvedbut will become unmanageatable.”

The Kurdish Globe No. 345, Monday, March 26, 2012 13at Diyarbakir Kurdish Language Conferenceened version of my book,“Kurdish Identity, Disctcourse, and New Media.”My Ph.D dissertation wasabout 400 pages. The acadtdemic publisher PalgraveMacmillan said that wastoo much, to be honest,and there were sectionsthat were too theoreticaland that was not what wewanted. We want sometthing for the popular readeters. So I [cut] 200 pages.And I shortened 200 pagesinto four for the presentattion at the conference.My extremely shortenedpresentation and my disstsertation was about thisquestion of the role ofsent themselves and alsorepresent the other? Myfindings show that givingeverything to contextuatalize the whole conceptand process and the socialpractices around media,one could say that theKurds have done a prettygood job given the factthat the Kurds still facepolitical and economicpressure. These are crucialto media, to any kind ofactivity, in fact especiallyany communicative event.If you politically cannotbe something or you don'thave financial means, youdon't have the means todo so, then you cannot,satellite TV is not printbased,it is based on musicand pictures; thus, I thinkit has managed to crosssome literacy, gender,class and physical boundataries—and even thoughevery political party hasstill its own satellite TV,those satellites contributeto that discourse of colltlective pan-Kurdish identtity. They also contributeto--what is very interestiting from a sociolinguisticperspective--mutual intelltligibility; for example, if Iam careful and a bit slow, Icould speak in Sorani andyou could speak in Kurmtmanji and we can understis very different for someotone like me andProf. AmirHassanpour. This is ourwork. That is why weknow Kurmanji and wevisit Kurmanji websites,most people don’t. Interntnet is like TV even betterin some respect becauseInternet is still print-based,alphabet-based.. The moreit becomes audiovisual ittends to become more likeTV. But I think there is stilla lot to be done and I hopethe Kurdistan RegionalGovernment or even aninstitution like Kurdî-Deror Istanbul Kurdish Instittute focuses on new mediato promote the languagenet pages like Facebook.However, those states thatoccupied parts of Kurdisttan are aware of and tryto prevent this. For exatample, the Kurdistan mapand Kurdistan flag are notpermitted to be posted onFacebook because of Turktkey's pressures. What doyou think about that?Sheyholislami: I'll tellyou a story about theTurkish Embassy in Otttawa. In 2003, a Kurdishstudent came to me andwas very upset. Kurdishstudents had a very good,vibrant Kurdish StudentAssociation; in fact, theytalked both Kurmanji andremove Kurdistan’s maps.He said no way. Our studtdents have the freedom towrite whatever they want.Here is a free country. Youhave problems in Turkey,not here. He said cleveterly that they wouldn’tallow anybody to attackthe Turkish embassy, andthey were not going to alltlow Turkey to attack anyCanadian citizens even ifthey are Kurds.As for Facebook, I am notsurprised at the paranoidof the word Kurdistan andits map. For God’s sakethey live in 21st century.Will it be effective? So Ithink it's silly. Really it'sGLOBE PHOTOThe photo was taken at the Kurdish Language Conference in Diyarbakir, March 2.mass media, particularlyabout the new media suchas satellite television andthe Internet on the Kurdishidentity because my verybasic question was Kurdshave always complainedthat the states (Turkey,Iran, Iraq and Syria) don’tallow to have their identitty thus they have no waysof saying who they are andthey have no ways of sayiting what they want. Nowthey have it. What do theydo with this media? Howdo Kurds talk about themstselves? What did they sayabout their needs, theirmiseries and their happintness? How do they represtand these two factors dettermine pretty much thecontent and the form ofthe media and languageuse. So giving everything,the Kurds have been ableto say who they are and Ihave talked about thesethings in length. The basicidea is this: I think the satetellite TV, when it was onlyone MED-TV, did for ashort while create a senseof Kurdish unity. Soon otheter parts of Kurdistan hadother satellite televisionsand again it became diverstsified. I am not saying it isa good thing or bad thing.I am just saying what Ihave observed. Becausestand each other.The Internet has allowednew voices to be heard:voices of women, voicesof smaller linguistic commtmunities such as Hawramîand Zazakî/Dimilî. Peoptple, like any other nattions, are no longer justconsumers of informationbut they contribute to publtlishers. However, Internetalso has, in my view, inttensified the diversificattion of Kurdish varieties.Very seldom, for example,have I talked to some Kurmtmanji speakers who alsovisit Sorani websites, andI don’t believe they canread it and vice versa. Itand Kurdish identity, butdo it through the Internet.I was so excited when Iheard friends in Swedencreated Kurmanji ABC foriPhone.-I want to talk aboutKurdish politics in socialmedia such as Facebookand Twitter, not in Parltliament or on the street.As you know, Prof. Hasstsanpour wrote an articleabout the Kurdish satelltlites and search of sovetereignty in the sky. TheKurdish nation could notcreate Kurdistan, I meana Kurdish state, in the realarea, but they did createit via their TVs and InterntSorani. They had a map ofKurdistan in the town ofthe university. There werelots of bulletins and everybtbody preached their ownassociation; the Kurdshad one and they put upthe map of Kurdistan.The Turkish Embassy inOttawa--imagine this, Otttawa is not their country,they just have a property,that's it--but somebodytold them that there wasa Kurdish Association inCarleton University thatput Kurdistan's map onthe bulletin. The dean, Mictchael E. Brown, told methat the Turkish Embassywrote to them officially toalmost like a joke becausethey cannot continue todo this. But we have to becareful because Facebookis also for most part printbased.It does not still dowhat the TV does. TV isincredible for the creationof the collective Kurdishnational identity.Jaffer Sheyholislami isan assistant professor andundergraduate advisor atCarleton University,Ottowa/Canada.

The Kurdish Globe No. 345, Monday, March 26, 2012 14America needs a Kurdish policyBy John HannahAmong the Iraq-relatedanniversaries to consider,here's one more: Twentyoneyears ago this week,millions of Iraqi Kurdsset flight for the desolate,snow-capped mountainsbordering Turkey andIran, frantically seekingto escape the advancingarmies of Saddam Husseitin. Fresh off his humiliatiting defeat in the first GulfWar, Saddam had quicklytrained his guns on wipingout all internal oppositionto his tyrannical rule.Where the Kurds wereconcerned, his purposeseemed clear. Saddamaimed to eliminate onceand for all the persistentchallenge this proud, irrtrepressible minority hadlong posed to his dictattorship. Genocide was ontap, the completion of ajob begun in 1988, whenIraqi forces razed thoustsands of Kurdish villages,murdered their inhabitatants, and rained chemicalweapons down on the inntnocent men, women andchildren of a town calledHalabja.Now, with their backsliterally to the wall, freeziting to death on a barrenmountainside, facingSaddam's full vengeance,the Kurds' destructionseemed nigh.Until, that is: America.Said. No. Working with asmall group of allies, theUnited States, quite simptply, saved the Kurds. Saddtdam's army was orderedto stand down or facerenewed hostilities. U.S.ground forces deployedto northern Iraq and orgtganized one of history'sgreatest humanitarianrescues, Operation Provtvide Comfort. A no-flyzone was established overKurdistan, which U.S. airctcraft patrolled until 2003,when America finallysettled its score with Saddtdam for good, liberatingalmost 30 million peoplefrom his republic of fear,including the long-sufferiting Kurds.It's a story of deliveratance and American leadetership well worth recalliting, especially this year.For the first time in ageneration, Iraq's Kurdsfind themselves withoutdirect American protecttion. President Obama'sdecision to withdraw U.S.troops from Iraq has onceagain left the Kurds largeltly alone. While no longerconfronting Saddam's terrtror, the long shadow oftheir anguished historyremains, as do unresolvedtensions not only withIraq's majority Arabs, butwith powerful neighborsin Iran, Syria and Turkeystruggling with disadvanttaged Kurdish minoritiesof their own.It's a mix of fear, loathiting and foreign meddlingthat, left untended, couldeasily lead to conflictand even war -- both instside Iraq and, perhaps,regionally. That, indeed,would be tragic -- for theoften-betrayed Kurds, tobe sure, but also for theprestige and long-term intterests of their main beneftfactor, the United States.Say what you will aboutthe American project inIraq, its application inKurdistan was well downthe path toward success.As happened in Germany,Japan and South Koreaafter World War II, a fewdecades of intense Americtcan engagement had begtgun working wondersfor the Kurds. Excellentsecurity -- indeed, not asingle U.S. combat deathin areas under Kurdishcontrol. A booming econotomy with growing levelsof foreign investment.And an emerging democrtracy that, while far fromperfect, has seen real opptposition parties emerge,as well as a burgeoningcivil society and media.Yes, corruption, lack ofaccountability, and uneteven development remainserious problems. Butcertainly no worse than,say, South Korea circa the1970s, at a similar point inthat country's experienceunder America's wing.Properly nourished,Iraqi Kurdistan has allthe makings of a U.S.strategic asset. Iraq'sArabs may have beenprofoundly ambivalentabout a continued role forAmerican troops. But notthe Kurds, whose leadersloudly proclaimed theirdesire for a permanentU.S. presence, and whosepopulation of some 5 milltKurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden pause for a picture in Washington, D.C.lion is overwhelminglypro-American. Sharingborders with Iran and Syritia, Kurdistan could playa vital role in U.S. stratetegy to combat the seriousthreats now emanatingfrom those anti-Americanregimes. Kurdish securityand intelligence forcesare competent and battlehardened,and after yearsof cooperation have builtup excellent working reltlations with their U.S.counterparts, includingin fighting Al Qaeda. Andsitting atop 40-50 billionbarrels of oil, Kurdistan ispoised to become one ofthe world's largest petroltleum producers, a majorcontributor to global enetergy security.Confident in its U.S.backing, Kurdistan couldserve as both engine andanchor for the rest ofIraq's democratic develotopment. But America'sprecipitous retreat has leftbehind a dangerous vacutuum, a potential breediting ground for destructtive acts of self-help thatcould easily spiral out ofcontrol That vacuum urgtgently needs to be filledby a concerted Americanstrategy to define a new,"special" relationshipwith Iraq's Kurds. Makiting clear that Kurdistan'swell-being within a trulyfederal Iraq is a high U.S.priority could serve bothto deter potential aggresstsors while encouragingKurdish restraint, pattience and cooperation indealing with the turmoilof Baghdad's day-to-daypolitics.When Kurdish PresidentMasoud Barzani visitsWashington next month,the Obama administrationwould be well advised touse the opportunity to esttablish a new Joint Commtmission on U.S.-Kurditish relations to overseethe bilateral relationship,composed of high-levelofficials from both sides.America's consulate inKurdistan should be ledby a senior foreign serviceofficer of ambassadorialrank, perhaps seconded bya retired general. Underthe rubric of U.S. securityassistance for Iraq, progtgrams for equipping andtraining Kurdish securityand intelligence servicesshould be established, inctcluding robust channelsfor information sharingand other cooperative efftforts. A joint initiativeto expand dramaticallyAmerican investment inKurdistan needs to belaunched, with a focuson expediting the region'semergence as a reliableenergy exporter to Westetern markets. Technicalassistance should be provtvided to support Kurdishefforts to battle corrupttion, strengthen the ruleof law, and ensure humanrights.More than two decadesafter saving Iraq's Kurdsfrom annihilation, it's timefor America to institutionatalize a long-term strategicrelationship with them-- one that understandsthat a secure and prosperotous Kurdistan, confidentin its ties to the world'ssole superpower, can bea boon to U.S. interests,and a force for stabilityand modernism throughotout Iraq and the broaderMiddle East.Foreign PolicyPRESS PHOTO

The Kurdish GlobeErbil ties Oroubain AFC CupMahrous says team “responsible for the result”No. 345, Monday, March 26, 2012 15Kurdistan footballteam coach electedPRESS PHOTOMustafa deniesErbil a first win inthe Asian FootballConfederation Cup.Erbil Football Team played its secotond match at the Asian FootballConfederation (AFC) Cup on March20 against Yemen's Orouba at homeat Franso Hariri Stadium.The match ended 2-2, giving eachteam one point. The match was supptposed to take place in Yemen, butdue to security issues it was transftferred to Erbil.Erbil controlled the match fromthe very beginning while it playedin front of its fans. Three minutesbefore half time, Erbil scored theopening goal as Syrian midfielderNadim Sabbagh picked the ball upinside the area and Orouba goalktkeeper Muaadh Abdulkhaleq wasunable to keep out the powerfulstrike. The first half ended 1-0.The host team continued to conttrol in the second half. Syrian Abdtdulrazaq Hussein and Iraqi AmjadRadhi played key roles in heatingup the match and putting pressureon Orouba, forcing the Yemen teamto stay on the defensive and relyfrequently on counterattacks. In the54th minute, Erbil scored the secondgoal after Sabbagh took advantageof a defensive mistake from Oroubato find striker Amjad Radhi, whomade no mistake from close range.Erbil continued attacking regardltless of Orouba's counterattacks. Inthe last 25 minutes of the secondhalf, Orouba played a differentgame, seemingly like a differentteam.The opponent reduced the deficitin the 66th minute after Sha'abanMustafa maneuvered between twoErbil defenders before beating Erbilgoalkeeper Sarhang Muhsin frominside the area.With three minutes remaining,Mustafa equalized the result to givea point to his team.Erbil tried to change the resultthrough a couple of quick attacksin the last minutes, but Orouba'sdefenders stayed firm for a 2-2 finalresult."The match was very strong. Erbtbil started well and was closer thanus to winning. I'm happy with theresult as we managed to come fromtwo goals down to get a point fromthe match. Our players showedgood fighting spirit and were moreorganized than Erbil players in thesecond half,” said Orouba coachMuhammad Salih.Asked how his team tied the game,Salih said, "The fans put a lot ofpressure on Erbil and it distractedthem; Erbil attacked at the expenseof ignoring the misfielding and deftfending lines. With the changes wemade in the tactics, we managed totake advantage of the mistakes thatA view of the Erbil vs. Orouba match in Erbil's Franso Hariri Stadium on March 20.Erbil made in the game. We wantedpositive results against Erbil, and wehad great confidence, which helpedus to get a point from the game."Erbil’s Syrian coach Nizar Mahrtrous said, "The draw is actually likea loss for my team because we wereahead with two goals. We are all restsponsible for the result, which cameafter the mistakes that we made inthe defense; this allowed Oroubaback into the match and gave themthe chance to gain a draw eventhough we had a big advantage.”Marous pointed out that his teamwas successful in striking, especialltly in the first half, but mistakes bythe defense allowed the match to fallthe other way."The players started well andscored, but they were not able todefend the result. They didn't takeOrouba's counterattacks into constsideration. Anyway, we have fourmatches left in the group and I amstill optimistic that we can secure aposition in the next stage."Erbil has tied the two matchesthey’ve played so far in the AFCCup, and are currently third inGroup B . The next match for Erbilis against India’s East Bengal in Indtdia.Zakaria MuhammedErbilzakaria.kurdishglobe@gmail.comERBIL CLUB FILE PHOTOKFF secretary Salam HusseinKurdistan FootballAssociation (KFF)secretary SalamHussein announcedon March 17 theappointment of anew coach for theKurdistan nationalteam, which will hostthe VIVA World Cupin mid May."After several suggestions,all KFF members decided toappoint Abdullah Mahmud asthe Kurdistan football teammanager for the VIVA WorldCup," said Hussein, remarkiting on Mahmud's great trainiting experience in Kurdistanand Iraq in general.Having previously playedfor the giant Erbil FootballClub in the early 1980s andafter having trained Brusk,Erbil, Peshmarga and Arartrat football clubs as well asthe Kurdistan national team,Mahmud is regarded todayas one of the best coaches ofKurdistan Region."We trust Mahmud's capabtbility and plans in summoniting the players and achievinggood results in the Cup. Weplan to hold several meetingswith Mahmud in the comingdays to discuss player seltlection and training plans,"stated Hussein. Mahmudwill have absolute power inmaking decisions, and KFFwill fully support him in hisnew career, he noted.After expressing elationover his new career, Mahmudsaid, "KFF asked me to takethe responsibility of trainingthe Kurdistan team in thisyear's VIVA World Cup andI accepted the request. I willdo my best and use all mycoaching experiences in ordtder to satisfy not only KFF,but all Kurdish people."Mahmud said he has beengiven green light to choosetwo assistants for himselfand a goalkeeper trainer.Despite winning manytitles during his coachingcareer over the past decade,many sports newspapers andwebsites criticized KFF forchoosing Mahmud whoseteam, Ararat FC, hasn'tplayed at a high performancelevel in this year's Kurdistanleague and Kurdistan Cup.Some of those who criticize,mostly people from Suleimtmaniya province, think KFFmakes every decision underthe influence of politics andbelieves it should have seltlected a coach of a team thatachieved good results in thisyear's competitions.In a response to the critictcizers, KFF President SafeenKanaby said, "We have heardthat some people criticizedKFF's decision on Mahmud'sselection for coaching theKurdistan team. We wouldlike everybody to understandappointing Mahmud hasn'tbeen decided under the inftfluence of anyone or anypolitical party. We purelymake the decision. We havepower and right to select anycoach we vote for. Mahmudwon all the KFF members'votes to coach the Kurdistanteam."Kanaby asks the peopleof Kurdistan to support andcheer for the Kurdistan teamas it attempts to win the 2012VIVA World Cup at home,and he wants the fans to seethe Kurdistan flag rise aboveall participating team flags.The New Federation Board,an umbrella association fornations unaffiliated withFIFA, organizes the VIVAWorld Cup, held every twoyears. The competition is tobe hosted in Kurdistan thisyear, and 10 teams have sofar showed readiness to partticipate.

Last pageNo. 345, Monday, March 26, 2012MemoirsRibbons for HalabjaTonight I sit on my bed, faraway from family, relatives andfriends, far from everything--and certainly very far away fromHalabja.One night twenty-four yearsago, little children went to sleepwith no clue that the next morningat around 11 a.m., the first breathof oxygen they inhaled would killthem instantly. Tonight, I sleepon the eve of March 15 feelingdepressed, almost suffocating onthe air I breathe.The Halabja massacre tookplace a year before my birth.My father always told me that35 young girls with the nameof Sazan died in the chemicalattacks of Halabja. A year later,when I was born, when Dad heldfor the first time a tiny baby girl,he said he remembered the 35little ones who lost their lives. Henamed me Sazan and dreamedfor me to regain the lost rights ofthose 35 young girls.Tonight, in preparation fortomorrow's commemoration, Iam cutting ribbons and makingsure that each is equal in size tothe other, turning one end ontothe other and then pinning thecenter. I worked on these for afew hours, making the most Ipossibly could to give out at ourlittle ceremony and to anyoneelse I see at university.But each clip of the scissorsthrough the thin, silky, blackribbon feels like a stab in me. Ifeel guilt. What have I done forHalabja? What have I contributedin the rebuilding, in healing ofwounds, in lending a hand, inmaking children smile? I stillhaven't lived my father's dreamin giving back to the 35 girlswhom I was named after.I remember a visit to Halabjaonce with our university friends.Kak Harman, originally fromHalabja, led us on a trip to hisfamily home. We sat down ina circle in the yard around hiselderly father. Kak Harman toldSomedaysoon,somehow,all thesedreamsmust cometrue.his story as if it happened the daybefore, leaving out no details.My colleague was lucky to live,but many of his relatives andfriends were martyred. I recalllooking at my colleague's fatheras he spoke, an elderly man asstrong and resilient as him hadtearful eyes.Halabja, I realize, is theweakness of every Kurd. Noman is strong enough to talkabout it without tears; no mothercan speak of Halabja without herchin quivering before her headfalls into the palm of her handsas she begins to cry.You may wonder how thisaffects me. While I’m a Kurdishgirl on the other side of theworld chasing my dreams, I feelHalabja is my family. Those wholeft are my brothers and sisters,uncles and aunts. I am living mylife today, but they paid the highprice. Martyrs whose souls Ipray for. But there is a ghost overme, and every year at this timeI am reminded that I have donenothing.We all owe something toHalabja. We all have theobligation to contribute, to payback in the many ways that wecan. It is our duty to stand up,talk, shout and take action tobring the life to Halabja and itspeople, a life and future that itdeserves.By Sazan M. MandalawiWith each ribbon I cut, I havea dream. A dream for the bestschools to educate childrenin Halabja, a dream for thegovernment to support localproduction, a dream for the newgeneration born with physicaldefects as a result of the attacksto undergo surgery for free, adream for every father in Halabjato sleep without worrying for thefuture of his children. As I pinthe last ribbon for tomorrow, Idream that one day I can makethe souls of those 35 girls proudof me and of all Kurdish girlswho live after them. For me, rightnow, cutting black ribbons seemslike I am only fooling myself.But I know that, if by tomorrowone new person knows aboutthe massacre of Halabja, then itmeans something grand.