Kurdistan crowned VIVA World Cup champions - Kurdish Globe

The Kurdish Globe No. 356, Monday, June 11, 2012 2Turkish opposition in crucial step to end Kurdish insurgencyGlobe EditorialCrucial talks between the Turkishopposition party CHP and rulingAKP promises much, but withouta change in ideology and outdatedprinciples and new tangible meassures,can a new political processreally achieve a different end ressult?While Turkey’s current Kurdishpolicy is a far-cry from the darkdays of the past, its “democraticopenings” have often stumbled toa halt before they have gained anyreal motion. Turkey has tried toimplement bold measures withouta real change in ideology, in parlliament,in nationalist circles or intangible measures.Contrary to Prime Minister ReccepTayyip Erdoğan previousstatements that there is no Kurdishproblem but only a terrorist probllem,the Kurdish problem rageson and if anything has gained newmomentum.With rapidly changing politicalrealities in the Middle East, Turkkeyrisks been left behind unlessit readdresses its strategic role inthe region, starting with its greateestproblem, its Kurdish nationalquestion.Turkey has been waging a waragainst the PKK and trying tocontain its Kurdish population fordecades without success. It has tofinally come to terms that its realproblem is not a few thousandPKK guerillas but its millionsof disenfranchised and largelyimpoverished Kurdish citizens.Its only solution is to resolve theKurdish issue through parliament,with new legislature and throughcommon dialogue. Turkey cannotcontinue its failed ideology thatPKK can be destroyed by forcealone and yet expect to resolveits Kurdish dilemma. You have toaddress the root of the problem,before wasting energy at merelycutting the branches.New angle to Kurdish issueThe PKK is clearly enjoyinga new lease of life with supportfrom Damascus much to the dismmayof Ankara and deriding thegovernment’s belief that theywill “render terrorists ineffecttive”.These days, the Kurdishissue in Turkey is far from beenconfined as a domestic issue. TheKurdistan Region, with its ownescalating crisis with Baghdad, isheading closer to self-sufficiencyand independence through newoil infrastructure and new swayon pan-Kurdish nationalism, andmore importantly a new alliancewith Ankara as Turkish relationshave wavered with neighboringcountries.The situation of the SyrianKurds, with or without SyrianPresident Bashar al-Assad, hasdrastically shifted and they willenjoy new leverage. The PKK isenjoying fresh support amongstthe already fractured SyrianKurds, serving to create anotherheadache for Ankara. One wayor another, the Kurdish issue isno longer a domestic issue andneeds a fresh approach, and newforward thinking away from outddatesethos.Opposition planAgainst a backdrop of the Syriancrisis, escalating PKK violence,Ankara’s cooling of ties with Dammascus,Tehran and Baghdad andan increasing wedge between itsKurdish citizens, Turkey cannotstay idle.As such, the main Turkish oppposition’sproposed initiativesthis week in tackling the Kurdishproblem and ending the insurgenccy,the first time the oppositionhave instigated such measures, isa positive development.The leader of the opposition ReppublicanPeople’s Party (CHP),Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, had a criticalmeeting with Erdoğan of the ruliingJustice and Development Partty(AKP) where he put forwarda 10-point solution to the endiingthe vicious violence with thePKK that for decades has crippledmuch of the south-east and to recooncilewith its Kurdish citizens.The principle behindKılıçdaroğlu approach is that asolution to the Kurdish problemrequires a “national contract”. Ameasure he believes that can onlybe achieved through a parliamenttaryprocess.Kılıçdaroğlu attributed blameto the political process for failureto resolve its age-old dilemma,“Why could this problem not besolved over the last 25, 30 years?Why could terrorism not be endeed?The only responsibility forthis is with politics as an instituttion,”he asked.The proposed measures includethe creation of an eight-membercross-party Social ConsensusCommission augmented by a 12-person non-parliamentary commmitteeselected by the four parliammentaryparties.Both the Erdogan andKılıçdaroğlu labeled the meetingsas positive which also had supportof the pro-Kurdish BDP. Howeever,the nationalist handicap,one of the reasons why Erdoganbacktracked on the 2009 KurdiishOpening against a backdropof hawkish circles and nationalistanger, will likely derail the plansfor cross-party consensus.The Nationalist MovementParty (MHP) did not take part inthe talks with party leader DevletBahçeli accusing the governmentof “legitimizing terror”.Change of directionfrom OppositionErdogan and Kılıçdaroğlu selddommeet and have often clashedover granting Kurds greater rightsand thus their rapprochement isthe right tonic to kick-start resollutionof its Kurdish problem.The seemingly change of heartfrom the opposition may not bepurely due to a desire to finallycome to terms with the Kurdishequation.The CHP also sense a politicalchance to win-over the Kurdishvote at a time when frustrationwith the AKP is rife with the percceivedinsincerity of the governmmenttowards the unfortunateRoboski massacre and its stalledKurdish initiative. It is an opporttunityto build links in the southeast where social-democrats are ascarcity and also tap into the libeeralsupport.It is also an opportunity for theCHP to weaken any reconciliationbetween the AKP and the NationaalistMovement Party (MHP) inparticular over the new constituttion.AKP controversial policiessuch as those proposed over aborttionalso serve as an opportunityfor CHP to secure more points.The bottom line is that CHP canno longer stay on the side-lines ofthe Kurdish issue and forgo theKurdish vote if it has any aspirattionfor power for the sake of itsoutdated ideals.The way forwardIf the killing of 34 young villageesof Uludere by Turkish forces ina case of mistaken identity was aTurkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (L) and Republican People’sParty (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.sincerity test for the government,then the government has badlyfailed. This further alienated theKurds and exposed limits to theAKP reach out to the Kurds.However, above all else, it islack of real intent and sinceritythat has crippled previous democcraticopenings.It’s not arriving at a political proccessthat will resolve the Kurdishissue and put an end to the insurggency,but concrete measures anda new dose of reality in applyingpractical solutions.Turkey cannot change the endresult, no matter what process itensues, with the same historicalideology.On the one hand it reaches outto the Kurds, on the other it arrreststhousands of Kurdish politiccalfigures including BDP mayorsand most recently Leyla Zana undderthe same harsh penal code ofyesteryear.It has too often overlooked theBDP and its previous manifesttations,and has been too quickto label any nationalist Kurd orKurdish political party as a suppporterof the PKK.Ankara has also tried to end theinsurgency without paying anyrelevance to serious dialogue withother party in the military equattion,the PKK.The PKK, in spite of a nationaalistreprisal that will inevitablycome, must form a direct part ofthis initiative. Their support basehas swollen over the years, withthe government playing a big partin this, and changes in Kurdishsentiment will not be wholesaleovernight.However, what is clear is thatmost Kurds are long-fed up ofbeen caught between PKK viollenceand outdated and insinceregovernment policies. The newinitiative must give the Kurdsa way out and a new vision thatthey can truly buy into. Pro-Kurdiishshould not automatically belabeled as pro-PKK.Facing factsFacing facts is the only wayAnkara can shatter old concepttionsand herald a new dawn withits Kurds. Millions of its citizensneed to enjoy the same rights asanyone else in Turkey. The milllionsof its citizens should not bepunished only because their ethnnicityand heritage is not Turkish.Kurdish culture and history shouldbe embraced as a core componentof the Turkish landscape.The Kurdish nationalist vehicleis gaining momentum and eitherTurkey can keep pace and try andinfluence events to its advantage,or it can be a passive bystander aswinds of change rapidly rattle thevery nucleus of the Middle East.The initiative promises renewedhope, but is uncertain whetherTurkey has the stomach for realcompromise, swallowing of nattionalistpride or swaying fromthe foundations of Kemalist ideoology.Bashdar Pusho IsmaeelPRESS PHOTOWeekly paper printed in ErbilFirst published in 2005www.kurdishglobe.netinfo.kurdishglobe@gmail.comAddress:Erbil, Bakhtiyari QuarterEXECUTIVE EDITORJawad QadirManaging EditorAiyob Mawloodi+964 750 4776905aiyob.kurdishglobe@gmail.comARTS EDITORDiyaco Qayoumy+964 750 4036252diyaco.kurdishglobe@gmail.comEDITORAzad Aminazad.kurdishglobe@gmail.comSenior U.S. EditorSuzanne DeRouensuzi.kurdishglobe@yahoo.comSenior U.K. EditorBashdar Pusho Ismaeelbashdar@hotmail.comSTAFF WRITERSZakaria Muhammed+964 750 475 3897zakaria.kurdishglobe@gmail.comSazan M. Mandalawisazan.kurdishglobe@gmail.comSalih Waladbagi+964 750 4912996salihas2006@gmail.comRawaz Koyee+964 750 1163296rawaz26.kurdishglobe@gmail.comAdvertisementFor information and prices of ad spots, please contactGlobe’s Advertisement section: Rizgar Yahyainfo@glitter-iraq.comCell: +964 750 4055888SubscriptionThe 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. 356, Monday, June 11, 2012 3PM led KRG delegation to World Economic Forum in IstanbulPrime Minister Nechirvan Barzzaniled a KRG delegation to the2012 World Economic Forum inIstanbul on June 4 and 5. He alsoattended private meetings withPrime Minister Recep TayyipErdoğan and other senior Turkiishofficials, including ForeignMinister Ahmet Davutoglou.In their meeting, Prime MinistterErdoğan welcomed the KRGdelegation and discussed the onggoingdevelopments in bilateralrelations.Prime Minister Barzani thankedthe Turkish Prime Minister forthe welcome saying, “The KurdiistanRegion is pleased with thecontinued progress that we havebeen able to make in building aneconomic partnership betweenour peoples.” He added, “Weare committed to building onour mutual needs and intereststo promote a future of peace andopportunity for all of us.”Both sides also discussed theongoing political developmentsin Iraq and the broader region,agreeing that a government oftrue partnership must be formedand that the political crisis in Iraqmust be solved through peacefuland constitutional means.The Prime Minister was acccompaniedon his visit by KRGMinister of Natural ResourcesAshti Hawrami, KRG MinisterAFP PHOTO/ADEM ALTANIraqi Kurdistan Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani (L) and Turkey's ForeignMinister Ahmet Davutoglu smile on his arrival in Ankara.of Planning Dr Ali Sindi, and theHead of the KRG Departmentof Foreign Relations, MinisterFalah Mustafa.Minister Hawrami held meetiingswith Taner Yildiz, the TurkiishEnergy Minister, to furtherplans for cooperation betweenthe KRG and Turkey in the eneergysector.In a panel session, entitled“New Energy Corridors,” MinistterHawrami outlined the KurdiistanRegion’s export targets foroil and gas. He said the KurdiistanRegion aims to lift outputto 1 million barrels per day by2015, reaching 2 million bpd by2019. Another 1 million bpd fromneighboring provinces could alsoflow through the Kurdistan Reggionto export markets, he said.“If Iraq is serious about reaching8 million bpd of exports, at least3 million of it will come fromthe north,” Minister Hawramisaid, adding: “Within a coupleof years there will be additionalpipeline infrastructure to get thecrude of the Kurdistan Region tothe market.”Minister Taner Yildiz also tookpart in the session, saying that theTurkish government had giventhe green light to private companniesin Turkey to construct a newpipeline within its borders.In a panel session entitled “Inffrastructure:Getting It Right,”Dr Ali Sindi, the KRG Ministerof Planning, led a discussion onhow to create the right infrasstructureto maximize social andeconomic returns and enhanceregional partnerships.Minister Mustafa, the Head ofthe KRG Department of ForeignRelations, highlighted the importtanceof the KRG’s participationin international events like theWorld Economic Forum, saying:“These events give us an opporttunityto contribute to the internnationaldialogue about growthand development and to learnfrom the experiences of others.”Regarding their meetings withTurkish officials Minister Mustaffasaid, “The continued exchangeof meetings between our respecttiveleaders is vital if we are totake full advantage of the opporttunitiesthat our economic coopeerationhas made available. It ismy hope that we will begin to seepartnerships grow in all sectorsas we continue to see progress inour economic relations.”The World Economic Forum isan independent international orgganizationwhich works to connnectbusiness, political and acaddemicleaders to help industryagendas on a global and regionallevel. The 2012 Istanbul Forumwas designed to address issuesspecific to the Middle East,North Africa and Eurasia, andmembers of the KRG delegationparticipated in sessions of the forrumdedicated to energy issuesand regional infrastructure.The WEF has extended an invvitationto Prime Minister Barzzanito lead a KRG delegation tothe next annual WEF summit inJanuary 2013 in Davos, Switzerlland.Date of Provincial Councilelections still not setFaraj Haidari: We can hold earlyparliamentary elections in six monthsGLOBE PHOTO/Safin HamidHead of the Iraqi IndependentHigher Electoral Commission(IHEC) Faraj Haidari announcedthat if their period in office isextended and they were granteda sufficient budget, they couldorganize early parliamentaryelections in accordance with theelections law.Haidari told the Globe that thecurrent political situation in Iraqwas unstable and that the probllemswere becoming deeper.“Our term expires in one and ahalf months, and if a new commmissionis assigned it would bemuch better,” explained Haidaari.“Even if this is not done,and there is a need for an earlyelection, we are ready to do thatif we are asked to do so and ourterm is extended.”Haidari explained the factorsbehind the delays in holdingthe provincial council electionson time during a press confereencein the Erbil Office of theIHEC, and stated that they hadrequested the Kurdistan ReggionalGovernment (KRG) andthe Kurdish Parliament to abideby the amendments and modificcationsin the elections law, butthey had not done that, includiingthe amendment to paragraph5 of Article 32 of the law thatstates the minorities shall onlyvote for candidates from theirown minority groups. “This isabsolutely against all the internnationalstandards and humanrights” he warned.Other factors behind the delays,according to Haidari, includedthe current political problemsin the country, his arrest by theIraqi government, the investigattionsand court proceeding of300 employees of the IHEC andfailure to establish an electoralcommission for the KurdistanRegion.“Even our guards were questtioned,”added Haidari. “Theyaccused me of receiving a commmissionof IQD 150,000 [appproximatelyUSD120], myhouse was impounded and I waslocked inside my house. Thenmy case was submitted to thecourt of crimes and I was freedafter paying a guarantee of IQD15 million.”Qassim Aboodi, AdministrattionManager of the IHEC, saidthat it is not yet clear when theelection is going to be held.“The parliament should firstapprove the amendments andthen the government decideson the date of the election,” expplainedAboodi.Regarding the establishmentof the Kurdistan Region’s ElecttoralCommission, Haidari expplainedthat until now 60 canddidateshave registered for themembership of the commission,and according to an article in thecommission’s draft law, whichhas been agreed upon by theparliamentary blocs, the commmissionwill have 9 members.Bayan Noori, Head of theKurdistan Islamic Union (KIU)Electoral Committee, refutedHaidari’s statements and arguedthat there are political factorsbehind the delays in holding theprovincial election.Head of the IHEC talks at a press conference in Erbil, June 5, 2012.“The election was supposedto be held in January 2009, butit has been postponed severaltimes,” stated Noori outliningwhy she doesn’t believe Haidaari’sstatements.Adnan Osman, Member ofParliament on the oppositionGorran Bloc and member of thelegal committee in the parliamment,also had doubt about thearguments put forward by Haidaariand Aboodi, stating that ifthe only issue is the issue of theminorities, this could be solvedin one week, “why should theypostpone the election for severalmonths due to this issue?”MP Osman argues that themain reason for the postponemmentsis that the political partiesin power are not ready for anelection that may alter the politiccalbalance.“The elections should also beheld on the level of the districtsand subdistricts after amendingthe councils’ law and expandingtheir authorities,” added MP Osmman.The Kurdish GlobeHemen Baban

The Kurdish Globe No. 356, Monday, June 11, 2012 4Erbil is Iraq’s best candidate forArab Tourism Capital accoladeGLOBE PHOTO/Safin HamidNawzad Hadi, the Governor of Erbil, highlightsthe governorate’s projects and activitiesInterview with ErbilGovernor Nawzad HadiGlobe: Erbil is a candiddatefor the title of thetourist capital of the Arabcountries, what are yourprograms to gain this acccolade?Hadi: The Tourism Miniistryin Baghdad has madethis decision because Erbilhas witnessed a number ofquality changes in termsof economic infrastructtureand all other aspectsand has developed in thepast few years in terms ofroads, streets, parks, shopppingmalls and enjoys thebest situation comparedto all other Iraqi citiesfor Iraq to contest amongother Arab cities for thiscompetition to become the2014 Arab Tourism Capittal.Globe: What are yourprojects and steps in thefuture?Hadi: The projects areimplemented according tothe city’s master plan onan annual basis. We cansee that Erbil grows in aplanned and healthy wayand by correct and accurratesteps. Things are notbuilt and destructed later.Every time we emphasizeon the master plan, whichdecides how the city exppands,where the streetsare constructed, whereaaboutsof commercialbuildings, which are thelocations designated forindustrial or residentialprojects. To implementthe master plan, we haveannual investment projeects.The private sectorcurrently has a very activeparticipation in the develoopmentpace.Globe: What are yourstrategic projects for thisyear?Hadi: If we take theroads and bridges sector,the Erbil-Haji OmaranDual-Passageway Projectis one of our largest projeectsof this year. It startswith the Pirmam Tunneland it costs USD 178 milllion.The Haji Omaran –Choman road is also beingconstructed with a budgetof USD 40 million. All ofthese are currently beingimplemented. Harir – ChommanRoad, which is veryimportant for connectingthe region with Iran interms of promoting tradeactivities and stimulatingeconomic development, has also been designedby the Ministry of Reconsstructionand Housing.Moreover, the Erbil-Koyahighway project, which isone of the major projects,is being implemented by aRomanian company.The work at the QandilBridge is at the final stageesand will complete thisyear, and we have now annnouncedthe Gopal Bridgeproject near the Ifraz areathat connects Erbil andKoya and saves travelers40-minutes’ drive.The Erbil-Makhmourdual-passageway has beenpaved to Pirwadood Villlage,and the second phasefrom Pirwadood up toDibaga is under constructtion.This is a brief of ourroad projects.Regarding water projects,the Pirmam-Shaqlawa watterproject will be completeby the end of next month,and by that time the waterwells of Pirmam, Kore,Shaqlawa and Bastora willbe closed. Water will bebrought to Kore, Pirmam,Bastora, Shaqlawa andHujran from the GreaterZab. The Ifraz Four projeectof Erbil is also one ofthe projects the design ofwhich had been completedlast year and is about to beimplemented by the Miniistryof Municipalities andTourism. The capacity ofthe project is 20,000 cubicmeter of water per hourand brings water from theGreater Zab through theTarin area. This will suppplywater to a number ofneighborhoods in Erbilincluding New Erbil, Sebbardan,Kasnazan Subdisttrict,Shawais, Mala Omarto the north and northeastof Erbil, and to the eastAyinda Compound, Hasarrok8, Lawan, BinaslawaSubdistrict, Qalai Nwe tillDaratoo. This is becausein these areas the level ofunderground water hasErbil Governor Nawzad Hadi, speaking to reporters.dropped, but Ifraq 4 willsupply water to all theseareas.Globe: What will be thebenefit of the green beltof Erbil, which is beingplanned for?Hadi: The basic designof the project has beencompleted, which is themaster plan for the greenbelt. When announced,the major part of it will beimplemented by the privvatesector through owneersof the lands covered bythe plan. The governmentcannot implement all ofit, hence people and theprivate sector should alsoparticipate. This projectadds a significant amountof green area to the capittal.The trees planted willbe fruit trees.Globe: What is the perccentageof green areas inErbil now?Hadi: We should conssiderErbil’s green area interms of circles, the circlefrom the citadel to the 60meter ring-road, from the60 meter ring-road to the100 meter ring-road andthen from there to theoutside of the city. If welook at the inside of the60 meter street with allthe projects implementedand being implemented, itshows that we are implemmentingto a standard thatemphasizes the existenceof green areas.Globe: When will youstart the other phases ofthe master plan?Hadi: Everywhere fromthe Erbil Governorate tillthe Ministry of health willbe destructed and will beccomea vacant land andturned into a green area.In the next few months thebuilding of the Court willbe completed and all thejudicial institutions in thisarea will be transferred tothe new building, and theold institutions will be desstroyedand greenery willreplace old concrete buildiings.GLOBE PHOTO/Safin Hamid

The Kurdish Globe No. 356, Monday, June 11, 2012 5Ongoing constraints prevent greenhousesfrom reaching self-sufficiency targetsAs deadline nears, government still way far from target number for greenhousesProfileGLOBE PHOTO/Sleman TashanMinistry of Agriculturelaunched the greenhouseproject in 2006 and thefirst step was to install anumber of greenhouses inthe research centers.In late 2006, a numberof fields were specified forsetting up greenhouses,which were distributed inthe following way: Girdarrashain Erbil Province,Bazyan in SuleimaniyaProvince, Malta in DuhokProvince and Kalar inGarmian Area.Each greenhouse is 400to 450 square meters andeach seasons cucumberproduce in one greenhousereaches 12 tons.At the beginning, theprice of each greenhousewas USD 900, but thisprice has now decreased tobelow USD 5000 per unit.A farmer is working at a greenhouse in Kurdistan.Qadir Aziz, a farmer in Baghirmma,near Erbil who owns 12green houses, was able to prodducelarge quantities of vegeetablessuch as tomatoes, cuccumbers,chili and even melonslast year and make good moneyby selling them in the market.However, this year he has onlyplanted cucumbers and due theexcess amount of cucumbers inthe market, he cannot sell it atthe price he is looking for.Cucumbers are also importedto Kurdistan Region from thecentral and southern parts ofIraq. Although, the Kurdish autthoritieshave set the price of cuccumbersfor farmers at IQD 850per kilograms (approximatelyUSD 0.70), due to excess supppliesin the markets, farmers aresometimes forced to sell a kiloggrambetween IQD 500 to 600.This is in sharp contacts the prevviousmonth when prices wereIQD 1,500.Meanwhile, tomato prices alsorose to IQD 2,000 per kilogramdue to a lack of domestic produucts.One of the reasons why farmerproduce cucumbers rather thantomatoes is the fact that cucumbbersreap in 35 days while tomattoesneed 120 days.Since 2007, the KRG Ministryof Agriculture has distributed anumber of greenhouses to farmeersand later a large number ofinvestors started to buy greenhhouses.One of the benefits ofthis technology is that the canbe utilized all year long, butin Kurdistan farmers only usethem during spring and summerseasons.According to a ministry initiattive,the number of greenhouseswas supposed to rise to 15,000across the region to reach 100%self-sufficiency, but we are nowin mid-2012 and the currentnumber is only 7,193 units, i.e.less than 50% of the target numbber,diminishing expectationsthat the targets can be met.Due to a lack of coordinationand planning between the farmeersand the ministry’s authorities,the farmers move from growingone product to another everyyear without consideration tothe supplies and demands of themarkets. However, if there wasa plan to cater for these marketfactors, all the products wouldhave sold at very good prices inthe market and market demandscould be better accommodated.Agriculture Ministry is plannningto support the disputed areeasthis year by providing 220greenhouses to the inhabitantsof those areas, with 50 to beallocated to Makhmour, 50 toGarmian and 120 to Duhok.Zana Ahmed, who had a greenhhouseproject in Qushtapa, 10kilometers south of Erbil, saidthat he had 60 greenhouses, buthe had to reluctantly sell all ofthem and give up his farmingjob.High production cost, lack ofcompetition and a flood of impportsfrom Iran and Turkey areamong the factors that forcedAhmed to sell his greenhouses.“We were in agreement withthe ministry that they would banimports from Iran from April 1,but this year they implementedthe ban on May 20,” explainedAhmed who was forced to sellhis greenhouses at a loss of USD110,000. “So, anything that costsus IQD 300 per kilogram, wehad to sell it for IQD 250.”Engineer Kamal Mohammed,Director of Greenhouses at theMinistry of Agriculture and WatterResources, argues that a lackof stability in the market combbinedwith labor and overheadcosts such as fuel constrainsfarmers from production.Mohammed reiterates the needfor a more effective policy toencourage and support farmersto keep production overhead toa minimum.Agriculture Ministry’s DirecttorGeneral of Planning AnwarOmar claims that at present 80%of the greenhouses in the regionare currently operating and suppplyingthe market.This year the ministry is plannningto assist farmers in the suppplyof fuel and electricity so thatthey can continue production allyear long.Omar told the Globe that agrriculturalguidelines will have apositive role in coordinating thegreenhouses’ production varietythrough the Producing Farmers’Union.This union can buy farmers’products and distribute them inthe markets. The union is currrentlyoperating in Sulaimaniyaand Garmian and with anotherone set to be established in Erbilthis year. The ministry will alsoassist them with transportationfacilities, cooling equipmentand fuel in addition to more enccouragementand support.Around 21 types of vegetablesare generally consumed in theregion, and Omar argues that theregion will reach self-sufficienccyin products such as zucchini,cucumber, chili and onion in thenear future, “and in the comingtwo years we will be able to suppplydomestically 80% of tomatodemands and we are trying toproduce all vegetables domesticcallyin the future.”In the past, the ministry wasbuying the greenhouses anddistributing them to farmersthrough tenders, but from thisyear they will give loans to farmeersto buy greenhouses, while thenew greenhouses, unlike the oldones, will have air-conditioningfacilities that can be used acrossall four seasons.By controlling borders and provvidingfarmers with pesticide,fertilizers and other requiremments,the greenhouse projectcan supply vegetables to thewhole region. Furthermore, if 4workers are employed in each ofthe 7,000 greenhouses, this willcreate 30 thousand valuable jobopportunities for the locals.In the past, with its fertile landsand abundant water resources,Kurdistan was able to cater forthe majority of its vegetable demmandsdomestically despite alack of technology.However, the Baathist regimedestroyed thousands of villagesin the region and relocated villlagersin compounds. This signnificantlyharmed Kurdistan’sagriculture sector to the extentthat Kurdistan was recently impportingas much as 90% of itsagricultural product needs.After the fall of the BaathistRegime in 2003, the economyof the region witnessed a drasticchange and its authorities haveset plans and strategies for devvelopingthe agriculture sector.Measures include encouragingfarmers and villagers to returnto their villages and restart theiragricultural activities and alsoprovide them with tools, equipmmentand access to financing.However, there are still someobstacles on the way to reachiingthese goals, and the KRGauthorities emphasize that theirnext step is to work to overcomethese key obstacles.The Kurdish GlobeSleman Tashan

The Kurdish Globe No. 356, Monday, June 11, 2012 7Kizkapan, a cave that paints theancient history of a peopleGLOBE PHOTO/Aram KooshkiA view of the Kizkapan Cave west of Suleimaniya.Kizkapan Cave is locatedto the west of the city ofSulaimanyia, near theChami Razan Resort onthe road between Sulaimaaniyaand Dokan Resort.A side path, close toRiver Tabin, takes youthrough Chami Razan toZarzi Village, the neareestinhabited place to thecave. Kizkapan Cave islocated behind the villageabout one kilometer away.HistoryAccording to archeologiccalsources, the history ofKizkapan Cave goes backto around 600-550 B.C,the era after the reign ofthe Medes and is the oldeestarcheological remainsin the area.The word Kizkapan isof Turkish origin meaniing“Girl Catcher”, a newname that was reportedlyset by the Ottomans duriingtheir governance ofthe region. The Ottomanschanged the names ofmany places during theirrule in the country bettweenthe sixteenth andtwentieth century.Hashim Hama Abdulla,Archeologist and Directorof Sulaimaniya Museumargues that the drawingsand engravings in thecave have no correlationor indication to its currentname, as this name wasconsigned centuries later.The cave is now registteredas an archeologicalattraction and some routesand streets have been consstructedaround the cavethis year to give touristsaccess to the cave and tothe drawings and engraviingson its various walls.Kizkapan and ancientKurdish ruleThere are different ideasand opinions about therole and importance of thecave, some refer it to theOttoman era, while othersto the Median era, withthe latter more commonlyagreed.Kamal Rashid Rahim,Director of SulaimaniyaArchaeology, stated “Thesignificance of this cave isthat it tells a history aboutthe Kurds and their rule inthis area.”“This has a special signnificancefor the Kurdiishtourists to know moreabout the archeologicalsites,” added Rahim. “It isimportant for foreign touriistsas well as they maywant to know more aboutthe history of the Kurds.”Abdulla, on the otherhand, maintains that asarcheologists suggest, thehistory of the place datesback to very ancient times,which is of a great significcanceas an archeologicalattraction for the KurdisttanRegion in general andSulaimaniya Province inparticular.The engraved mapof KizkapanAbdulla talks about amap engraved on the wallsof the cave, and statesthat in the map there aretwo men with their handsheld up and their arrowson the ground, seeminglyconveying a message ofpeace.“This map is differentfrom many other archeollogicalmaps as it has amessage about war andhostility. There are twoexplanations on the map,the first explanation bellongsto the archeologistsAdmon, M. Tofiq Wahbiand Taha Baqer, who bellievethat the men are twoZartosht religious menthat take an oath by thefire. The second explanattionproposed by otherarcheologists is that thosetwo men are not religiousmen but rather leaders.According to historicalaccounts, there had beena sun blockage around585 B.C. At that time afatal war ensued betweenthe Medes and Ledes,but when the sun wasblocked and it got dark,they stopped the war andannounced a truce. Laterthe Ledes’ princess marrriedthe Medes’ prince in amarriage of political convvenienceto coincide withthe truce.Damage to the caveAbdulla said that dueto negligence some damaagedhad been caused tothe cave and the old stairswere mostly damaged. Asa result, they have builtnew stairs leading to theengravings on the cave.“However, the cave’sgate is locked and touristscannot enter the cave, butcan only look at the drawiingsand maps on the outerwalls of the cave,” expplainedAbdulla. “This isto protect the ancient toolsand archeological remainsin the cave from damageand loss.”He also added that a largenumber of tourists visit thesite on a daily basis.Tourist complaintsHowever, tourists arecomplaining about lack ofgood services at the place.Over the past two years,the cave was closed due tothe renovation works thattook place. Now as therenovation is complete andaccess is granted again, themany tourists who visit theplace complain about lackof services in the area.Aso Ghafoor, a localtourist who visited thecave with his family, compplainsthat there is no placefor tourists to relax.“Sufficient care has notbeen given to this ancientcave that has very oldmaps and engravings withspecial historical and arccheologicalsignificance.“It is necessary to takecare of the archeologicalsites that have valuableremains and that they beccomea priority for theKurdistan Regional Goveernmentand be considereda national asset,” Ghafoor,who is a history teacher ata high school in the cityof Sulaimaniya. “Besides,they could also be usedas a tourist attraction andsource of income for thepeople and the region.”The Kurdish GlobeAram Kooshki

The Kurdish Globe No. 356, Monday, June 11, 2012 8Rising petrol pricesspur drivers to switchtheir cars to LPGGLOBE PHOTO/Zakariya MuhammedA combination of lowquality and high prices ofpetrol in Kurdistan overthe past few years has inccreaseddemand for carsrunning on alternate fuel.As a result, more and morepeople in the city of Erbilare switching their cars toliquid propane gas (LPG).LPG conversion resultsin a bi-fuel capability- acar that can run on eitherLPG or petrol. A secondindependent fuel system isadded to the car for whicha dedicated tank is needed.The tank is usually fitted inthe spare wheel compartmmentbut can also be insstalledunderneath the car.As with petrol and diesel,liquid LPG is purchasedby the liter and pumpedinto the tank via a hosepipeand filling point. Itbecomes a gas just beforeentering the combustioncylinder."I know a lot of localdrivers who suffer fromlow quality of petrol or arehit hard by petrol pricesclimbing toward 1000Iraqi dinars per liter,"says Muhammad Othman,manager of Gasco Companny,part of the Diyar GroupCompanies in Erbil. "Gasccochanged the way thatpeople think by using LPGinstead of standard fuel forvehicles. Gasco convertedthe first car on 14th April2010, but now thousandsof vehicles are converted,and hundreds more driveersare choosing to converttheir cars to LPG on a dailybasis. It’s a real success,"Besides the economicbenefits, running on LPGis believed to reduce thecarbon footprint on averaageby 20% compared withpetrol. Clean and efficientcombustion means thatLPG vehicles also produceA taxi driver fills in his car with LPG at the Mantkawa station in Erbil,fewer harmful pollutantsand less noise.According to Othman,the conversion can becompleted in a few days,and although the initialoutlay of approximately$850 is somewhat steep,the ultimate savings infuel expenses and vehiclemaintenance make theswitch worthwhile.There is a common concceptionamongst somepeople that LPG is dangeroousespecially during caraccidents, leading many tostick with petrol."I heard LPG is less exppensivethan petrol andhas less effect on car enggine,but I still prefer petrrol.The reason why I staywith petrol is that somepeople say LPG is not safefor cars."But Gasco Companymanger Othman thinksLPG has an excellent safettyrecord as the fuel tank isusually much stronger thanconventional ones, and hasbeen proven to maintainits integrity in both fireand crash tests.Othman believes thatthere are many driverswho lack the understandiingand knowledge aboutthe running of the system;some even wonder what todo if they run out of LPG.In case of running out ofLPG, Othman explainedthat the system would auttomaticallyrevert backto using petrol, and oncerefilled will then return torunning on LPG. Duringthe installation process, aspecial switch/indicator isfitted onto the dashboardindicating the amount offuel left in the tank.Dashti Abdullah, a taxidriver who converted hiscar to LPG over two yearsago, said "I am really satisffiedwith the system whichhas many benefits. I pay350 IDs a liter for propane,which is cheap comparedpetrol. Propane never hurtsthe engine but bad qualitypetrol always negativelyaffects the engine. SinceI converted my car, I havesaved a lot of money."Salam Burhan is anotherdriver who converted hiscar to LPG a few weeksago. He said "I like everytthingabout LPG converssionbut the only problemI usually face is there areonly two stations in Erbilcity where I can fill in mycar. I hope they open morestations as soon as theycan."Currently, there are twogas stations in Erbil, ShorsshStation and MantkawaStation, but the companyplans to open other stattionsin the future.Marriage, a priority among college studentsGLOBE PHOTO/Zakariya MuhammedScience College students prepare to get their graduation picture taken.Colleges in Kurdistan Reggionhave long been placeswhere students begin tothink about the rest of theirlives, and in many cases thatincludes marriage. Nowaddays,most young adults arenot prepared to get marriedwith someone who is chossenby their parents. Theywould rather find prospecttivepartners by themselvesin colleges and workplaces.When 21 year old HiwaAhmad was a student at theTechnical Institute in Erbbil,he fell in love with hisclassmate Hazha Othman.While, most people wouldleave after they finishedtheir classes, Ahmad foundhimself frequently remainiingat school for hours inddulgingin longs conversattionwith a girl, Othman,who he described as a “thebest lady in the world”.Ahmad and Othmanstayed in touch through muttualfriends and only a yearafter their graduation, thetwo eventually got engaged,and have now been marriedfor over two months."I feel my dream came trueand succeeded in choosiinga partner that I liked toget married with. I believeif there was no school, Iwouldn't be able to find mybeloved at all. I am sure mywife feel the same," saidAhmadAhmad admitted that hefaced many difficulties untilhe got married as financialproblems, dowry demandsand unemployment createdobstacles in his path to marrriage."My dad took the responsibbilityfor all the costs of theprocess which I will neverforget. God helped me as Ifound a job and the money Imake monthly is enough forliving expenses and to renta house." explained AhmadDespite the increase of enggagementsamong collegestudents, some perceivecollege as only a place forattaining education and bellievethat long-term relattionshipsbetween collegestudents harms the reputattionof girls."I don't believe in relattionshipsbetween girls andboys in colleges. Most ofthose who have tried that,have failed. There are someboys who promise to morethan one girl that they willmarry with them. Today'sboys shouldn't be trusted,"said Tavga Omer, a 19 yearoldthird year student at theGeography Department inCollege of HumanitarianSciences in Erbil.Lanja Burhan, anothercollege student, said thatshe occasionally thinksabout marriage, but thatshe is actually relieved tobe single upon her graduattionso she saves having toworry about the future ofher relationship.“I really think that in colllegepeople shouldn't thinkabout marriage as much,”Burhan said. “It’s whenStudents see college as a timeto think of marriageyou get out of college andyou’re in the workplacewith other people who aremarried that it needs to startbecoming an issue.”Although some studentssaid they can't imaginemarrying any of their classmmates,many others specullatedthat graduates mayeventually become attracteedto each other years aftercollege because they sharethe common experience ofeducation, or because of thevalues that drove them bothto the college in the firstplace."College graduates aremarrying partners with simiilareducation levels, whichcould be because collegeeducatedmen have begun tolook for a spouse with highearning power," said Dr.Abdullah Ismail, sociologyinstructor at the HumanitariianScience CollegeIn Dr. Abdullah's view,marriage should be based onlove, experience and mutualunderstanding which can bebuilt through relationships.Concerning the boys whopromise girls marriage butwho ultimately fail to keeptheir word, Dr. Abdullahsaid "One thing many boysat colleges think of is crazylove. They only love to getmarried without thinking ifthey are prepared for marrriageor not. In addition tolove and respect, boys needto be financially ready forthe process. I have seenboys who intend to get marrriedbut they have not a dinnarin their pockets if notfor the financial support oftheir parents,"Sometimes boys are loyalto their promises, but thegirls' families demand a lotof gold and dowry whichmay make the marriagesimpossible to realize.Dr. Abdullah asks the goveernmentto support youngadults in order to get marrried,by creating job opporttunitiesand providing themwith residential units aftergraduation.The Kurdish GlobeZakariya Muhammed

The Kurdish Globe No. 356, Monday, June 11, 2012 10Syrian actress and writer talks with the GlobeLina Alzaeem: Turkishseries have knocked atthe doors of every homeGLOBE PHOTOLina Alzaeem, a youngand pretty Syrian actresswith a strong personality,is a well-known name inSyrian showbiz.Being a quiet person isreflected in her works,which have attracted manyadmirers. She has workedin the fields of comedy,tragedy and social filmsthrough the roles she hasplayed in various moviesand series.Alzaeem argues thatamong her family membbers,only her uncle wasan initial obstacle to hercareer but her persistenceand desire won throughallowing her to becomean actress that the wholeof Syria can now be proudof.Below is the interviewwith Alzaeem:Globe: Is beauty a factorfor success for and for anactress?Alzaeem: Unfortunatelybeauty is the best way forone to become a star.Globe: In which aspectyou think you are mostsuccessful, theatre, comeedy,tragedy?Alzaeem: In all aspectsI can be successful, beccauseI love all of them.Globe: You have actedin a lot of series including6 Stars, 7 Stars and TheHero of this Era. In whichseries your role better refflectsyour own personaliity?Alzzaeem:All theroles are farfrom my reallife andGLOBE PHOTOSyrian writer and actress Lina Alazeem poses for a photo.personality.Globe: Who chose thatyou play a role in a Saudiseries?Alzaeem: Everything isthe will of the director.Globe: What does Shammean for you?Alzaeem: Sham is happpinessand passion. It isthe city of the most rennownedpoet “Nazar Qabbbani”.Who doesn’t fallin love with a city whereQabbani is born?Globe: What best desscribesLina Alzaeem, aselfish woman, a romantticwoman or one with abright future?Alzaeem: A romanticwoman with a bright futture.Globe: Which Syrianartists have supported andencouraged you to beccomean actress?Alzaeem: Many of themincluding Ayman Zedanand Tallat Hamdi.Globe: Among yourfamily members, hasthere been anyone prevventingyou from becomiingan actress?Alzaeem: Thank God,nothing like that has happpened.Globe: We have heardthat you write articlessometimes. Are thoseabout your own life oryour society?Alzaeem: I read a lotand love reading. Andnot necessarily whateverI write is about myself,but generally about mysociety.Globe: What is youropinion about those Turkiishseries translated intoArabic?Alzaeem: Those Turkiishseries have knocked atthe doors of every homeand attracted majority ofpeople. Many times peopplelove those who playroles in the doubling ofthose series. That is why Iam also willing to particippatein the doubling of theTurkish series.Globe: Some people saythat your uncle Wafiq Alzzaeem,was against theidea of you becoming anactress. Is that correct?Alzaeem: With all mylove and respect to myuncle, but since we arefrom a well-known famiilyin Damascus and werevery cautious, he did notlike this idea, but as Idefended myself and mydecision to become an acttressa lot, he did not objjecteither.Globe: What is youropinion about love?Alzaeem: Love is avery beautiful and brightimagination. It is very diffficultfor me to define it incouple words.Globe: Among the oldand modern singers, towhom you listen more?Alzaeem: The old onesAbdel Halim Hafez, andthe modern ones TamerHosny, Fazal Shakir, Majjidaal-Rumi and GeorgeWassouf.Globe: What kind offood do you like and whatis your horoscope?Alzaeem: I like fish andall kinds of salads. Myhoroscope is Leo.Globe: What is your lastword?Alzaeem: Thank you forthe interview.

The Kurdish Globe No. 356, Monday, June 11, 2012 11An Open Letter to Kurdish Regional GovernmentLend your support to Kurdish as a heritage andworld language initiative in Southern CaliforniaAs a university lecturer at CalifforniaState University, LongBeach, and president of theKurdish American EducationSociety, I am writing this lettterto invite you to explore theinitiative of lending your suppportboth moral and material tothe recognition of Kurdish as aheritage and world language andthe establishment of Kurdishlanguage education in SouthernCalifornia. As you know, In LosAngeles and San Diego, there aresizeable Kurdish communities,the first generation of which is indanger of losing their languageand cultural identity despite occcasionalcultural events that thecommunity holds. The Kurdishcommunity is now established;its sense of ethnic identity hasbeen revived and reinforced bypromising developments and recconstructionof solidarity in theautonomous Kurdistan.I know that Kurdish RegionalGovernment (KRG) is keen onpursuing the policy of improviingthe condition of the Kurdishlanguage in relation to its mainttenanceand codification. Whileit is important to develop policciestowards the conservation,enrichment, and standardizationwithin Kurdistan, it is equallyimportant to work towards themaintenance and promotion ofKurdish among Kurdish Diassporiccommunities and worldlanguages. Kurdish AmericanEducation Society as a non-profiitcultural and educational organnizationwith a cultural heritagemandate has pursued these disttinctobjectives. We along withother Kurdish communities havetried to help Americans betterunderstand and appreciate Kurdiishrich cultural heritage and divversity.To this end, Kurdish communnitiesin California have alsobeen involved in preservingKurdish way of life and providiingglimpses of Kurdish cultturalheritage to other communnitiesthrough cultural artifacts,works of art, music, dance, andensemble of texts in culturalfestivals and events. Despite ourbest efforts to socialize our childdreninto the Kurdish language,the first generation of KurdishAmerican children is becomiingincreasingly monolingual.To make matters worse, we alsohave many adults among us whodo not speak their mother tonguenot to mention the fact that thegreat majority of even educatedKurds are illiterate when it comesto their language of origin.I am glad that KRG in its educcationalpolicy is sensitive to thelinguistic needs and diversity ofthe greater Kurdish language,looking for specific solutions tolanguage related issues. As anapplied linguist, I applaud youfor these efforts; however, weare still a long way from a soundlanguage planning and policy toserve the complex interests ofdifferent language varieties.Various suggestions have beenproposed, underscoring the needfor a systematic effort to mainttain,revive, and standardize theKurdish language institutionallyby experts whose precious ressourceis the living culture andlanguage of their nation andtheir robbed and buried history.Kurdish diasporic communitiescan not be left alone; they needyour institutional support actualand symbolic. As an applied lingguist,interested in such issues,I am witnessing language shiftamong the youth of the KurdishDiasporic community. This is inpart due to negligence on the partof parents and mostly because ofthe low status and lack of recognnitionof language minorities inthe communities we live.It is ironic that at the Universsityof California, Los Angeles,all major world languages arerepresented except for Kurdiish.As if it is our destiny to beexiled twice in the sense thatmost of us come from countrieswhere Kurdish is not recognizedand here there is no vested intereestin recognizing and offeringthe Kurdish language both asan applied and academic field.The Kurdish community hasnot been indifferent to this sorrycondition. We conducted in colllaborationwith the UCLA NearEastern Studies and several otherdepartments a successful confereenceon the Kurdish language in2010.While we initiated and welccomedthis support, we haveyet to have Kurdish representedboth in the UCLA Departmentof Near Eastern Studies and theCenter for World languages. TheKurdish community here initiateeda campaign in 1986 under thetutelage of the late Dr. HassanAhmadi, who with the help ofDr. Yona Sabar, a Jewish Kurdiishscholar and linguist, initiatedand successfully taught elementtaryand intermediate Kurdish forover a year at UCLA. The Kurdiishcommunity funded this educcationalendeavor, hoping thatthe program would be continuedby the university once it showedsigns of success. Although therewas enthusiasm and relativelyhigh enrollment, the programwas discontinued. In San Dieego,Mr.Norman Leonard andMr.Hosein Mronesy establisheda weekend community school inEL Cajon with meager resourcesand a great deal of dedication ;however, ever since Mr. Hoseinhas returned to Duhok, theschool is not operating. In short,to this day, there is no communittybased or institutionally fundededucation in Kurdish in SoutheernCalifornia. While efforts areunder way by different minoriitylanguages to maintain theirlanguages through different inittiatives,we seem to be movingin the direction of unavoidableand unenviable language loss asmost of our children are neither apart of a bilingual education norattend any education in Kurdishnor can those who are interestedin Kurdish as a foreign languagefind any educational programs inor about Kurdish.I was pleasantly surprised tofind out that KRG has initiatedand supported language proggramsfor displaced Iraqis oreven to discover that Kurds inErbil have learned Korean asa part of the Kurdish KoreanFriendship Association program.The KRG’s support for theKurdish classes at the Universityof Portland is inspiring. Investiingin cultural and linguistic inffrastructureis crucial to the creaationand maintenance of culturalspaces and research domains inKurdish linguistics and studiesthat we create within and withooutKurdistan. Your support andinitial funding of the teaching ofKurdish as a heritage languagein and through the Universityof California, Los Angeles, andthe site of the Center for NearEastern Studies, and the Centerfor World Languages would be amajor breakthrough. I am hopingthat KRG will explore the posssibilityof spearheading eitherdirectly or indirectly throughKurdish American EducationSociety a concerted effort to perssuadea major university suchas UCLA to recognize Kurdishas a heritage language and offercourses in Kurdish. Other commmunitiesensure that their youngmembers and others have accessto and experience their languageand culture through communitybased schools or university offferedheritage classes. We alsolike to facilitate and foster thepreservation of our cultural herittage.It behooves us to be sensittiveand responsive to the stillprecarious status of the Kurdishlanguage locally and globally.It is our language that has keptour cultural heritage and identtityalive despite endlessly ruthllesslinguistic discrimination. Iwould greatly appreciate yourcontribution to and participationin this worthy academic and cultturaleffort.CordiallyDr.Amir SharifiCalifornia State University,Long Beach, LecturerKurdish American EducationSociety, President

The Kurdish Globe No. 356, Monday, June 11, 2012 13and the petit pashas in BaghdadPRESS PHOTO>>Abrégé de la Nouvelle GéogrraphieUniverselle, Vol II, W.Guthrie, Paris (1819:308-309)Curdistan or Kurdistan. Thismountainous country includesCorduène and Adiabène. Manycattle feed in its superb evergreenpasturages. […] This region inccludesfour major principalities,namely those of Betlis, Giulamerk,Dgesira, […and] Kara Dgiolan,the largest Kurdish principality,[which] contains the entire SoutheernKurdistan. […] The two smallKurdish pachalics of Scherezourand Kerkouk, now ruled by moussselimsor commissaries, appear tobe dismemberments of the princippalityof Kara Dgiolan.The general gazetteer: or, Comppendiousgeographical dictionary,R. Brookes, London (1820:443)Kerkouk, a city of Kurdistan, thecapital of a district and residenceof a pashaw. It is surrounded bya mud wall, and on an eminencethat is nearly perpendicular on allsides, below which is an extensivesuburb. […]A new universal gazetteer, J.Morse, R. Morse, New-Haven(1821:368)Kerkook, t. A Turkey, the largestin Lower Kurdistan. Pop. About13.000. […]Compendio di geografia modeernaad uso della gioventù, G. S.Reitmeir, Napoli (1821:234)3. Hurdistan, or the land of theKurds. [...] The people who livethere are nomadic shepherds, aresubject to an Emir, which dependson the pacha, whose residence isKerkouk, the chief town.Travels in Georgia, Persia, Armmenia,ancient Babylonia, &c. &c..., Vol II, R. K. Porter, London(1822:439)Kirkook is regarded as one ofthe most considerable places inLower Courdistan; which, exttendingfrom the north-westernfrontiers of Khuzistan, to the highmountainous passes of Courdistan(the ancient Carduchia) comprehhendsalmost the whole of AssyriaProper.Allgemeines repertorium der liteeratur,vol III, C. D. Beck, Leipzig(1822:106))Kirkuk in Lower Kurdistan (Demmetriasby Strabo, Corcura byPtolemy), naphtha springs burniingon hills.The Oriental magazine, and Calccuttareview, Vol I, W. Thacker,Calcutta (1823:584)The Kirkook naphtha is princippallyconsumed by the markets inthe south-west of Curdistan […]Nouveau DictionnaireGéographique Universel, J. MacC-Carthy, Paris (1824:662)Kerkout, a town in lower-Kourdistan (Asian Turkey), situaatedon an elevated landscape.Poplulation 18.000. Latitude north43.42.1, east 33.9.Universal geography: or A desscriptionof all parts of the world,Vol I, C. Malte-Brun, Philadelphia(1827: 340)Koordistan, or the country of theKurds, […] The Largest principaliityof this country is Kara Djiolan,with a capital town of the samename. […] The two small passhâlicsof Sherzour and Kerkouk,Flame coming out of an oil well in the Baba Gurgur field in Kurdistan.governed by mousselims or superiindendants,appear to be formedby forcible encroachments on theprincipality of Kara-Djiolan.The geography system ofHerodotus examined and expplained,by a comparison, Vol I, J.Rennell, London (1830:515)The name Kir is traceable atpresent in that country. The loftieestridge of the Kurdistan mounttains(Carduchian) is namedKiarè, according to M. Otter.The province adjacent is Hakiari(Niebuhr); the Kiouran tribe ofthe Kourds inhabits eastern part;Kerkook, a larg town and otherplaces of less consequence, havethe prefixture Ker or Kir to them.It is possible that the name of theCarduchian people may have hadthe same rout.The Edinburgh encyclopaedia,Vol VII, D Brewster, Edinburgh(1830:510)Curdistan - […] In Curdistanthere are several considerabletowns and hamlets. The largets ofthe towns of Lower Curdistan isKerkook. […]A new universal gazetteer, conttaininga description of the princippalnations, J Marshall, New York(1832:418)Kerkuk, a town of Curdistan, thecapital of a government and residdenceof a pacha. […]Traité Classique de Géographiecontenant la Géographie Natturelleet la Géographie Politique,Vol II, C. L. Grandperret, Paris(1834:309)2. Kurdistan comprises the folllowingpashalics:Van – Van, Khochab, Bayazid,DjoulamerkKars – Kars, Ani, ArdanoudgiChehrzour – Kerkouk, Chehrzzour,BaïanPenny Cyclopaedia of the Soccietyfor the Diffusion of UsefulKnowledge, Vol III, L Chancelllor,J. Russell, W. Tooke; London(1835:268)[…] Sulimanieh, Kerkook andErbil are the principal towns ofTurkish Koordistan : Sulimaniehis the capital of a pashalic of thesame name ; the territories ofwhich are more extensive thanthose of any other chief in the partof the country, […]Dictionnaire géographique univversel,Vol II, A. J. Kilian, Paris(1836:727)Chehrezour, a pashalic in AsiaticTurkey, forming the major part ofKurdistan. […] The turks dividedthis pashalic into 20 sandjaks,whose limits are unknown, and isgoverned by hereditary and indeppendentKurdish princes. Its financcialadministration is in Kerkouk,and a mutesellim, […] is residedin Chehrezour, the chief-town ofthe pashalic.Précis de la géographie universselle,Vol VIII, C. Malte-Brun,Paris (1835:161-165)Kurdistan, or the land of theKurds, […] the largest Kurdiishprincipality is Kara Djolanor Chehrezour, with a capital ofthe same name. […] The Kurdiishprinces of Betlis, Djoulamerk,Amadieh, Jezireh, Karadjolan andSulaimaniyah […] are rather vasssalsthan subjects of the Porte.[…] Kerkouk appears to be acity of 15000 souls. It is built ona mountain, surrounded by wallsand defended by a citadel. […]Kerkouk is the former Corcura,who bore the name of Demetriasand Memius.A universal gazetteer; or,Geographical dictionary of theworld, G. T. Landmann, London(1835:384)Kerkouk, or Kirkook, a city ofAsia, Turkey, Kurdistan, the capittalof a district, on an eminencethat is nearly perpendicular on allsides, and is surrounded by a mudwall with towers, below whichis an extensive suburb, with garddensproducing olives, pears, andgrapes. […] Kerkouk is situated135 m Southwest of Betlis. […]Traité élémentaire de géograpphie,M.M. Cortambert & H.Laurent, Paris (1838:186)Turkish Kurdistan […] Pashalic:Chehrezour, Population: 155,000,chief town: KerkoukGéographie universelle, physsique,politique et historique..., Vol 3, W. Guthrie, Paris(1839:269-273)Chehrezour. This pashalikforms the major part of Kurdistan,borders on north with Van, southwith pashalik of Baghdad and inthe west with those of Mosul andDiarbekir. […] It has few townsbut many forts. This pashalik isdivided into 20 sanjaks whoselimits are unknown, they are almmostall owned by independentand hereditary Kurdish princes.[…] Its financial administration isKerkuk. […]The American journal of scieence,Volym 37, no 2, New Haven(1839:353)The Kirkook Naptha—TheKirkook Naphtha is black, and isconsumed in the S. W. of Courdisttan.The etymological compenddium:Treasury of Knowledge,part II, Samuel Maunder, London(1840:77)Kerkouk. or Kirkook, a city ofKurdistan, the capital of a district.Lon. 44 33 E., lat. 35 29 N.Leçon de Gégraphie, M. E. Corttambert,Paris (1840:247)Kurdistan is comprised of twopachalics: Moussoul with a majjorcity with same name, situatedon the banks of Tigris. Erbil, theancient Arbèle, is situated east ofMoussoul. […] The pachalic oflower Kurdistan is called Chehrrezourwith the chief-town ofKerkouk.Notion Élémantaires de Statisttique,J. J. D’Omalius D’Halloy,Bruxelles (1840:171)The possessions of OttomanEmpire in Asia: […] Pashalic:Chehrezour, Towns Baian, Chereezour,Erbil, Kerkouk, Country:Kurdistan […]Die Erdkunde im Verhältniss zurNatur und zur Geschichte des ...,Vol I, C. Ritter, Berlin (1841:266)Kerkuk, town in Kurdistan.Abrégé de géographie, A.>>

The Kurdish Globe No. 356, Monday, June 11, 2012 14>>Balbi, Paris (1842:677)Ottoman Kurdistan, itselfcomprises the following Eyalets:Cehrezour: Kirkuk, Chehrezour(formerly the seat of the Pasha)Erbil, Baïan. Kurdish principalittiesof Amadia, Suleïmanieh orSindian, Koï and Kouran are vasssalsof the Ottoman Empire. […]Instituzione Elementari di Geoggrafia,Ferdinando de Luca, Nappoli(1843:86)The Ottoman Kurdistan withmain ejalet of Chehrezour, whosechief-town is Kerkouk. […]Mœurs, usages et costumesde tous les peuples du monde,Vol II, A. Wahlen, Bruxelles(1843:512,513)Kourdistan, now a province ofTurkey in Asia, is known as theOttoman Kourdistan […]. It iscertain that once it formed the twopashalicks of Mosul and Chehrrezour,and now includes followiingcities:Giulamerk or Djoulamerk, capittalof the principality of the samename […] Amadia is the capital ofthe Badinan Kurds who live westof the Principality of Djoulamerk,between Mosul and Betlis. Djezirréhin pashalick of Diarbékir. Wesee the center of this city, the capittalof a principality whose inhabiitantsare called Bottani […] Thelargest is the Kurdish principalityof Karadjolan or Chehrezour, inccludingthe capital with the samename. This country including allthe southern Kurdistan may esttablish15.000 riflemen. Kerkoukis a city of 15,000 souls, built ona mountain, surrounded by walls,defended by a citadel. […] Erbil(ancient Arbela, immortalized bythe defeat of Darius and the fall ofthe Persian monarchy) is defendedby a stone fort, and in the middleof fertile plains.Nouveau manuel complet etméthodique des aspirants au bacccalauréatès-lettres A. É. Lefranc,Paris (1844:104)The Ottoman Kurdistan is inhhabitedby the Kurds, who arerather vassals than subjects of thePorte. They are a nomadic peopple,good riders, ruled by a smallcrowd of princes. The major citiesare Chehrezour, Kerkouk, Erbil,etc.Application de la géographie àl'histoire, vol I, Édouard Braconnnier,Paris (1845:406)Asiatic Turkey contains six mainparts: 1 Analolie or Asia Minor,forming six pachalicks, taking thenames of their capitals Koutaièh,Konieh (Carmania), Adanah,Marash, Sivas, Trebizond. […] 3Kourdistan, forming the pashalickof Chehrezour; the residence ofthe Pasha is transported to Kirkuk.[…]A dictionary of scripture geogrraphy,J. R Miles, Manchester(1846:57)[…] The pashalics of Kirkookand Solimania also comprisepart of Upper Curdistan. LowerCurdistan comprises the entirelevel tract to the east of the Tiggris,and the minor ranges immeddiatelybounding the plains, andreaching thence to the foot of thegreat range, which may justly bedenominated the Alps of westernAsia.A general view shows the city centre of Kirkuk, 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad November 5, 2011. In Iraq's northern oil city Kirkuk, home to a volatile mixof Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen, politicians and residents fear a possible explosion of ethnic conflict when American troops leave.Abrégé de Géographie, A. Balbi,Paris (1847:677)Ottoman Kurdistan includes thefollowing Eyalets: Chehrezour [..]Kerkouk, Chehrezour (formerlythe residence of the Pasha) Erbil,Baïan. Kurdish principalities […]are only vassals of the OttomanEmpire.Bericht über die Mittheilungenvon Freunden der Naturwissensschaftenin Wien, W. Haidinger,Vienna (1848:450)Ainsworth's supposed Cretacceouscoal-bearing strata in southeernKurdistan in Kerkuk and Sulleimanichto belong here too.Jewish Missionary intelligence,Vol XIV, London (1848:295)Kerkuk is a place of some note,it contains a good many Jewish,Christian and Moslem Inhabitaants.It properly speaking, belongsto the Kurdish territory […]A dictionary, Geographical, Stattistical,and Historical of countries,places and principal natural objjectsin the world, Daniel Haskel,Vol II, New York (1849:107)Kerkouk (Demetrias, Strabo;Corcura, Ptol.) a large town ofAsiatic Turkey, in Lower Kurdisttan,the capital Sandjiak.Handbuch der Erdbeschreibung,Volym 2, A. Balbi, Braunschweig(1850:56)III. Turkish Kurdistan comprisesthe following eyalets: […] Schehrresor.Kerkuk, Schehresur, formmerlythe residence of the Pasha.The Cyclopædia of Biblical Liteerature,Volym 1, J. Kitto, NewYork (1851:245)The pasha of Mosul is nominnatedby the Porte, but is subjectto the pasha of Bagdad; there isalso a pasha at Solymaniah andAkra; a bey at Arbil, a mutsellimat Kirkook. But the aboriginal inhhabitantsof the country, and of thewhole mountain-tract that dividesTurkey from Persia, are the Kurds,the Carduchii of the Greeks; fromthem a chain of these mountainswere anciently called the Cardduchianor Gordyæan, and fromthem now country is designatedKurdistan.Journal des savants, Académiedes inscriptions et belles-lettres,Paris (1852 :621)In Kerkouk the traveler will enccounterthe Corcura of Ptolemy.It is the capital of Scheherzour, aname that refers to a city of Kurdiistan.Histoire de l'Empire ottoman:depuis son origine jusqu'à nosjours, Vol IX, J. Hammer-Purgsstall,Paris (1852:59)Early in May (May 5, 1625), thenew Grand Vizier went to planttheir tents in the plain near TschekooukDiarbekr, while Beglerbeg ofKaramanie, Tscherkesse-Hasan,who had wintered near Hossnkeïfcame against a detachment ofthe Persian army encamped inthe neighborhood of Kerkouk inKurdistan.Histoire de Constantinople, compprenantle Bas-Empire et l'Empireottoman, vol II, B. Poujoulat, Pariis(1853:324)Topal won another victory overthe Persians, but Nadir defeatedhim completely after a few days(October 1733), near Kerkouk,now the capital of Ottoman Kurdiistan.The English cyclopædia: a newdictionary of Universal Knowleedge,Vol V, C. Knight, New York(1854:823)Kurdistan is altogether a hillycountry. […] Suleimania, Kerkukand Erbil are the principal towns.Tableau historique, politique etpittoresque de la Turquie et de laRussie, Joubert, F Mornand, Paris(1854 : 110-111)The eyalets of Kurdistan arepart of Diarbekir and Chehrezour.Kurdistan is a great plain boundedon the north by the Taurus, to theeast and west between Persia andthe Mesopotamia. […] We mustalso mention Chehrezour, seat ofgovernment Kerkouk, Schirwanand Jazira.Kenny's School geography; or,Earth and Heaven, S. Kenny, Londdon(1856:72)Divisions.—Turkey in Asiamay be divided into seven parts:1. Asia Minore or Anatolia, chieftowns: Smyrna, Trebizond, Sivas,Amasia, Tokat, Angora, Scutari,Brusa, Kutaiah, and […] 5. Kurdiistan,chief town: Kerkouk. […]Leçons de géographie, E. Cortaambert,Paris (1856:249)Kurdistan. Note there Mossoul,the curious ruins of Ninive andKerkouk. This is the land of theKurds, a people almost independdent.La Turquie et ses différentspeuples, vol II, H. Mathieu, Paris(1857:26)[…] The principality of Kara-Djiolan includes all SouthernKurdistan, and the major citiesof Solemanieh and Kerkouk, formmerlyCorcura.[…]Geografia L. E. K. Gaultier'a,przerobiona i pomnożona przezjego uczniów, A. E. C. Gaultier,Lwów (1859:138)W Kurdystanie Kerkuk.Pierer's Universal-Lexikon derVergangenheit und Gegenwart,Vol IX, H. A. Pierer, Altenburg(1860:437)Kerkuk, Liva in the TurkishEjalet, Kurdistan.Nueva jeografía universal, JoséManuel Royo, Madrid (1861:42)[…]5. Kurdistan, c. pl. Kerkuk;6. Irak-Arabi, c. pls. Bagdad /Bassora;[…]The royal dictionary-cyclopæddia,for universal reference, volIII, T. Wright, London (1862:384)Kerkouk/Kirkook, A city ofKurdistan, the capital district, […]It stands on an eminence which isnearly perpendicular on all sides,and is surrounded by a mud wallwith towers. On the north thereare a number of springs that prodducean un-exhaustible supply ofnaphtha.A dictionary of the Bible, Vol III,W Smith, London (1863:1062)Sir R. K. Porter thus describesthe naphtha springs at Kirkook inLower Courdistan, mentioned byStrabo.Deinokrates, oder, Hütte, Hausund Palast, Dorf, Stadt und Resiidenzder alten Welt, J. H. Krause,Vienna (1863:99-100)Kirkuk in lower-Kurdistan isbuilt on a large hill, whose summmitis sided by walls and towers.Dictionnaire encyclopédique dela théologie catholique, Vol XXIV,H. J. Wetzer, B Velte, I Goschler,Paris (1865:255)6. Kerkuk, bishopric in KurdisttanA dictionary, geographical, stattistical,and historical, of the varioous…,vol III, J. R- M'Culloch,London (1866:84)Kerkouk (Demetrias, Strab;Corcura, Ptol.), a large town ofAsiatic Turkey, in Lower Kurdisttan,cap. Sandjak.The English Cyclopaedia: Geogrraphy,Vol III, C. Knight, London(1867:434,435)Kurdistan - The commerce withKerkuk, which is the chief marketfor the produce of Kurdistan, isvery active.Bulletin, Société archéologiqueet historique de Nantes et deLoire-Atlantique, Vol VIII, Nantes(1868 :231)Cor-Coura is now Ker-kouk.[…] In Bescherelle Ker-couk isa town of Asiatic Turkey in theLower Kurdistan, the capital ofthe Eyalet of Keresour. […]Dictionnaire universel d'histoireet de géographie, Vol I, M. N.Bouillet, Paris (1869:995)Kerkouk, Corcura, v. in AsiaticTurkey (Kourdistan)…REUTERS/Ako Rasheed

The Kurdish GlobeKurdistan crowned VIVAWorld Cup championsNo. 356, Monday, June 11, 2012 15Sport News in BriefBarça receives mostworldwide media coverageKurdistan football team defeats Northern Cyprus 2-1 tosecure historic triumph at the VIVA World Cup finalGLOBE PHOTO/Safin HamidA study by the University of Navarrrahas revealed that Barça is the clubwhich has received the most media coveerageworldwide for the fourth year onthe run, this time ahead of Real Madridand Chelsea in second and third spotsrespectively. The study also found thatLionel Messi was the player who recceivedthe most media coverage, alsofor the fourth successive year, ahead ofCristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba.Kurdistan Football team players and officials celebrate wining VIVA World CupFor the first time inits history, theKurdistan footballteam became VIVAWorld Cup championsafter beating NorthernCyprus in the finalgame, held at FransoHariri Stadiumin Erbil on June 6.What impressed many of theparticipating teams was thewonderful way they were recceivedby city residents andofficials. It was both a sportingand national victory, as internattionalmedia commended theKurds for hosting a successfultournament and winning thecompetition.The stadium was almost fulla couple of hours before thematch started, mostly by theeager fans of Erbil and otheerscities in the Region. ManyIraqi and Kurdish governmentand sports officials were also inthe stadium. A group of professsionalreferees were invited torun the game, to ensure fairnessand impartiality.Kurdistan started by attackiingthe Cyprus goal from bothwings from the very beginning,with the opposing players conffinedto their half of the pitchin the first period. Kurdistanscored the opening goal inthe 10th minute through Erbilmidfielder, Halgurd MullahMuhammad, who converted apenalty.Kurdistan dominated earlypossession with Karzan Abdulllaha prominent part of theside’s attacks and with HalgurdMullah Muhammad maraudingdown the wings to torment theCypriote goalkeeper.Playing on home soil and withthe great support of their homecrowd behind them, Kurdistanscored the second goal in the32nd minute through defenderHardi Siyamand.Cyprus was looking for a reaactionand tried to rally theirtroops. A grave mistake on thepart of the Kurdish defense,allowed a Cypriote player toswivel and turn a Kurdish deffenderbefore firing past Kurdiistangoalkeeper Didar Hamid,to ignite his side's recovery inthe 40th minute.In the second half both teamsplayed a little nervously andwith the morale of some ofthe Kurdish players dented,Kurdistan coach was pushed tomake changes. But the changesdidn't alter the result as thematch ended 2-1 to Kurdistan'sjubilation.After the game, the Kurdistanplayers celebrated passionately.Cyprus players were awardedwith silver medals for endingthe competition as runnersupand the Kurdistan playerswere presented with gold medaals.Kurdistan captain, KhalidMusheer, was presented theCup by NF-board President,Christian Michele. The playershugged and held the trophy forhigh for all to see. The crowdof almost 15,000 rocked thestadium with chants of, "Kurdiistan,Kurdistan!"Kurdish athletes and fanswere satisfied with Kurdisttan’sresult in the competition,though some believed that theteam could have done evenbetter if the three giant of theKurdish football scene, Erbil,Duhok, and Zakho, had provvidedthe team with their playeerswho were needed to play indifferent championships andleagues at the time.Abullah Mahmud, Kurdistanteam coach, expressing his joyat the victory, said "My playerswere excellent; they did what Iwanted them to do. It is really ahistorical and national achievemmentnot only for us as athletesbut for all Kurdish people."The support of fans is bellievedto mean more power andmotivation for the footballers,even if they are far from thelive events."These players helped us keepour faces up. Even those whodidn't go to the stadium werekeenly watching the matchon TV," said Hersh Rasul, 24."They showed us what the realKurdistan is about and howwe can work hard to be sometthing."The Kurdistan team snatchedan easy 6-0 win over WesternSahara in the opening match,and then scored a crucial 1-0victory over Occitania to reachthe VIVA Semi-final. In itsthird match Kurdistan was ableto defeat Provincia to reach theFinal.The participating teams in thetournament included the KurdiistanRegion as hosts, Zanzibar,Provence, Occitania, Darfur,Raetia, North Cyprus, WesternSahara and Tamil Eelam.The VIVA World Cup is aninternational football tournammentorganized by the NFBoard, an umbrella associationfor nations unaffiliated withFIFA. Competitions are heldevery two years. Kurdistan Reggionhas taken part in this tournnamentthree times. In 2008,Kurdistan secured fourth place,but went on to become runnersupin 2009 and 2010. Kurdistanhad the best chance to win thetitle this time around playing infront of their home crowd andseized their opportunity in thelimelight with both hands.Zakaria MuhammedErbilzakaria.kurdishglobe@gmail.comVan Persie’s future will beresolved after Euro 2012Van Persie's Arsenal future will be ressolvedafter Euro 2012. With the strikeer'scontract set to expire in 12 months'time, Ivan Gazidis, the Arsenal chiefexecutive has admitted that discussionsover a new deal have occurred but thatnothing will happen until next month.Muamba may play againFabrice Muamba doesn't rule out thepossibility of returning to play proffessionalfootball as he continues hisremarkable recovery from a near-fattalcardiac arrest. Muamba collapsedwhilst playing in a FA Cup tie againstTottenham Hotspur on March 17 werehis heart stopped for 78 minutes.Select your footballerThe ten candidates to receive the 2012Golden Foot prize, which awards over29-year-old players, have been annnounced.This year’s list is comprised ofCasillas (Real Madrid), Raul (Schalke),Xavi (Barcelona), Buffon (Juventus),Pirlo (Juventus), Drogba (Chelsea),Ibrahimovic (Milan), Kaká (Real Maddrid)and Seedorf (AC Milan). Votingcan be registered online via the followiingwebsite: www.votenow.goldenfoot.com and the winner will be known onOctober 14, in a ceremony to take placein Monaco.Iraqi Players forfeit$8,000 awardIraqi football players forfeited the$8,000 award which the Iraqi FootbballAssociation decided to give eachplayer if they were to defeat Jordan inthe World Cup qualifiers in the MiddleEast on June 3. Iraq tied with Jordan1-1. Nashat Akram opened the scoringfor Iraq in the 14th minute with a soloeffort from outside the penalty area inthe Group B match. But then Jordan'sAhmad Hayel Ibrahim took advantageof some poor goalkeeping to draw histeam level in the 43rd minute. Iraq'snext match will be against Oman onJune 12.

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