From the Heart of Kurdistan Region

PRES

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Peshmerga retake dozen villages without Baghdad’s permission

The only English paper in Iraq - No: 546 Mon. August 22, 2016

The Kurdish Globe 2No. 546, Monday, August 22, 2016

EXECUTIVE EDITORGazi Hassan +964 750 7747784

gazihassan2013@gmail.com

www.kurdishGlobe.net

Address: Erbil, Massif road

Weekly paper printed in Erbil First published in 2005

Senior U.K. EditorBashdar Pusho Ismaeelbashdar@hotmail.com

Zakaria Muhammed zakaria.kurdishglobe@gmail.com +964 750 475 3897

Salih Waladbagi salihas2006@gmail.com +964 750 4912996

STAFF WRITERS

ARTS EDITORRozhgar Jafar Rasul rojgar84@gmail.com

ReviserJ. Watt

After Turkey’s failed military coup, Erdogan initiated a new policy, making the coup plotttters accountable for the deteriottration of relations with Russia, Iran, Israel and what’s remaintting of Syrian Assad in power. So he immediately paid visits to Russia and is approaching Iran.

U.S. and Russia have agreed to coordinate militarily inside Syria, raising the concern of some Arab countries, especially those who support the oppositttion for overturning the Assad regime while Russia continues striking the opposition and cittvilians. Now Aleppo has bettcome the symbol of devastatttion, catastrophe and violations against humanity.

The important question is, will the rapprochement of Rusttsia, Turkey and Iran become a big factor of denying the Kurds and their rights? If no, then why? In his first meeting with Putin, Erdogan discussed U.S and Russian supply cut to PYD and Kurds in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava). News of shutting the Kurdish autonomous office in Russia has been spread as an assurance to Erdogan. Erdogan has called on Russia and Amerttica to give up supporting the idea of the Kurdish state, and he’s ready to give up the idea of toppling Assad’s regime in return. This means when the suttperpowers want to compromise for one another, they want to exploit the weakness of Kurds.

Kurds are good fighters and the crucial force for the war against Da’esh. They’ve attracted the world’s sympathy with their bravery. The success stories of Peshmerga in Southern Kurdttistan and the women fighters in Western Kurdistan has had a global echo. In Rojava, the PYD put the Kurdish card into the hands of its enemies when

it maintained its undercover ties with Russia, Iran and Syrian rettgime, making Turkey become terrified of becoming a securtrity threat on its borders. This is considered political myopia, because anytime changes occur in the interest and international relations of these countries, normally Kurds will be used a game, and the outset of these games has started to show up. Bravery in fighting needs intelrtligence and mindfulness and political farsightedness. The second point could be the histttorical weaknesses of Kurds in the Middle East as a result of being controlled. For instance, as a result of its shortsightedttness, PYD is ready to cooperate with the enemies of Kurdistan, but it couldn’t bear the presttence of other Kurdish political parties and started arresting its leaders, it also remains standing against the Syrian opposition.

Any international or regional compromise that is sought at this time for redrawing the area will include Kurds, whether positively or negatively. Iran and Turkey insist on standtting against the Kurdish questttion. Russia sees the remaining of Bashar Assad as essential, while for the United States, the result of the presidential electttion is important. So there’s a rough path ahead for the Kurds. Along with the internal probttlems, Kurdistan Region policy is a policy of openness and unttderstanding between the parties and components of Kurdistan in all other parts, at the meantime, it maintains balanced coordinatttion with the word’s superpowtters. But what’s happening in Syrian Kurdistan is moving to crisis, a crisis that eventually will be controlled by Turkey, Iran and Russia, none of which favors Kurdish progress.

Turkish, Russian and Iran Rapprochement and the Future of Kurds

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By | Gazi Hassan

Germany sends 70 tons of weapons to Kurdistan Peshmerga

A spokesperson of German Defense Ministry stated last week that Germany has delivered another military batch to the Kurdistan Rettgional Government (KRG) in an effort to accelerate the process of defeating jihadttists in the north of Iraq.The spokesperson said that Germany had delivered anttother 70 tons of weapons including 1,500 rifles, 100 shoulderrfired rockets, and three armored vehicles to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, according to Rettuters.Germany halted arm dettliveries to the Peshmerga forces since January 2016 following the media reports showing that some of the German weapons sent to Peshmerga to fight Islamic State (ISIS) militants were sold in black market.

KRG’s investigation showed that about 30 German weapons of total 28,000 had been sold illettgally or lost.Kurdish security arrested several people involved in that particular case.Kurdistan Region has faced a critical financial crisis since 2014 after the cut of the federal budget share of KRG by Baghdad government, drop of oil prices internationally, ISIS war and arrival of 1.8 milttlion refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Region.It is worth mentioning that due to the crisis, Peshmerttga forces did not receive their payments for several months while fighting the biggest terrorist organizatttion in the north of Iraq.Moreover, Kurdish offirt

cials have signed a declaratttion that the newly received weapons sent by Germany will not be resold to the third party.Since the beginning of IS war in June 2014, Germany has sent more than 30 shipttments of armament to the KRG, which is 2,000 tons of weapons in total.In addition to weapons, German military advistters have provided training to the Peshmerga forces. Also, in January 2016, Gerttman Parliament decided to increase the number of its soldiers in the Kurdistan Region from 100 to 150.Recently, Peshmerga forcttes with the support of the UStled coalition cleared 11 villages from ISIS in the east of Mosul in less than two days.

The Kurdish Globe No. 546, Monday, August 22, 2016 3

Barzani: Kurdish Independence Is a Message of PeaceKurdistan Region Presittdent Masoud Barzani once again reiterated that Kurdttish independence is a mesttsage of peace that aims to put an end to the fighting and chaos in the region. It is not intended to be a threat to others.

In a written statement to mark the 70th anniversary of Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Barzani, who also serves as the presittdent of the party, ensured the people of Kurdistan Region that he is fully dett

termined to preserve the right of selftdetermination for them.

He stressed that “except independence, there is no other way” to help Kurdistttan Region to defend itself and end the challenges it is facing.

“Kurdish independence is absolutely not a threat to any other side… it will be a factor of stability, cottexistence and brotherhood in the region,” reads the statement.

Barzani also called upon

the Kurdish political parttties, including the KDP, to act responsibly and find a solution to the disputes that have led the political process in the region to a deadlock for the past few months.

He also extended his party’s readiness to prottceed with the talks until the sides reach a solution to the political crisis faced by the Kurdistan Region.

Exchanging views with the US Senator Cory Booker and his accompattnying delegation, Barzani thanked the US governttment for standing with Kurds and supporting the Peshmerga forces, saytting that Washington’s asttsistance to Kurds have played a significant role in Peshmerga victories.

Barzani said that Kurds are a peaceful nation among whom sectarianttism has no place to occuttpy. “Kurds will not side in the sectarian conflicts gorting on in the region,” KRP official website quoted the Kurdish president.

Despite hosting a huge number of Syrian refugees and Iraqi IDPs, Kurdistan Region has been denied any financial assistance from the central governttment in Baghdad, Barzani told the guests.

Regarding the Kurdish independence from Iraq, Kurdistan Region presittdent ensured that the plan will be through peaceful

talks which aims to prettvent the further deepening of the disputes.

Kurdish independence will be a key factor for stability in the region, Barzani added.

Commending the role of Kurdistan Region and the Peshmerga forces in the war on the Islamic State (IS), the US senator stated

that Kurds are fighting terrorism on behalf of the world.

Booker also reiterated his country’s support for Erbil as it is facing many challenges aside from the war on IS.

In a separate meeting with the outgoing Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland, the head of Operation Inhertt

ent Resolve (OIR), Barttzani reasserted that a prior plan for the posttIS Mosul is crucial to secure the futtture of the components in the city.

The pair also discussed the cooperation between the Peshmerga forces and UStled coalition.

Barzani Meets German

Ambassador to Iraq

The German Ambassattdor to Iraq, Franz Josef Kremp, met on Wednesttday (August 17) with Kurdistan Region Presittdent, Masoud Barzani and reiterated his country’s military and humanitarian assistance to the region.

According to the offirt

cial website of the KRP, the two discussed the ofttfensive to liberate Mosul from the Islamic State (ISIS), which the govtternment has planned to launch this year.

Kremp pledged a stronttger relationship between Germany and the Kurdttistan Region in various fields, the KRG website reported.

The German ambassador commended the assistance and service provided to the influx of refugees and internally displaced perttsons (IDPs) the Kurdistan Region is hosting, and he noted the stability and prosperity in the region compared to other areas in Iraq.

Barzani expressed gratitttude to coalition countries, the international commuttnity and Germany in prottviding continuous military and humanitarian aid for the people of the Kurdistttan Region and the KRG.

US Commends Peshmerga Role in Fighting ISIS

Chancellor of Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC), Masrour Barzani, said the latest territorial gains by the Kurdish Peshttmerga forces near Mosul further diminishes Islamic State’s (ISIS) ability to threaten Kurdistan.

Describing the twotdaytlong Peshmerga operation to push IS militants back from eastern Mosul areas as “another important victttory”, Barzani said it “will tighten the grip around ISIL’s [ISIS] stronghold of Mosul.”

In a series of tweets on

his personal account, the senior Kurdish official rertvealed that the Peshmerga cleared approximately 150 square kilometers from IS militants in east Mosul, inttcluding many villages.

“Further, the control over Kanhash heights gives Peshmerga a strategic adttvantage over the nearby enemy positions and the main road connecting Mottsul,” Barzani said.

He also thanked the UStled coalition for aerial supttport during the twotday operation, saying that they played an "active role" in

the victories scored by the Peshmerga forces.

He also honored fallen Peshmerga fighters who sacrificed their lives “to make history.”

Kurdish Peshmerga forcttes early morning on Sunttday launched a largetscale operation on the Khazir and Gwer frontline, aimtting to push deeper into the ISIStheld areas and furttther isolate the extremists inside Mosul.

According Peshmerga sources, 11 villages have been liberated during the last two days.

Masrour Barzani: ISIS ability to threaten Kurdistan further diminished

The Kurdish Globe No. 546, Monday, August 22, 2016 4

Germany’s new ambassador to Iraq stresses strengthening

relations with Kurdistan Region

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barttzani met with the new German ambassador to Iraq Franz Joseph Crimp and his accompanying delegation.

Ambassador Crimp exttpressed his happiness to observe the prevailing stability in the Kurdistttan Region, for which he highlighted the role of its people, government and Peshmerga forces, who have been able to protect

the Region against terrorttism.

He reiterated that his government will continue supporting the Kurdistan Region in the military and humanitarian fields, and expressed willingness to develop further and strengthen the relations between the two sides.

Prime Minister Barttzani thanked Ambassador Crimp for his visit and expressed his gratitude for the German government,

as part of the international coalition forces, for its support and assistance to the Kurdistan Region in difficult and challenging periods at both military and humanitarian levels.

The two sides exchanged views on the political situttation in Iraq, the anticipattted liberation of Mosul and its aftermath, and the ecottnomic situation in Kurdistttan Region.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barttzani received Kuwait’s outgoing ambassador to Iraq Mr. Ghassan altZattwawi, accompanied by Kuwaiti Consul in Erbil.

Ambassador AltZawawi said that his visit is to bid farewell to Prime Minttister Barzani and thank him and his government for their support to the Embassy and Consulate

of Kuwait in Baghdad and Erbil.

He stressed that his country's consulate in Erttbil can play an important role in developing further the bilateral relations between Kuwait and the Kurdistan Region.

Prime Minister Barzani thanked Ambassador AltZawawi for his visit and wished him success in his new position. He

expressed his wish for further strengthening bittlateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and Kuwait in all the fields.

The two sides also exttchanged views on the situation in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, as well as the war against terrorttism.

Prime Minister Barzani receives Kuwait

Ambassador to Iraq

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said it is ready to resume talks with the Iraqi government to reach a consensus on the issue of oil.

KRG Spokesman Safin Dizayee, speaking with NRT on Wednesday, Auttgust 17, 2016, said he welcomed remarks from the new Iraqi Minister of Oil, Jabar Ali altLuaibi, who said it is possible to resolve the dispute over oil exports with the Kurdtt

istan Region.Dizayee said although

the past agreement could not be realized, the diattlogue should not be abanttdoned.

“The KRG’s policy is always to tackle the isttsues through dialogue whether it is inside Kurdttistan Region, in Baghdad or outside the region,” he added.

“There should be an agreement which is in the interest of all Iraqis … We

could reach a result from which everybody can benttefit,” the spokesman said.

Following his approval as minister of oil by the Iraqi Parliament on August 15, Luaibi said it is posttsible to come to a solution on the dispute between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Region over the issue of oil.

Tensions between the KRG and the central govtternment hit a high in 2015 after officials from both

sides accused each other of failing to abide by the terms of an oil revenue sharing deal struck by ofttficials in December 2014.

Officials from Baghdad and Erbil signed a revenue sharing deal, under which the KRG would receive 17 percent of the federal budget in exchange for exporting 550,000 barrels of oil per day to the Iraqi State Organization for Marketing Oil (SOMO) at Ceyhan Port in Turkey.

KRG ready to resume talks with Baghdad over oil exports, spokesman says

Seven young Kurdttish men, that have been charged with purposeful killing were sentenced to death by the courts of the Islamic State of Iran in the Kurdish towns of Mahabad, Sanandaj [Sina], Saqiz and Miandovab.

According to a report by the Kordpa News Agency, these youths have been charged with crimes at ages of 15.

The Iranian Human Rights

Organization announced the identity of the convicts as Rauf Hassani son of Mohammed Karim, Azad Mohammedzadeh son of Osman, Saleh Teimouri son of Jalal, Khaled Rasouli son of Mostafa, Asaad Rattsoulnejad son of Ali, Nasstter Khzri son of Abdollahm and Yadollah Rahimzadeh son of Khasrow.

The sentence was issued at a time when in Iran the minimum age for convicttt

ing children is 15 for males and 9 for females.

According to the Conventttion on the Rights of the Child, no child under the age of 18 should be punttished.

Iran is a member of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and by hanging these 7 youths, will be breaching the conttventions.

7 Kurdish youths sentenced to death in Iran, await hanging

No. 546, Monday, August 22, 2016 5The Kurdish Globe

A Statement From the Kurdistan Region Presidency With regard to the Mosul liberation operation and the role of the Peshmerga forces of Kurdistan and the different statements on this subject, the Kurdistan Region Presidency rettleases the following statettment:

First: Currently the main priority of the Kurdistan Region is the war against the terrorists of the Islamttic State. The Peshmerga forces have played their role over the last two years

and defeated the myth of ISIS.

Second: Liberating Mottsul is important for the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, Middle East and the entire world. In addition to its military aspect, its humanttitarian and political consettquences on the Kurdistan Region, Iraq and the rettgion should be taken into consideration.

Third: The posttliberatttion Mosul is of great imttportance to the Kurdistan

Region and the people and communities of Nineveh province. There ought to be a political agreement among the parties in rettgard to the administration of the city of Mosul and the Nineveh province in order to prevent tragedies from recurring against members of the ethnic and religious communities of the Nineveh province and to provide complete assurttances to the communities of the province and the

people of Mosul.Fourth: On the role of

Peshmerga in the Mosul liberation operation, the Kurdistan Region remains committed to the previttous agreements between the Kurdistan Region, the Iraqi government and the Coalition forces and any other future agreement betttween these three parties.

Kurdistan Region Presidency

20t8t2016

The Kurdish Peshmerga forces don’t receive orders from the Iraqi army, the Kurdistan Region Governttment (KRG) has said.

In a statement released late Friday, the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs said the Kurdish forces only receive orders from the General Command in Erttbil in northern Iraq.

Kurdish forces launched an offensive Sunday on multiple fronts, raiding and capturing villages lottcated south of Mosul from ISIS control, according to Sirwan Barzani, a Senior Commander in the Kurdttish Peshmerga Forces.

Seven villages were libtterated and 120 ISIS fightrters were killed. According to Barzani, the goal is to liberate areas surrounding Mosul as they push closer toward the city.

The Peshmerga Ministttry’s media office released a statement explaining that the Kurdish forces would remain under the

command of the Kurdistan Region Commandertintchief, the President of the Region Masoud Barzani.

The Ministry’s statement comes as a response to the Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department Mark Toner’s speech.

On Aug. 17, Toner said, “I think it’s absolutely imttportant, and we’ve emphattsized this all along, that the Peshmerga and all the various fighting groups in Iraq need to be under the command and control of the Iraqi Government and the Iraqi military.”

Islamic State (ISIS) fighters launched multiple attacks on Peshmerga statttioned in Sinjar on Tuesttday (August 16), one day after Kurdish forces dettclared they had cleared 150 square kilometres southeast of Mosul.

The advance began afttter heavy shelling and air strikes by a United Statestled coalition against IS forces, a Reuters news

agency correspondent rettported from Wardak, 30 kilometres southteast of Mosul.

The militants fought back, firing mortars at the advancing troops and

detonating at least two car bombs.

A Peshmerga commandtter said a dozen villages had been taken from the ultrathardline Sunni militttants as Kurdish forces

headed towards Gwer, the target of the operation, 40 kilometres southteast of Mosul.

Repairing a bridge that the militants destroyed in Gwer would allow the

Peshmerga to open a new front around Mosul — the bridge crosses the Grand Zab River that flows into the Tigris.

Peshmerga retake dozen villages without Baghdad’s permission

On August 11t14, Spettcial Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS Brett McGurk and his deputy, retired Lieutenant Gentteral Terry Wolf, visited Iraq for meetings with senior Iraqi government and security officials. Accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Stuttart Jones, Mr. McGurk met with Prime Minister Haider altAbadi, Ministtter of Defense Khalid altObaidi, Speaker of Parttliament Saleem Jabouri, Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR) President Massoud Barzani, and other senior

political, religious and settcurity figures.

Special Presidential Enttvoy McGurk commended the Iraqi security forces and Kurdish Peshmerga for their achievements on the battlefield. He welcomed the recent adttvances by Kurdish Peshttmerga east of Mosul, and Iraqi forces south of Mosul, which are helping to shape the conditions for Mosul's ultimate libtteration and stabilization. He also outlined recent increases in U.S. and cottalition support, including support for stabilization in liberated areas to entt

sure battlefield gains are durable and lasting.

In meetings with the Governor of Ninewa Province, the Ninewa Optterations Commander, and other leaders involved in planning for the liberatttion of Mosul, he emphattsized the importance of a welltcoordinated military, political, and economic campaign plan. The Unittted States and the coalition are committed to worktting with all Iraqi leaders to ensure this plan is well developed and resourced. Deputy Special Presittdential Envoy Wolff will remain in Iraq for follow

up engagements over the coming weeks.

Importantly McGurk, Lieutenant General Wolff, and Ambassador Jones, attended a joint planning session with IKR Presittdent Barzani and the Natttional Security Advisor for the Government of Iraq, Faleh Fayyad. This was the second joint meettting between these leaders, and the U.S. delegation was encouraged by the commitment to partnerttship and ensuring close coordination between Baghdad and Erbil as the planning for Mosul acceltterates. McGurk also met

with Archbishop of Erbil, Bashar Warda, to discuss the importance of incorttporating Christians and all minority groups into these planning efforts, and ensure conditions can be established to return these populations to their home areas as soon as possible following their liberation from ISIS terrorists.

In all his meetings, Spettcial Presidential Envoy McGurk reaffirmed the Coalition’s and United States’ commitment to provide assistance to the Iraqi campaign to defeat ISIS on the battlefield but also after the battles are

won with essential huttmanitarian and stabilizatttion support. Mr. McGurk noted the recent Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq held in Washington last month, which gentterated over $2 billion in humanitarian assistance pledges from around the world. To date, more than 700,000 Iraqis have returned to their homes in areas liberated from ISIS, but many remain displaced, and it is inttcumbent upon the entire international community to help Iraqis rebuild their lives as ISIS is defeated.

US Vows to Assist Iraqi Campaign to Defeat ISIS

The Kurdish Globe No. 546, Monday, August 22, 2016 6

Four Suspected ISIS Killed in Southern Sulemani

Unidentified gunmen believed to be Islamic State (ISIS) militants were discovered by Kurdish security forces on Azhdagh mountttain in Sangaw, southern Sulaimani. All four militants were killed.

“On the TiymartSangaw road, a number of militants were ambushed by Asayesh [secuttrity] and countertterror forces,” a welltplaced source told Rudaw late Wednesday.

The source added that the militants fought back, but the security forces killed three. The fourth detonated his explosive vest.

Three members of the security forces were wounded.

The Peshmerga have been carrying out militttary maneuvers in the mountainous areas of Sangaw in southern Sulaimani province. On August 14, another two militants, identified as ISIS, were killed in the area.

BCF Assists 1190 Displaced Families from Mosul

The Barzani Charity Foundation in collaboratttion with Nineveh Governorate delivered food assistance to 1190 displaced families from Mottsul.

The humanitarian task carried out on 10th Auttgust 2016 in Bamarni district and Dawde IDP camp in Duhok Governorate. Each family rettceived a parcel of dry food which was jointly provided by the BCF and Nineveh Governorttate.

slamic State (IS) militants stoned a man to death for allegedly committing adultery in a town of the Deir altZour province in Syria, acttcording to local sources quoted by monitors.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that its activists were informed by local reliable sources that IS stoned a married person to death in altKharita town in the west of Deir altZour province on charges of adultery.

IS militants make use of various brutal methttods of punishment such as stoning, lashing, beheading, burning, and other against the resittdents of the group's held territories.

ISIS Stones Man to Death on charges of “Adultery”

Islamic State (IS) militants stoned a man to death for allegedly committing adultery in a town of the Deir altZour province in Syria, acttcording to local sources quoted by monitors.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that its activists were inttformed by local reliable sources that IS stoned a married person to death in altKharita town in the west of Deir altZour province on charges of adultery.

IS militants make use of various brutal methttods of punishment such as stoning, lashing, beheading, burning, and other against the resittdents of the group's held territories.

Peshmerga Commander: We don’t Recognize Abbadi

The Peshmerga will not withdraw from areas they have liberated from the Islamic State (ISIS) in the Nineveh Province said Hamida Afandi, Pehsmerga Commander in Mosul area respondtting to earlier comments from Iraqi Prime Minttister Haider altAbadi.

“We receive commands from Kurdistan Rettgion President Masoud Barzani. We don't rettcongnize Abbadi. The Peshmerga will continue their advances and will not retreat from the areas they have recently liberated from the Isttlamic State in Mosul,” Said Afandi

NEWS BAR Poll: Majority voted for independent Kurdistan

Different ethnics voted for independence in disputed areas American University of Duhok and Center of Peace and Human Security launched a poll in the provttinces of Kurdistan Region and the disputed areas over the destiny of Kurdistan and independence.

Around 6,065 persons in Kurdistan and the disputed areas participated in the poll. According to the AUD, the majority of the voters voted for independence.

The first question of the poll was (Do you particittpate in a referendum for independence?)

Below is the result of the question across the Kurdistttan provinces:

Out of 4,200 participants, around 3, 483 persons voted for (Yes) and 709 persons

voted for (No) and eight persons did not answered the poll.

In the disputed areas, 1, 270 participants voted. Out of which, 1101 persons voted for (Yes) and 165 persons voted for (No) and four others did not voted.

Other ethnic minorities voted as well. Out of 595 persons, 476 persons voted for (Yes), 118 voted for (No) and one person did not vote.

Second question: If you participate, would you vote for independence?

The result in the Kurdistttan Region provinces:

Out of 4,200 participants, 3,463 voted for (Yes), 718 voted for (No) and 19 othtters did not vote.

The result in the disputed areas:

Out of 1,270 participants, 1,132 persons voted for (Yes) and 138 voted for (No).

The result of the second question in the disputed artteas:

Out of 595 participants, 467 voted for (Yes), 127 persons voted for (No) and one participant did not vote.

Third question: Are you, as a citizen, ready to vote for independence if some of the political parties won’t support the project of indettpendence for Kurdistan?

The result of the third question in the Kurdistan Region provinces:

Out of 4,200 participants,

3,300 of them voted for (Yes), 884 participants for (No) and 16 others did not answer the question.

The answer of third questttion in the disputed areas:

Out of 1,270 participants, 1049 persons voted for (Yes), 214 voted for (No) and one person did not vote.

The result of the question by other nations (except the Kurds) in the disputed areas:

Out of 595 participants, 454 persons voted for (yes), 138 voted for (No) and three others did not answered the question.

Agricultural products in Kurdistan Region surplus national demand and can be exported, a Kurdish official said on Wednesday, August 17, 2016.

In a press conference in Suleimaniya, Kurdistttan Regional Government (KRG) Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Abdulsattar Majeed stated that two years ago locals were unhappy that Kurdistttan Region had insufficient agriculture products.

“Now, Kurdistan Region

can rely on itself for some of the main agricultural products. No more need for importing,” Majeed said.

"Wheat is one of the exttamples that surplus local demand by 45 percent. Some of the other surplus products are poultry, beef, herbs, zucchini, potato, onttion, and mushrooms," he acknowledged.

According to Minister Majeed, the price of lottcal agricultural products has dropped due to the increased supply and so

Kurdish farmers have been negatively affected.

He called on the Ministry of Trade and private sector to open factories and find an international market for the Kurdistan Region surttplus products and decrease the damage caused to the Kurdish farmers.

Moreover, Majeed added that in 2015 alone, Kurds have spent more than US $1.2 billion on poultry imttported to the Region. He called on local farmers to improve the quality of their

products and encouraged people to purchase local products.

He pointed out that the ministry has had many achievements in the last year in spite of the tough firtnancial crisis the Kurdistan Region.

Majeed stated that Agrittculture and Water Resourcttes Ministry has not received its budget in the past three years, yet it has improved significantly.

Agriculture Minister: Kurdistan products surplus demands, need international market

The Kurdish Globe No. 546, Monday, August 22, 2016 7

Sports NewsBarca Starts La Liga

with VitoryLuis Suarez scored a hat trick and Lionel Messi added two more goals as Barcelona started its Spanish league title defense in style by routing Real Betis 6t2 on Saturday.

Suarez, who led scoring in La Liga with 40 goals last season, helped to put the result bettyond doubt before halftime and struck twice afterward to complete the demolition.

City Closing in on Bravo Signing

Robert Fernandez revealed that the club is in talks with the Etihad Stadium outfit for the 33tyeartold's signature, as Pep Guardiola inches closer to signing his man.Barcelona technical secretary Robert Ferttnandez has confirmed Manchester City has "a beginning of an agreement" to buy Clauttdio Bravo.The Chilean is a target of City manager Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, as the former Catalans' boss looks to replace Joe Hart.

Neymar Secures Historic Olympic Title for Brazil

The Selecao captain scored a sublime freetkick before coolly slotting home the winttning penalty in a historic defeat of Germany at the MaracanaThe boy is a man. And the man is now a legttend.The wait is finally over, the trophy cabinet complete. Neymar has done it. Brazil is back.The fivertime world champions have ended their long wait for Olympic glory, their goldtten boy hitting the winning penalty to secure the last major title the Selecao were yet to claim.And he did it against Germany. Where the slump started two years ago with that infattmous 7t1 defeat.

Kurdish Football Team Aims at Swedish League

When the 15tyeartold Remezan Qizil started a mostly Kurdish football club in the Swedish city of Örebro in 2004, his ambitions were relatively modest and hardly fartreaching.

"I just wanted to connect to my heritage and celebrate my Kurdish identity through sports," says Qizil, now 27 and manager of the Dal Kurd football club in Sweden.

Qizil and eight other Kurdish teenagtters founded the club in a country with over 100,000 Kurdish residents and hoped it would soon attract sponsors and enthusiastic footballers.

The team started at the bottom of the Swedttish league pyramid, but after continued anttnual successes, the Dal Kurd is now playing at the top level and hoping to enter the ultittmate level, the Swedish professional league, Allsvenskan.

Two Kurdish journalists killed in Iraq in two days

The International Press Inttstitute (IPI) today expressed concern over the deaths of two Kurdish journalists – one murdered in Duhok City in Iraq’s Kurdistan Rettgion, the other killed while covering fighting between Kurdish Peshmerga forces and Islamic State group milttitants near Mosul – within a period of just two days.

Mustafa Said, a cameraman for Kurdistan TV, a satellite television channel owned by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK), was killed on Sunday during a military optteration against the Islamic State group in northern Iraq. His colleague, corresponttdent Hayman Nanqli, was seriously wounded in the attttack.

Said’s death occurred during a major offensive launched by Kurdish forcttes near the Islamic State group’s stronghold of Mottsul, some 400 km north of Baghdad. He was reportedly killed by a mortar round fired into a village recently taken by the Peshmerga. The jourttnalists were embedded with Peshmerga forces involved in the operation southeast of Mosul.

The incident came one day after Wedat Hussein Ali, 28, a reporter for the protKurdttistan Workers Party (PKK) news agency RojNews, was abducted by unidentittfied armed men in the Malta

neighbourhood of Duhok City, 75 km north of Mosul, and found dead on the side of a road around midtday the same day.

Ali’s body displayed settrious wounds and bruises, including severe injuries to the head, which suggested that he had been tortured bettfore he was killed. A motive for the killing was not imttmediately known, although Ali’s family reportedly has accused the city’s security forces of murdering him bettcause of his work.

According to the journalttist’s brother, Darband, Ali was killed by the security forces because of his conttnection with the PKK and the fact that he worked for a news service affiliated with the group. The brother said security forces had sumttmoned Ali multiple times and had asked him to quit the PKK and work for them instead.

Duhok security forces have denied any connection with the journalist’s murder and police said they have launched an investigation into the killing.

IPI Director of Advocacy and Communications Stettven M. Ellis condemned Ali’s killing and called on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to bring those responsible to justice and to implement measures to ensure that all journalists

working in the region are able to carry out their work without fear or intimidation.

“Advocacy groups have reported dozens of cases of violations against journalists in the Kurdistan Region in the past year alone, includtting threats, beatings and arttbitrary detention, almost all of which have been committtted with impunity,” he said. “A free, pluralistic and indettpendent media is crucial to any democratic society. We urge authorities in the Kurdttistan Region to conduct a thorough investigation into Mr. Ali’s murder and to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Iraq continues to be one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists to carry out their profession. According to IPI’s Death Watch, at least 47 journalists have been killed in relation to their work in the country since the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq was officially completed in December 2011.

Of those 47, at least 36 journalists were targeted because of their profession, many of them publicly exettcuted by Islamic State group militants for “spying”, “spreading propaganda” against the group, or violattting the group’s regulations. The other 11 journalists were killed covering armed conflict.

At least four journalists have been killed in Iraq so far this year.

Saif Talal, a TV corresponttdent for AltSharqiya TV, and cameraman Hassan altAnbaki were killed while rettturning from a reporting trip on Jan. 12. The men were on their way to the Miqdadiyah area, northeast of Baghdad, as part of an Iraqi general’s convoy when their vehicle lagged behind. Masked militttiamen stopped the journalttists’ car, forced them to exit and executed them.

One month later, Islamic State group militants publittcally executed Wathiq Abttdulwahab by firing squad in Mosul on Feb. 9. Abdulttwahab, a reporter for the lottcal newspaper Hadbaa, was reportedly detained by the group after attempting to photograph a detention centttre in Mosul’s Sukkar neighttbourhood.

On July 13, , Ali Mahmud, a television cameraman for AltGhadeer, was killed when a roadside bomb detonated near the vehicle in which he and two other journalists were travelling in the Qayyarah area, north of Baghdad. The two other journalists with Mahmud, Ali Jawad and Ali Muftin, were injured, but survived the explosion.

By: IPI

IPI calls on authorities to do more to ensure journalists’ safety

Kurdistan Regional Governttment (KRG) denied rumors that Peshmerga deliberately causes property damage in war zones and explained how the liberation process works.

Dindar Zebari, head of the KRG Committee for Monitttoring International Reports, in a press conference on Wednesday revealed that there are three reasons that cause the destruction of a number of houses in some of the liberated areas even though “Peshmerga forces do their best to protect peottple’s properties.”

The destruction is unfortttunate but inevitable while eradicating a vicious force like IS. Extremists plant numerous IEDs and booby traps that detonate and dettstroy.

The coalition bombards the IS positions inside cities and villages which inflict signifirtcant damage to the city.

And when ground troops go through the final stages of liberating the IStheld areas more properties are damaged, Zebari clarified.

Peshmerga engineering team personnel risk their lives to defuse the bombs and booby traps in the liberttated areas, but some of the bombs detonated, destroy civilian houses and martyr Peshmerga forces, Zebari added.

IS extremists destroyed 330 houses that belonged to the local security forces personnel and government employees in Zummar area even before Peshmerga libtterates the areas.

On March 17, the Kurdistan

Region President Masoud Barzani issued instructions for Peshmerga forces and other security forces regardtting protecting civilian lives and properties during the military operations against IS and formed a committee investigate the alleged viottlence in the newly liberated areas.

According to Zebari, Hutt

man Rights Watch (HRW), in a report released on April 22, praised Barzani’s dettcisions to prevent human rights violations.

“We are the first governrtment in the region to be praised in such a way espettcially since we are in a very complicated war against Dae’sh,” he added.

KRG: Peshmerga forces do their best to protect people’s properties

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ERBIL FORECAST

The Kurdish sculptor Rebin Haidari was born in 1978 in the city of Bokan in Eastern Kurdistan. His preferred style of painting is with natural elements, such as mud, rock, or plaster. He completed his

studies at the Academy of Sculpture in Tehran and went on to study at the University of Yafa in Philttadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1994, he opened a series of exhibitions in Italy, Denttmark, and Sweden. This

followed several sculpture exhibitions he participated in in the USA.

He went on to found as academy of art in the city of Bokan, Eastern Kurdttistan. In recent years, his works have proliferttated to the extent that his sculptures can be found in Tehran and well as many Kurdish cities of Iran. He has also crafted several portraits of famous interttnational and Kurdish writtters, artists, and historians.

Rebin Haidari has truly

presented authentic Kurdttish art to the world, espettcially the craft of sculpting real, yet artistic, renditions of Kurdish singers, artists and historians. His exhittbitions have been known to draw large crowds and in many parks and public places of Kurdistan, Rettbin’s work will continue on display for many gentterations.

By Ashti Garmiyani

‘Memories on Stone’Feature Film, Kurdistan Regional Government Iraq / Germany

Director: Shawkat Amin Korki

Screenplay: Mehmet Aktaş, Shawkat Amin Korki

Production: mîtosfilmCast: Hussein Hassan,

Nazmi Kırık, Shima Mortlaei, Rekesh Shahbaz, Hishyar Ziro, Suat Usta, Bangin Ali, Salah Sheikh Ahamdi, and many more

Development Support: ASIA PACIFIC SCREEN AWARD – Script Dettvelopment Price 2011, GÖTEBORG FILM FESttTIVAL – Best Project Award (APM Busan IFF 2011)

Production Support:

Cultural Ministry of Kurdistan Regional Govtternment, Medienboard BerlintBrandenburg,The Post Republic Berlin, Vittsion Sud Est, Doha Film Institute, Enjaaz t A Dubai Film Market Initiative

After Saddam’s collapse

in Iraq, childhood friends HUSSEIN and ALAN decide to produce a film about the Al Anfal Kurdttish genocide. But making a film in postrwar Kurdisrttan isn’t easy and reveals itself as an odyssey. The most difficult task of all seems finding the lead acrttress. But in the moment they think that they will never find her, suddenly SINOR enters the stage:

young, beautiful and pasttsionate about the project, since her own childhood is deeply affected by the Al Anfal campaign and by the main location, the old prison where the film will be shot at. But Sinor

cannot decide on her own: her cousin HIWA and his father, UNCLE HAMID control her fate. Howttever something seems to be pushing Sinor to play in the film, even as it bertcomes clear that the only

way to achieve this is by a marriagetdeal with cousin Hiwa whom she doesn’t love. The shooting starts but behind the scenes the problems never end. As they run out of time and money, Hussein and

Alan sacrifice everything to keep filming. But bertside all problems on the production side, the main issue remains Hiwa who becomes increasingly jealous and frustrated with Sinor’s devotion to this work, which he still canttnot understand. He also feels the pressure of Uncle Hamid, who is blaming Sinor to destroy the famttily honour. Then, in a tragic twist, Hussein is betting shot during the shoottting of the final scene. He survives heavily injured but the production is susttpended.

By H.G.Hassan

The Kurdish Sculptor Rebin Haidari