Erbil, Kurdistan Region (GOV.KRD) – Prime Minister Masrour Barzani today attended a ceremony marking the unification of the Peshmerga forces, held at the Kurdistan Region Presidency in Erbil.
The ceremony was attended by President Nechirvan Barzani; Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani; and Abdul Amir al-Shammari, Director of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces.
Minister of Peshmerga Affairs Shoresh Ismail, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and President Nechirvan Barzani delivered remarks at the ceremony.
In his speech, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani described the unification of the Peshmerga forces as a historic achievement and emphasized that the next phase must focus on strengthening their military capabilities, providing advanced weapons and air defence systems, and further developing the Peshmerga as a professional, organized and unified national force.
The following is the full text of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s speech:
Your Excellency Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region,
Your Excellency Abdul Amir al-Shammari, Director of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces,
Today is a historic day for Kurdistan and the Peshmerga. It is also a very special day for me personally. From the first day I assumed office as Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, we pledged in the Ninth Cabinet’s agenda that we would do everything in our power to unify the Peshmerga forces of Kurdistan.
Over the past four years, under the guidance and direct supervision of President Masoud Barzani, with the cooperation and support of Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, and with the support of our friends in the United States and the Coalition forces, following numerous meetings, intensive efforts, and continuous work, we have reached the stage where we can announce the unification of the Peshmerga forces today.
Within the framework of the joint understanding between the U.S. Department of War and the Kurdistan Regional Government, the four-year process of unifying and reorganizing the Peshmerga forces has been successfully completed.
I believe it is important here to acknowledge, with great respect and appreciation, the important role and support of President Barzani. As a national leader and a Peshmerga leader, he has devoted his life to serving the Peshmerga and Kurdistan. He has worked continuously to preserve the name and honor of the Peshmerga and has closely supervised the process of unifying the Peshmerga forces.
I also extend my special thanks to my dear brother, Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, for his continued support and the important role he has played in the success of these reforms.
I thank Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister, for his cooperation and coordination in advancing and completing the reform process.
I also extend my deep gratitude and appreciation to our friends in the United States and all coalition forces for their cooperation and support over the past years. Their support undoubtedly played an important role in enabling the Peshmerga to defeat ISIS terrorists and, ultimately, in safeguarding the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region.
I thank Shoresh Ismail, Minister of Peshmerga Affairs; Abdulkhaliq Babiri, Deputy Minister; Issa Ozeri, Peshmerga Chief of Staff Lieutenant General; all officials and officers of the Ministry; the Peshmerga commanders; and all our heroic Peshmerga for their tireless efforts to successfully complete the process of unifying the Peshmerga forces. I commend them and wish them continued success.
This unification is the first stage and first step of a long process. As important as this unification is, the next stage is even more important.
The next phase must focus on strengthening military capabilities, providing advanced weapons and air defence systems, developing capabilities, and comprehensively advancing the Peshmerga forces, particularly their human capabilities. It must also improve the standard and quality of the Peshmerga’s physical training and awareness in accordance with international military standards, so that the Peshmerga can serve as a professional, organized and unified national force capable of fulfilling its important national duties and responsibilities, confronting challenges, and safeguarding the security and stability of the Kurdistan Region.
The Peshmerga is not merely an armed military force. It is a symbol of the struggle, sacrifice and identity of the people of Kurdistan, and a source of pride and honor for all the people of Kurdistan.
The courage and sacrifice of the Peshmerga in defending the legitimate rights of the people of Kurdistan in all their diversity, defeating terrorists, and defending the fundamental values of freedom, democracy and peaceful coexistence in the Kurdistan Region have brought great honor and distinction to the Peshmerga forces.
Today, as a constitutional force and an important part of Iraq’s defence system, the Peshmerga is a guarantor of peace, security and stability in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
We therefore reiterate the importance and necessity of strengthening security and military cooperation and coordination between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi Army in order to further safeguard Iraq’s stability.
In this regard, we reaffirm our readiness and support for Federal Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Ali al-Zaidi, in strengthening cooperation between the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi Army.
We hope the federal government will cooperate with and support us in safeguarding the rights of the Peshmerga and ensuring that their salaries and financial entitlements are equal to those of their counterparts in the Iraqi Army, with the same rights. Under the Constitution, the Peshmerga is part of Iraq’s defence system, and its constitutional rights and financial entitlements must be guaranteed within this framework.
As you know, the unification of the Peshmerga forces has long been a demand of ours and of every patriotic Kurdistani. Fortunately, today we have succeeded, and all forces have been brought under the umbrella of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs.
Within a single modern military structure, they have become a unified force in operations, training, command and control, communications, and accounting.
Political and party affiliation is undoubtedly a legitimate and normal right of every individual. However, national and Kurdistani allegiance must be the standard for the Peshmerga. Under the supervision of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, they must abide by the orders of their superiors in accordance with the military hierarchy and chain of command.
We want the Peshmerga to be a national Kurdistani force that stands above all party and individual interests and is never used to settle internal or partisan disputes and rivalries.
The Peshmerga’s first and ultimate mission must be to defend the people and land of Kurdistan without discrimination and, as always, to remain a force for peace, security and stability in Iraq and the wider region.
In closing, I congratulate all the people of Kurdistan on this historic achievement, and I wish our heroic Peshmerga continued health, pride and progress.
We bow our heads in respect to our martyrs. We honor and appreciate the sacrifices of the proud families of the Peshmerga martyrs, as well as the struggle, service and sacrifices of the wounded, disabled, and retired Peshmerga.
May God protect the Peshmerga and Kurdistan from all war, hardship and suffering.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish my dear brother Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, a happy birthday. I wish you a long life, good health and continued success.